“Say, Wowkle, I’m a-goin’ the whole hog!  Yes, I’m a-goin’ the whole hog,” she repeated a moment later, as she drew forth various bits of finery from a chest of drawers, with which she proceeded to adorn herself before the mirror.  Taking out first a lace shawl of bold design, she drew it over her shoulders with the grace and ease of one who makes it an everyday affair rather than an occasional undertaking; then she took from a sweet-grass basket a vividly-embroidered handkerchief and saturated it with cologne, impregnating the whole room with its strong odour; finally she brought forth a pair of long, white gloves and began to stretch them on.  “Does it look like an effort, Wowkle?” she asked, trying to get her hands into them.

“Ugh!” was the Indian woman’s comment at the very moment that a knock came upon the door.  “Two plates,” she added with a groan, and started for the cupboard.

Meanwhile the Girl continued with her primping and preening, her hands flying back and forth like an automaton from her waist-line to her stockings.  Suddenly another knock, this time more vigorous, more insistent, came upon the rough boards of the cabin door, which, finally, was answered by the Girl herself.

XI.

“Hello!” sang out Johnson, genially, as he entered the Girl’s cabin.

At once the Girl’s audacity and spirit deserted her, and hanging her head she answered meekly, bashfully: 

“Hello!”

The man’s eyes swept the Girl’s figure; he looked puzzled, and asked: 

“Are you—­you going out?”

The Girl was plainly embarrassed; she stammered in reply: 

“Yes—­no—­I don’t know—­Oh, come on in!”

“Thank you,” said Johnson in his best manner, and put down his lantern on the table.  Turning now with a look of admiration in his eyes, at the same time trying to embrace her, he went on:  “Oh, Girl, I’m so glad you let me come . . .”

His glance, his tone, his familiarity sent the colour flying to the Girl’s cheeks; she flared up instantly, her blue eyes snapping with resentment: 

“You stop where you are, Mr. Johnson.”

“Ugh!” came from Wowkle, at that moment closing the door which Johnson had left ajar.

At the sound of the woman’s voice Johnson wheeled round quickly.  And then, to his great surprise, he saw that the Girl was not alone as he had expected to find her.

“I beg your pardon; I did not see anyone when I came in,” he said in humble apology, his eyes the while upon Wowkle who, having blown out the candle and removed the lantern from the table to the floor, was directing her footsteps towards the cupboard, into which she presently disappeared, closing the door behind her.  “But seeing you standing there,” went on Johnson in explanation, “and looking into your lovely eyes, well, the temptation to take you in my arms was so great that I, well, I took—­”