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           Duncanacknowledgedthecompliment,whenMontcalm,turningtohisguard,which,inimitationofthatoftheirenemies,pressedcloseuponhim,continued—

           "Enarrière,mesenfans—ilfaitchaud;retirez-vousunpeu."

           BeforeMajorHeywardwouldimitatethisproofofconfidence,heglancedhiseyesaroundtheplain,andbeheldwithuneasinessthenumerousduskygroupsofsavages,wholookedoutfromthemarginofthesurroundingwoods,curiousspectatorsoftheinterview.

           "MonsieurdeMontcalmwillreadilyacknowledgethedifferenceinoursituation,"hesaid,withsomeembarrassment,pointingatthesametimetowardsthosedangerousfoes,whoweretobeseeninalmosteverydirection."Werewetodismissourguard,weshouldstandhereatthemercyofourenemies."

           "Monsieur,youhavetheplightedfaithofungentilhommeFrançais;foryoursafety,"returnedMontcalm,layinghishandimpressivelyonhisheart;"itshouldsuffice."

           "Itshall.Fallback,"Duncanaddedtotheofficerwholedtheescort;"fallback,sir,beyondhearing,andwaitfororders."

           Munrowitnessedthismovementwithmanifestuneasiness;nordidhefailtodemandaninstantexplanation.

           "Isitnotourinterest,sir,tobetraynodistrust?"retortedDuncan."MonsieurdeMontcalmpledgeshiswordforoursafety,andIhaveorderedthementowithdrawalittle,inordertoprovehowmuchwedependonhisassurance."

           "Itmaybeallright,sir,butIhavenooverweeningrelianceonthefaithofthesemarquesses,ormarquis,astheycallthemselves.