It was not the fear of being alone, of being lost, of some happen-chance peril that she might fancy was threatening her.

It was a deeper, bigger thing than that.

And she had confessed to him--not wholly, but enough to make him know--that this fear was of man.

He felt at this thought a little thrill of joy, of undefinable exultation.

He sprang from the rock and went down to the shore of the lake, scanning its surface with eager, challenging eyes.