After a silence she said, "Thank you, that has cooled the burning."

"I am determined," said I, "to expel the fire from your finger if it

takes hours and hours." And I seated myself with that intention.

For a while she talked, making innocent observations concerning the

tropical foliage surrounding us. Then silence crept in between us,

accentuated by the brooding stillness of the forest.

"I am afraid your hands are growing tired," she said, considerately.