lage (crossed
fingers for teepees) beside a lake (a wide sweep, and an agitated,
flattened hand for shimmering water), and that it could be reached by a
journey with one sleep upon the way. (Here she paddled an imaginary
canoe, stopped, closed her eyes, inclined her head on her shoulder and
held up one finger.)

Colina, overjoyed, proceeded to further question. In the same graphic,
simple way she learned the story of Ambrose's imprisonment and how
Nesis got him out.

"Come!" she cried, extending her hand. "We'll see what Sergeant
Plaskett has to say to this!"

But when Marya understood that she was expected to repeat her story to
the policeman, a frantic, stubborn terror took possession of her. She
gave Colina to understand in no uncertain signs that the Indians would
kill her if she told the secret.

Colina, taking into account the pains they had gone to to keep it,
could not deny the danger. She finally asked Marya if she would take
her, Colina, to the place where Nesis was.

Marya, terrified, positively refused.

Pulling off her gauntlet, Colina displayed to Marya a ring set with a
gleaming opal. It was Marya's she let her understand, if she would
serve her.

Marya's eyes sickened with desire. She wavered--but finally refused
with a little moan. Terror was stronger than cupidity.

Colina debated with herself. She asked Marya if the way to go was by
paddling.

Marya shook her head. She gave Colina to understand that the canoes
were all tied up together and watched by the police. She signed that
the Kakisas had a few horses up the river a little way that the police
did not know about.

They stole out of camp at dawn, caught a horse and rode up the river.
Evidently there was regular travel between the two villages. Colina,
thinking of the policeman's confident belief that he had intercepted
all communications, smiled.

Colina finally asked if Marya would put her on the trail to the other
village--in exchange for the ring. Marya, after a struggle with her
fears, consented, stipulating that they must start before dark.

Colina understood from her signs that the biggest opal ever mined would
not tempt Marya to wander in the bush after dark.

Colina did some rapid thinking. She doubted whether Germain Grampierre
after having been warned by the police would go with her to the other
village.

She quickly decided that she didn't want him with her anyway, worthy,
stupid fellow that he was. Yet