ith a jerk, and stared into my face.

"Ay! no doubt," he said harshly, "yet I hardly think it was the view
which held you here so long. Whose boot print is this, Madame? not
yours, surely."

I glanced where he pointed, my heart leaping, yet not altogether with
regret. The young Sieur had left his trail behind, and it would serve
me whether by his will or no.

"Certainly not mine," and I laughed. "I trust, Monsieur, your powers
of observation are better than that--'tis hardly a compliment."

"Nor is this time for any lightness of speech, my lady," he retorted,
his anger fanned by my indifference. "Whose is it then, I ask you?
What man has been your companion here?"

"You jump at conclusions, Monsieur," I returned coldly. "The stray
imprint of a man's boot on the turf is scarcely evidence that I have
had a companion. Kindly stand aside, and permit me to descend."

"_Mon Dieu_! I will not!" and he blocked my passage. "I have stood
enough of your tantrums already in the boat. Now we are alone, and I
will have my say. You shall remain here until I learn the truth."

His rage rather amused me, and I felt not the slightest emotion of
fear, although there was threat in his words, and in the gesture
accompanying them. I do not think the smile even deserted my lips, as
I sought a comfortable seat on a fallen tree trunk, fully conscious
that nothing would so infuriate the man as studied indifference.

"Very well, Monsieur, I await your investigation with pleasure," I
said sweetly. "No doubt it will prove interesting. You honor me with
the suspicion that I had an appointment here with one of your men?"

"No matter what I suspicion."

"Of course not; you treat me with marked consideration. Perchance
others have camped here, and explored these bluffs."

"The print is fresh, not ancient, and none of the men from my camp
have come this way."

He strode forward, across the narrow open space, and disappeared into
the fringe of trees bordering the edge of the bluff. It would have
been easy for me to depart, to escape to the security of the tent
below, but curiosity held me motionless. I knew what he would
discover, and preferred to face the consequences where I was free to
answer him face to face. I wished him to be suspicious, to feel that
he had a rival; I would fan his jealousy to the very danger point. Nor
had I long to wait. Forth from the shade of the trees he burst, and
came toward me, his face white, his eyes blazing