"And be my wife?"
"Yes. I am no longer afraid."
"We shall go soon," he answered.
A mile or so from the shore of Buckhom they could hear the voice of a
woman calling in the still woods, and they answered. Soon they saw the
light of a lantern approaching in the trail. For a moment Master and the
maiden whispered together.
Soon the old nurse and servant of Edith Dun-more came out of the
darkness trembling with fear and anxiety. Gently the girl patted the
bare head of the woman as she whispered to her. In a moment all resumed
their journey.
When they had come to Buckhom and could see the camp-lights, Master
launched a canoe and took the girl and her servant across the pond. He
left them without a word and returned to the other shore. Strong and he
stood for a moment listening. Then they set out for their homes far down
the trail. The Emperor was busy "thinking out thoughts."
"Mountaneyous!" he muttered, "g-great an' p-powerful."
For the second time in his life he felt strongly moved to expression and
seemed to be feeling for adequate words. Master put his arm around the
big hunter and asked him what he meant.
"Oh-h-h! Oh-h-h!" Strong murmured, in a tone of singular tenderness.
"P-purty! purty! w-wonderful purty! She's too g-good fer this w-world. I
jes' f-felt like t-takin' her on my b-back an' makin' r-right across the
s-swamps an' hills fer heaven."
The Emperor wiped his eyes and added:
"You're as handy with a g-gal as I am with a f-fish-rod."
Next day he noted this conclusion in his memorandum-book:
_"Strong cant wait much longer. He's got to have a guide for the long
trail."_