from green, lush fields of deep grass. The valley had come suddenly
alive. Trees waved gently under the warm wind that rushed from the
cave. Small cabins were visible where they had been brought to life
from under the deep snow. Deep flower-splashed meadows crept to the
water's edge and the ice of the lake was gone. This, he realized with
a lump in his throat, was the magic power of the Flaming Diamond.
"The plane is ready," Silvaris reminded him. "It is best that you
leave while my people will let you. They are very grateful."
Jim Drake looked questioningly at the girl. Her eyes answered his with
a smile. As much as she loved the Fox People, her place was with him.
They went slowly toward the waiting plane.
* * * * *
Drake looked back once as he sent the big ship skimming along the
meadow at the far end of the lake. Silvaris and his people were
gathered in a tight, worshipping little group, watching the bird plane
take to the air.
At three thousand feet he leveled off. Something soft and warm brushed
his cheek. He turned and saw Sylvia's eyes close to his, warm and
promising.
The valley was no longer visible. From the air one could see only
vast sweeps of snow and ice. The secret of the Fox People was well
hidden.
"Well," Puffy said from behind them, "Tiffany will never see another
diamond to equal that one."
"Everyone is happy," Drake answered.
Adams chuckled.
"Cinderella Drake found the silver slipper after all," he said. "And
man, what a queen there was in it."
Sylvia blushed prettily.
"I'll try to dress a little more modestly in civilization," she
offered.
"Not for me," Drake urged. "When a man comes home from a hard day's
work shooting down Japs, he likes to see as much of his wife as
possible. Namely, in a very small fox fur."
"Yea!" Puffy said. "Guess you're right. Excuse me while I go curl up
with a good book."
He blundered noisily toward the row of empty berths at the rear of the
plane.
* * * * *
End of Project Gutenberg's Queen of the Flaming Diamond, by Leroy Yerxa