And I go my way, neither a burden nor a plaything, a scandal only to myself, involving no man high or low save where their advances wrong us both in the world's eyes--as did those of your friend, yonder by a dead fire asleep." "All men are not so fashioned.

Can you not believe me ?" "You say so, sir." "Yes; and I say that I am not." "Birds sing." "Lois, will you let me aid you ?" "In what?
The Sagamore feeds me; and the Middle Fort is not so far." "And at the Middle Fort how will you live ?" "As I have lived; wash for the soldiers; sew for them--contrive to find a living as I journey." "Whither ?" "It is my own affair." "May I not aid ?" "You could not if you would; you would not if you could." "Ask me, Lois." "No." She shook her head.

Then, slowly: "I do thank you for the wish, Mr.Loskiel.But the Siwanois himself refuses what I ask.

And you would, also, did you know my wish." "What is your wish ?" She shook her head: "It is useless to voice it--useless." She gathered the scant fragments of her meal, wrapped them in a bit of silver birch-bark, unrolled her bundle, and placed them there.

Then she drained the tin cup of its chilly water, and, still sitting there cross-legged on the rock, tied the little cup to her girdle.