"I pray backwards in church too, dame, but I could never get sight
of him there, as you do: something always blinds me!" and the two
old sinners laughed together at the thought of the devil's litanies
they recited in the church.
"But how to get to Beaumanoir? I shall have to walk, as you did,
Mere Malheur. It is a vile road, and I must take the byway through
the forest. It were worth my life to be seen on this visit," said
La Corriveau, conning on her fingers the difficulties of the by-
path, which she was well acquainted with, however.
"There is a moon after nine, by which hour you can reach the wood of
Beaumanoir," observed the crone. "Are you sure you know the way,
Dame Dodier?"
"As well as the way into my gown! I know an Indian canotier who
will ferry me across to Beauport, and say nothing. I dare not allow
that prying knave, Jean Le Nocher, or his sharp wife, to mark my
movements."
"Well thought of, Dame Dodier; you are of a craft and subtlety to
cheat Satan himself at a game of hide and seek!" The crone looked
with genuine admiration, almost worship, at La Corriveau as she said
this; "but I doubt he will find both of us at last, dame, when we
have got into our last corner.
Pages:
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812