If you disbelieve--" She stopped.
"You heard that, Neekewa?
It was not the wing of a duck, nor was it the croak of a loon far up the shore, or a fish leaping in the still water.
IT WAS A PADDLE!" In the star-gloom Jolly Roger McKay bowed his head, and listened.
"Yes, a paddle," he said, and his voice sounded strange to him.
"Probably it is one of your people returning to camp, Yellow Bird." She turned toward him, and stood very near.

Her hands reached out to him.

Her hair and eyes were filled with the velvety glow of the stars, and for an instant he saw the tremble of her parted lips.
"Goodby, Neekewa," she whispered.
And then, without letting her hands touch him, she was gone.

Swiftly she ran to Slim Buck's tepee, and entered, and very soon she came out again with Slim Buck beside her.

Jolly Roger did not move, but watched as Yellow Bird and her husband went down to the edge of the lake, and stood there, waiting for the strange canoe to pass--or come in.