"Not another hour. Here's where you declare yourself; and remember,
I don't care which you choose, only you'd better be sensible."

She cast her despairing eyes up and down the river, then at the
wilderness on either shore; but it was as silent and unpeopled as if
it had been created that morning. She must have time; she would
temporize, pretending to yield, and then betray him to the first
comer; a promise exacted under duress would not be binding.

"I'll go quietly," she said, in a faint voice.

"I knew you'd see that I'm acting square. Come! Get the cramp out of
yourself while I make a pot of coffee." He held out his hand to
assist her, and she accepted it, but stumbled as she rose, for she
had been crouched in one position for several hours, and her limbs
were stiff. He caught her and swung her ashore; then, instead of
putting her feet to the ground, he pressed her to himself roughly
and kissed her. She gave a stifled cry and fought him off, but he
laughed and held her the closer.

"Ain't I good for one kiss? Say, this is the deuce of an engagement.
Come, now--"

"No, no, no!" she gasped, writhing like a wild thing; but he crushed
his lips to hers again and then let her go, whereupon she drew away
from him panting, dishevelled, her eyes wide and filled with horror.
She scrubbed her lips with the back of her hand, as if to erase his
mark, while he reached into the canoe and brought forth an axe, a
bundle of food, and a coffee-pot; then, still chuckling, he gathered
a few sticks of driftwood and built a fire. She had a blind instinct