by his
tone that he was putting strong restraint upon himself, "if there were
the smallest chance of my ever doing so. But I know my limitations; I
know it's all no good. Once a blackguard, always a blackguard, eh, Mrs.
Perceval? And I'd be a special sort of fool if I tried to persuade you
otherwise."

But still she only laughed, in spite of the agitation but half-subdued
in his voice.

"I would offer to steer," she remarked irrelevantly, "only I don't feel
equal to the responsibility. And since you always get there sooner or
later, my help would be superfluous."

"You share the popular belief about my luck?" asked Hone.

"To be sure," she answered gaily. "Even you could scarcely manage to
find fault with it."

He drew a deep breath. "Not with you in the boat," he said.

She withdrew her hand from the water, and flicked it in his face.

"Hadn't you better slow down? You are getting overheated. I feel as if I
were sitting in front of a huge furnace."

"And you object to it?" said Hone.

"Of course I do. It's unseasonable. You Irish are so tropical."

"It's only by contrast," urged Hone. "You will get acclimatised in
time."

She raised her head with a dainty gesture.

"You take a good deal for granted, Major Hone."

"Faith, I know it!" he answered. "It's yourself that has turned my
head."

Her laugh held more than a hint of scorn.

"How amusing," she commented, "for both of us!"

"Does it amuse you?" said Hone.

The question did not call for a reply, and she made none. Only once more
she gathered up some water out of the magic moonlit ripples, and tossed
it in his face.

V

They reached their destination far ahead of any of the others. A thick
belt of jungle stretched down to the river where they landed, enveloping
both banks a little higher up the stream.

"What an awesome place!" remarked Mrs. Perceval, as she stepped ashore.
"I hope the rest will arrive soon, or I shall develop an attack of
nerves."

"You've got me to take care of you," suggested Hone.

She uttered her soft, little laugh.

"Faith, Major Hone, and I'm not at all sure that it isn't yourself I
want to run away from!"

Hone was securing the boat, and made no immediate response. But as he
straightened himself, he laughed also.

"Am I so formidable, then?"

She flashed a swift glance at him.

"I haven't quite decided."

"You have known me long enough," he protested.

She shrugged her shoulders lightly.

"Have I e