She paused, drawing her hand gently from his grasp, and holding it out toward me.

“Yet, Captain,” she continued, glancing at him archly over her shoulder, “I have likewise another knight, this wood ranger, who hath also won my deep regard and gratitude.”

De Croix scowled, and twisted his short mustache nervously.

“You put a thorn beside every rose,” he muttered. “’T was your way in Montreal.”

“A few hundred miles of travel do not greatly change one’s nature.  Either at Dearborn or Montreal, I am still Toinette.  But, Messieurs, I have been told of a camp quite close at hand,—­and yet you leave me here in the sand to famish while you quarrel.”

The tone of her voice, while still full of coquetry, was urgent, and I think we both noted for the first time how white of face she was, and how wearily her eyes shone.  The Frenchman, ever ready in such courtesies, was the first to respond by word and act.

“You are faint, Toinette,” he cried, instantly forgetful of everything else, and springing forward to give her the aid of his arm.  “I beg you lean upon me.  I have been blind not to note your weakness before.  ’T is indeed not a long walk to our camp from here,—­yet, on my life, I know nothing of where it lies.  Jordan,” he added, speaking as if he were in command, “lead back along the path we came. Sacre! the old bear was gruff enough over the delay of our search; he will be savage now.”

I know not how Jordan ever found his way back, for the sliding sand had already obliterated all evidences of former travel; but I walked sullenly beside him, leaving De Croix to minister to the needs of the girl as best he might.  I felt so dull beside his ready tongue that, in spite of my real liking for the fellow, his presence angered me.  ’T is strange we should ever envy in others what we do not ourselves possess, ignoring those traits of character we have which they no less desire.  So to me then it seemed altogether useless to contend for the heart of a woman,—­such a woman, at least, as this laughing Toinette,—­against the practised wiles of so gay and debonair a cavalier.  I steeled my ears to the light badinage they continued to indulge in, and ploughed on through the heavy sand at Jordan’s heels, in no mood for converse with any one.

We came upon the camp suddenly, and discovered Captain Wells pacing back and forth, his stern face dark with annoyance.  At sight of me, his passion burst all restraint.

“By God, sir!” he ejaculated, “if you were a soldier of mine, I would teach you what it meant to put us to such a wait as this!  Know you not, Master Wayland, that the lives of helpless women and children may depend upon our haste?  And you hold us here in idleness while you wander along the lake-shore like a moonstruck boy!”

Before I could answer these harsh words, the girl stepped lightly to my side, and standing there, her hand upon my arm, smiled back into his angry eyes.  I do not think he had even perceived her presence until that moment; for he stopped perplexed.