ling hair clouding her shoulders and breast, and tied with
a faded ribbon she had brought from Cragg's Ridge, he danced about her,
yelping joyously, and she accepted the challenge in a wild race with him
to the edge of the clearing.

Panting and flushed she ran back to Jolly Roger, and rested in his arms.

And it was McKay, with his face half hidden in her riotous hair, who saw
a figure come suddenly out of the forest at the far end of the clearing.
It was Father John. He saw him pause for an instant, and then stagger
toward them, swaying as if about to fall.

The sudden stopping of his breath--the tightening of his arms--drew
Nada's shining eyes to his face, and then she, too, saw the little old
Missioner as he swayed and staggered across the clearing. With a cry she
was out of McKay's arms and running toward him.

Father John was leaning heavily upon her when McKay came up. His face
was tense and his breath came in choking gasps. But he tried to smile as
he clutched a hand at his breast.

"I have hurried," he said, making a great effort to speak calmly, "and I
am--winded--"

He drew in a deep breath, and looked at Jolly Roger.

"Roger--I have hurried to tell you--Breault is coming. He cannot be far
behind me. Possibly half a mile, or a mile--"

In the thickening dusk he took Nada's white face between his hands.

"I find--at last--that I was mistaken, child," he said, very calmly now.
"I believe it is not God's will that you remain to be taken by Breault.
You must go. There is no time to lose. If Breault does not stumble off
the trail in this gloom he will be here in a few minutes. Come."

Not a word did Nada say as they went to the cabin, and McKay saw her
tense face as pale as an ivory cameo in the twilight. But something in
the up-tilt of her chin and the poise of her head assured him she was
prepared, and unafraid.

In the cabin the Leaf Bud met them, and to her Nada spoke quickly. There
was understanding between them, and Oosimisk dragged in a filled pack
from the kitchen while Nada ran into her room and came out with the
bundle.

Suddenly she was standing before McKay and Father John, her breast
throbbing with excitement.

"There is nothing more to make ready," she said. "Yellow Bird has
been with me all this day, and her spirit told me to prepare. We have
everything we need."

And then she saw only Father John, and put her arms closely about his
neck, and with wide, tearless eyes looked into his