round here?"

"Caretaker, miss. Especially--when Mr. Garman is away."

"Annette!" It was the older woman again.

"Aunty," the girl whirling about resolutely, "I want to know a lot of
things; why is there said to be a colony here when there is only Mr.
Garman's winter home? Why is there all this mystery round here? Why
does Ramos prowl round like a watchdog?"

"Come in the house, dear. Leave Ramos to deal with the strangers."

"Why don't you answer me, aunty?"

"You foolish child!"

"I'm not a child." The red was burning in the girl's creamy cheeks.
"I won't be treated as a child. I want to know."

"Please, Annette, do not discuss your affairs before strangers."

"Strangers! Why, aunty, it's you who are strange to me. I can't
understand you. It's all strange. My father letting me come here
alone before he comes--he's strange, too, lately."

"I suppose Mr. Garman is strange to you too?"

A flush spread over the girl's face and she appeared to shrink and
wilt; and in the swift glance she cast at Payne there seemed an appeal
for help.

Payne spoke swiftly.

"We are truly sorry to intrude. We blundered in here on our way to the
head of the river. If we can get directions we will be on our way at
once."

The girl looked from her aunt to Ramos and then to Payne, and her chin
went up.

"Come," she said, and led the way to the boathouse on the lake shore.
"Oh, Willy Tiger!"

As mild and stoical a Seminole Indian as ever belied his surname
responded to her call. He smiled at the sight of her, an appalling
feat for a Seminole; and the smile confessed he was her abject slave.

"Willy, you will do a favor for me, won't you? I want you to take
these two friends of mine up to the head of the river, wherever that
is. My friends. For me, Willy."

The Seminole silently disappeared and returned paddling a long dugout
into which he tossed his rifle and a bundle containing his camping
outfit.

"My name's Roger Payne," said Roger, preparing to follow Higgins into
the boat. "I am under obligations, Miss----"

She did not respond to his suggestive pause.

"I don't think I'll tell you my name--now," she said thoughtfully.
"Perhaps--after you've seen the land you purchased from Senator
Fairclothe. Perhaps--not. Good-by."

Roger looked at Ramos, watching them from a distance, and replied:

"So long."

X

Higgins sat facing the silent Seminole, who swiftly paddled the long
dugout out of