Glen made no further reply to her father.  She was well aware how useless it would be to try to reason with him, and if she told him about the dream and her fears he would laugh at her, and consider her childish and foolish.

When breakfast was over, the men began to prepare for their day’s trip.  This did not take them long, and soon they were all ready for their departure.  They decided to leave the horses behind, as there was no trail, and their course would take them over several hills where riding would be impossible.  They took only their rifles, while Natsu packed the scanty supply of food necessary for the day.

“We expect to be back by sundown,” Weston informed Glen.  “But should we be delayed, do not worry as we shall be all right.  We may be longer than we imagine in reaching the place, and if we discover the gold, we may take leave of our senses for a time and forget everything else.  But Sconda will look after you, and there is plenty of reading matter to keep you out of mischief.”

As Weston stooped and kissed his daughter, he noted that she clung to him more tenderly than formerly, and that her body trembled slightly.  Thinking that this was due to her lack of sleep, he did not give it any attention, but telling her to take a nap through the day, he picked up his rifle and strode off into the forest.

Reynolds was more deeply concerned about Glen’s wearied look than her father, and after they had gone a short distance he spoke of it.

“She is tired, that’s all,” was the reply.  “A good sleep will make her all right again.”

“Perhaps she is worried about what Sconda said.”

“She may be, but she will soon get over that.  It is a great mistake to humor people in such nonsense.  I have often talked to Glen, but I cannot help feeling that the native beliefs have made a considerable impression upon her mind.  She has been with them so much that I suppose it is only natural.”

Reynolds said no more, but all through the day Glen’s tired face and anxious eyes were ever before him.  How he longed to go back and stay with her.  The lure of gold had now lost its fascination for him, and he could only think of the girl in the little cabin by the mirroring lake.

Glen stood at the window and watched the men as they swung on their way, until the forest hid them from view.  She could see them for some distance while they followed the shore before striking across a wild meadow at the upper end of the lake.  She remained there for several minutes after they had disappeared.  She felt very tired, lonely and unhappy.  She thought of her father’s words, and they hurt her.  She knew that he loved her, but for all that she was fully convinced that he did not understand her.  She longed then, as she had often longed in the past, for her mother, in whom she could confide the deep, sacred emotions of her heart.  Her eyes became misty, and tears stole slowly down her cheeks.