Yet he began to worship her anew, even more fiercely than he had loved the Nada of old.

He was content now to lie with his nose touching her foot or dress; but when in the sunset of early evening she went into her room, and came out a little later with her curling hair clouding her shoulders and breast, and tied with a faded ribbon she had brought from Cragg's Ridge, he danced about her, yelping joyously, and she accepted the challenge in a wild race with him to the edge of the clearing.
Panting and flushed she ran back to Jolly Roger, and rested in his arms.
And it was McKay, with his face half hidden in her riotous hair, who saw a figure come suddenly out of the forest at the far end of the clearing.
It was Father John.

He saw him pause for an instant, and then stagger toward them, swaying as if about to fall.
The sudden stopping of his breath--the tightening of his arms--drew Nada's shining eyes to his face, and then she, too, saw the little old Missioner as he swayed and staggered across the clearing.

With a cry she was out of McKay's arms and running toward him.
Father John was leaning heavily upon her when McKay came up.

His face was tense and his breath came in choking gasps.