to flee, and sought for a means of escape, but they were well out
upon the bar that stretched a distance of three hundred feet to the
wooded bank; on one side of the narrow spit was the scarcely moving,
half-stagnant water of a tiny bay or eddy, on the other, the swift,
gliding current tugging at the beached canoe, while the outer end of
the gravelled ridge dwindled down to nothing and disappeared into
the river. At sight of the canoe a thought struck her, but her face
must have shown some sign of it, for the man chanced to look at the
moment, and, seeing her expression, straightened himself, then gazed
about searchingly. Without a word he stepped to the boat, and,
seizing it, dragged it entirely out upon the bar, where her strength
would not be equal to shoving it off quickly, and, not content with
this, he made the painter fast, then went back to his fire. The
eagerness died out of her face, but an instant later, when he turned
to the clearer water of the eddy to fill the coffee-pot, she seized
her chance and sped up the bar towards the bank. The shingle under
foot and her noisy skirts betrayed her, and with an oath he
followed. It was an unequal race, and he handled her with rough,
strong hands when he overtook her.

"So! You lied to me! Well, I'm through with this foolishness. If
you'll go back on your word like this you'll 'bawl me out' before
the priest, so I'll forget my promise, too, and you'll be glad of
the chance to marry me."

"Let me go!" she panted. "I'll marry you. Yes, yes, I'll do it, only
don't touch me now!"

He led her back to the fire, which had begun to crackle. She was so
weak now that she sank upon the stones shivering.