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the Saviour； 〃Let him who is without sin among you cast the first stone。〃
To Father de Smet's healthy nature nothing seemed more superfluous
than sin。 And he was averse to thinking that any committed deeds of which
he need be ashamed。 So it was his habit； especially if the day was pleasant
and his own thoughts happy； to say to himself when he saw one of the wild
young trappers leaving the cabin of Mademoiselle Ninon： 〃He has been
for some of the good woman's hot cakes；〃 till he grew quite to believe that
the only attractions that the adroit Frenchwoman possessed were of a
gastronomic nature。
To tell the truth； the attractions of Made… moiselle Ninon were varied。
To begin with； she was the only thing in that wilder… ness to suggest home。
Ninon had a genius for home…making。 Her cabin； in which she cooked；
slept； ate； lived； had become a boudoir。
The walls were hung with rare and beau… tiful skins； the very floor
made rich with huge bear robes； their permeating odors subdued by heavy
perfumes brought； like the spices； from St。 Louis。 The bed； in day… time；
was a couch of beaver…skins； the fire… place had branching antlers above it；
on which were hung some of the evidences of the fair Ninon's coquetry；
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such as silken scarves； of the sort the voyageurs from the far north wore；
and necklaces made by the Indians of the Pacific coast and brought to
Ninon by but it is not polite to inquire into these matters。 There were
little moc… casins also； much decorated with porcupine… quills； one pair of
which Father de Smet had brought from the Flathead nation； and presented
to Ninon that time when she nursed him through a frightful run of fever。
She would take no money for her patient services。
〃Father；〃 said she； gravely； when he offered it to her； 〃I am not myself
virtuous。 But I have the distinction of having pre… served the only virtuous
creature in the settlement for further usefulness。 Some… times； perhaps；
you will pray for Ninon。〃
Father de Smet never forgot those prayers。
These were wild times； mind you。 No use to keep your skirts coldly
clean if you wished to be of help。 These men were sub… duing a continent。
Their primitive qualities came out。 Courage； endurance； sacrifice；
suffering without complaint； friendship to the death； indomitable hatred；
unfaltering hope； deep…seated greed； splendid gayety it takes these
things to subdue a conti… nent。 Vice is also an incidental； that is to say；
what one calls vice。 This is because it is the custom to measure these men
as if they were governed by the laws of civili… zation； where there is
neither law nor civilization。
This much is certain： gentlemen cannot conquer a country。 They tried
gentlemen back in Virginia； and they died； partly from lack of intellect； but
mostly from lack of energy。 After the yeomen have fought the conquering
fight； it is well enough to bring in gentlemen； who are sometimes clever
lawmakers； and who look well on thrones or in presidential chairs。
But to return to the winter of the small… pox。 It was then that the priest
and Ninon grew to know each other well。 They be… came acquainted first
in the cabin where four of the trappers lay tossing in delirium。 The horrible
smell of disease weighted the air。 Outside wet snow fell continuously
and the clouds seemed to rest only a few feet above the sullen bluffs。 The
room was bare of comforts； and very dirty。 Ninon looked about with
disgust。
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〃You pray；〃 said she to the priest； 〃and I will clean the room。〃
〃Not so；〃 returned the broad…shouldered father； smilingly； 〃we will
both clean the room。〃 Thus it came that they scrubbed the floor together；
and made the chimney so that it would not smoke； and washed the
blankets on the beds； and kept the wood… pile high。 They also devised
ventilators； and let in fresh air without exposing the patients。 They had no
medicine； but they continually rubbed the suffering men with bear's
grease。
〃It's better than medicine；〃 said Ninon； after the tenth day； as； wan with
watching； she held the cool hand of one of the recovering men in her own。
〃If we had had medicines we should have killed these men。〃
〃You are a woman of remarkable sense；〃 said the holy father； who was
eating a dish of corn…meal and milk that Ninon had just prepared； 〃and a
woman also of Christian courage。〃
〃Christian courage？〃 echoed Ninon； 〃do you think that is what you call
it？ I am not afraid； no； not I； but it is not Christian courage。 You mistake in
calling it that。〃 There were tears in her eyes。 The priest saw them。
〃God lead you at last into peaceful ways；〃 said he； softly； lifting one
hand in blessing。 〃Your vigil is ended。 Go to your home and sleep。 You
know the value of the temporal life that God has given to man。 In the
hours of the night； Ninon； think of the value of eternal life； which it is also
His to give。〃
Ninon stared at him a moment with a dawning horror in her eyes。
Then she pointed to the table。
〃Whatever you do；〃 said she； 〃don't forget the bear's grease。〃 And she
went out laughing。 The priest did not pause to recommend her soul to
further blessing。 He obeyed her directions。
March was wearing away tediously。 The river was not yet open； and
the belated boats with needed supplies were moored far down the river。
Many of the reduced settlers were dependent on the meat the Indians
brought them for sustenance。 The mud made the roads almost impassable；
for the frost lay in a solid bed six inches below the surface； and all above
that was semi… liquid muck。 Snow and rain alternated； and the frightful
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disease did not cease its ravages。
The priest got little sleep。 Now he was at the bed of a little half…breed
child； smoothing the straight black locks from the narrow brow； now at the
cot of some hulking trapper； who wept at the pain； but died finally with a
grin of bravado on his lips； now in a foul tepee； where some grave Pawnee
wrapped his mantle about him； and gazed with prophetic and unflinching
eyes