wrought. Here was a
great white man, a man whose power and abilities they were quick to
recognize and appreciate, whose body was great, and whose eye was clear
and commanding. Here was a white girl, fairer than any they had ever
known, and whose spirit had served them in a hundred ways. Well? What
then? They were all men of maturing years--these Indians. They had had
many squaws of their own. Perhaps? Who could tell? It seemed natural
that Keeko should choose her man from those of her own colour. And if
this man were to be the chosen one they were ready to yield him the same
fidelity they would yield to her.

So the night before the morning of departure came round. In three days
Marcel had completed every preparation, and all was in readiness for the
earliest possible start.

By the time supper was finished the summer daylight showed no sign of
giving way to the two-hour night. Marcel had that in his mind which he
was determined to do before their well-earned rest beside the camp-fire
was taken. And he pointed at the iron-bound cliff which frowned down
upon the waters of the river.

"Say, Keeko, I've a notion to set it up before we quit," he said, with a
laugh. "Do you feel like passing me a hand?"

Keeko turned from the sluggish waters, black with the reflection of the
barren walls of the gorge.

"What are you going to set up?" she questioned like one dragged back
from the contemplation of happy dreams.

"Oh, it's just a notion," Marcel laughed, in a boyish, half shamefaced
fashion as he lit his pipe with a firebrand. "Will you--come along?"

Keeko was on her feet in a moment. For all the days of labour there was
no weariness in her body. Besides----

"Guess you're handing me a mystery," she cried happily. "Seeing I'm a
woman I can't just miss it."

So they passed up the rugged foreshore to the foot of the path that cut
a perilous ascent to the fringe of the primordial forest above. It was
the man who led, and Keeko had no desire that it should be otherwise.

In a few minutes they were standing beside the fallen tree-trunk where
Marcel had first gazed down upon the scant encampment over which his
sovereignty was now absolute. He drew a deep breath as he gazed again
upon that first scene of the new life that had come to him.

"Gee!" he said, "I'm kind of glad."

"Glad?"

Keeko was regarding him amusedly. In those first three days of their
life together, in her woman's way, she had been studying him. And