Then came Lois in her scarlet capuchin, eager and shy at the same time, smiling, yet with fearfulness and tenderness so strangely blended that ever her laughing eyes seemed close to tears and the lips that smiled were tremulous.

“I came—­ you see....  Are you angry?” she asked as I bent low over her little hand.  “You will not chide me—­ will you, Euan?”

“No.  What is done is done.  Are you well, Lois?”

“Perfect in health, my friend.  And if you truly are glad to see me, then I am content.  But I am also very wet, Euan, spite of my capuchin.  Lana and I have a common box.  It belongs to her.  May our boatmen carry it ashore?”

I gave brief directions to the men, returned the smiling salute of my wet riflemen from the other boat now drawing heavily inshore, and climbed the grassy bank with Lois to where Lana and Boyd stood under the trees awaiting us.

“I have but one bush-hut to offer you at present,” I said.  “Proper provision in barracks will be made, no doubt, as soon as the General learns who it is who has honoured him so unexpectedly with a visit.”

“That’s why we came, Euan—­ to honour General Sullivan,” said Lois demurely.  “Did we not, Lanette?”

Then again I noticed that the old fire, the old gaiety in Lana Helmer had been almost quenched.  For instead of a saucy reply she only smiled; and even her eyes seemed spiritless as they rested on me a moment, then turned wearily elsewhere.

“You are much fatigued,” I said to Lois.

“I?  No.  But my poor Lana slept very badly in the boat.  Before dawn we went ashore for an hour’s rest.  That seemed sufficient for me, but Lana, poor dove, did not profit, I fear.  Did you, dearest?”

“Very little,” said Lana, forcing a gaiety she surely did not inspire in others with her haunted eyes that looked at everything, yet saw nothing—­ or so it seemed to me.

As we came to our bush-huts, Lois caught sight of the Sagamore for the first time, and held out both hands with a pretty cry of recognition: 

“Nai, Mayaro!”

The Sagamore turned in silent astonishment; though when he saw Boyd there also his features became smooth and blank again.  But he came forward with stately grace to welcome her; and, bending his crested head, took her hands and laid them lightly over his heart.

“Nai, Lois!” he exclaimed emphatically.

“Itoh, Mayaro!” she replied gaily, pressing his hands in hers.  “I am that contented to see you!  Are you not amazed to see me here?” she insisted, mischievously amused at his unaltered features.

The Sagamore said smilingly: 

“When she wills it, who can follow the Rosy-throated Pigeon in her swift flight?  Not the Enchantress in the moon.  Tharon alone, O Rosy-throated One!”

“The wild pigeon has outwitted you all, has she not, Mayaro, my friend?”

“Nakwah!  Let my brother Loskiel deny it, then.  I, a Sagamore, know better than to deny a fire its ashes, or a wild pigeon its magic flight.”