I
believed we both meditated flight deeper into the wilderness. Yet I
reasoned that since these shots were fired on our trail, we must be in
all likelihood found in any case, even were these chance hunters coming
into our valley, and not a party searching for us.

"It may not be any one we know," I said. "It may be Indians."

"No," said she, "it is my father. They have found us. We must go!
John"--she turned toward me and put her hands on my breast--"John!" I
saw terror, and regret, and resolve look out of her eyes, but not joy
at this deliverance. No, it was not joy that shone in her eyes. None the
less, the ancient yoke of society being offered, we bowed our necks
again, fools and slaves, surrendering freedom, joy, content, as though
that were our duty.

CHAPTER XXXIV

THE LOSS OF PARADISE

Silently we made our way toward the edge of the thicket where it faced
upon the open valley. All about me I could hear the tinkling and
crashing of fairy crystal walls, the ruins of that vision house I had
builded in my soul. At the edge of the thicket we crouched low, waiting
and looking out over the valley, two savages, laired, suspicious.

Almost as we paused I saw coming forward the stooping figure of an
Indian trailer, half naked, beleggined, moccasined, following our fresh
tracks at a trot. I covered him with the little silver bead, minded to
end his quest. But before I could estimate his errand, or prepare to
receive him, closely in case he proved an enemy, I saw approaching
around a little point of timber other men, white men, a half dozen of
them, one a tall man in dusty garments, with boots, and hat, and gloves.

And then I saw her, my promised wife, leave my side, and limp and
stagger forward, her arms outstretched. I saw the yoke of submission,
the covenant of society, once more accepted.

"Father!" she cried.

They gathered about us. I saw him look down at her with half horror on
his face. Then I noticed that she was, clad in fringed skins, that her
head covering was a bit of hide, that her hair was burned yellow at the
ends, that her foot coverings were uncouth, that her hands and arms were
brown, where not stained red by the blood in which they had dabbled. I
looked down also at myself, and saw then that I was tall, brown, gaunt,
bearded, ragged, my clothing of wool well-nigh gone, my limbs wound in
puttee bands of hide, my hands large, horny, blackened, rough. I reeked
with grime. I was a savage n