I know not how, but I have been strangely baffled and misled from the first in my search for her, and it was all to no purpose." For the first time since I had fallen dripping into the boat, a slight smile was visible in the dark eyes fronting me.
"Why hid you from me with such care the object of your search ?" "I hid nothing, Mademoiselle.

We spoke together about it often." "Ay, indeed you told me you sought a young girl, and your words led me to think at first it must be Josette, and later still the Indian missionary.

But not once did you breathe the name of the girl in my ears.

The dwellers at Dearborn were neither so many nor so strange to me that I could not have aided you in your search." "You knew this Elsa Matherson ?" "I am not so sure of that, Master Wayland." she returned gravely, her eyes wandering into the night.

"Once I thought I did, but she has changed so greatly in the last few days that I am hardly sure.