ath the strokes which sprung the spruce blade and boiled the water
to a foam, while rippling, rising ridges stood out upon his back and
arms as they rose and fell, stretched and bent and straightened.

A half-luminous, opaque glow was over the waters, but the banks quickly
dropped away, until there was nothing to guide him but the suck of the
current and the sight of the dim-set stars. His haste now became
something crying that lashed him fiercely, for he seemed to be standing
still, and so began to mutter at the crawling stream and to complain of
his thews, which did not drive him fast enough, only the sound he made
was more like the whine of a hound in leash or a wolf that runs with
hot nostrils close to the earth.

Runnion drove his Peterborough towards the shore with powerful strokes,
and ran its nose up on the gravel, rose, stretched himself, and dragged
it farther out, then looked down at Necia.

"Well, what is it, yes or no? Do you want me for a husband or for a
master?" She cowered in the stern, a pale, fearful creature, finally
murmuring:

"You--you must give me time."

"Not another hour. Here's where you declare yourself; and remember, I
don't care which you choose, only you'd better be sensible."

She cast her despairing eyes up and down the river, then at the
wilderness on either shore; but it was as silent and unpeopled as if it
had been created that morning. She must have time; she would temporize,
pretending to yield, and then betray him to the first comer; a promise
exacted under duress would not be binding.

"I'll go quietly," she said, in a faint voice.

"I knew you'd see that I'm acting square. Come! Get the cramp out of
yourself while I make a pot of coffee." He held out his hand to assist
her, and she accepted it, but stumbled as she rose, for she had been
crouched in one position for several hours, and her limbs were stiff.
He caught her and swung her ashore; then, instead of putting her feet
to the ground, he pressed her to himself roughly and kissed her. She
gave a stifled cry and fought him off, but he laughed and held her the
closer.

"Ain't I good for one kiss? Say, this is the deuce of an engagement.
Come, now--"

"No, no, no!" she gasped, writhing like a wild thing; but he crushed
his lips to hers again and then let her go, whereupon she drew away
from him panting, dishevelled, her eyes wide and filled with horror.
She scrubbed her lips with the back of her hand, as if to erase h