ace were still fresh with her, though there were strange
lapses, here and there, of which she remembered little. The struggle
by the fissure was immeasurable; she knew not how long it lasted; and
the race down Split-up to Roubeau Island was a thing of which her
reason convinced her, but of which she recollected nothing.

The whim seized her, and she followed Corliss through the three days'
events, but she tacitly avoided the figure of another man whom she
would not name. Something terrible was connected therewith, she knew,
which must be faced sooner or later; but she preferred to put that
moment away from her. She was stiff and sore of mind as well as of
body, and will and action were for the time being distasteful. It was
more pleasant, even, to dwell on Tommy, on Tommy of the bitter tongue
and craven heart; and she made a note that the wife and children in
Toronto should not be forgotten when the Northland paid its dividends
to the Welse.

The crackle of a foot on a dead willow-twig roused her, and her eyes
met St. Vincent's.

"You have not congratulated me upon my escape," he began, breezily.
"But you must have been dead-tired last night. I know I was. And you
had that hard pull on the river besides."

He watched her furtively, trying to catch some cue as to her attitude
and mood.

"You're a heroine, that's what you are, Frona," he began again, with
exuberance. "And not only did you save the mail-man, but by the delay
you wrought in the trial you saved me. If one more witness had gone on
the stand that first day, I should have been duly hanged before Gow put
in an appearance. Fine chap, Gow. Too bad he's going to die."

"I am glad that I could be of help," she replied, wondering the while
what she could say.

"And of course I am to be congratulated--"

"Your trial is hardly a thing for congratulation," she spoke up
quickly, looking him straight in the eyes for the moment. "I am glad
that it came out as it did, but surely you cannot expect me to
congratulate you."

"O-o-o," with long-drawn inflection. "So that's where it pinches." He
smiled good-humoredly, and moved as though to sit down, but she made no
room for him, and he remained standing. "I can certainly explain. If
there have been women--"

Frona had been clinching her hand nervously, but at the word burst out
in laughter.

"Women?" she queried. "Women?" she repeated. "Do not be ridiculous,
Gregory."

"After the way you stood