With night the camp would be again astir; and even if I succeeded in reaching her at some later hour it would leave small margin of darkness for our escape.

Every moment of delay now added to our grave peril, and there was much planning to be done after we met.

Possibly I should have waited, as I had been told to do; but it was ever in my blood to act rather than reason, and I am sure that in this case no cause remains for regret.
I must confess that my heart beat somewhat faster, as I crept slowly forth and peered cautiously around the bulging side of the big lodge I had just left, to assure myself no savages were stirring.

It was not that I greatly feared the venture, nor that a sense of danger excited my nerves; but rather the one thought in my mind was that now my way lay toward Mademoiselle.

How would she greet me?
Should I learn my fate from her tell-tale eyes, or by a sudden gleam of surprise in her lovely face?
These were the reflections that inspired me, for a new hope had been born within me through the forced confession of De Croix.
There was little danger of exposure while I advanced through the shelter of the lodges, for I was always under partial cover.