explained, with a great air of candor. "It is the heat of the
afternoon;" but even as he spoke the red flowed from chin to forehead,
and when I looked at him with another laugh, his eyes fell before mine.

I rose on my elbow. "Starling! Starling!" I cried. He made no sound.
His head drooped, and I saw him clench his hand. I stared. He threw
his head back, but when he tried to meet my look he failed. Yet I
looked again. "My God!" I heard my voice say, and my teeth bit into my
lip. I could smell the flowers in my hand, but they seemed a long
distance away. "My God!" I cried again, and I rose and felt my way
into the woods with the step of a blind man.




CHAPTER XI

MARY STARLING

I do not know how long I walked, nor where, but the sun dropped some
space. When I returned to the camp, I found the men before me. They
had returned early, empty-handed, and were in an ill humor because the
Englishman was away, and there was nothing done. I commanded Pierre to
build a larger fire than usual, and keep it piled high till I returned.
Then I began a search for footprints.

They were easily found. The young grass crushed at a touch, and it was
child's work to pick out the moccasin track across the meadow. When
the steps reached the beach they were harder to follow. I lost them
for a while, though there were scattered pebbles that would have led me