He slackened his pace then, and at last stood still. He did not alter his
hold upon her, however, but stood listening intently for many seconds.
She hung impotent across his shoulder, feeling still too paralyzed to
move.

He turned his head at last and spoke to her. "Have I terrified the senses
out of you, little new chum?" he whispered, softly.

That awoke her from her passivity. She made her first effort for freedom.

He drew her down into his arms and held her close.

"Right down," she said, insistently.

But he held her still. "If I let you go, you'll wander maybe, and get
lost," he said.

His action surprised her, but yet that instinctive trust with which he
had inspired her long ago remained, refusing to be shaken.

"Put me right down!" she said again. "And tell me why you did it!"

He set her on her feet, but he still held her. "Can't you guess?" he
said.

"No!" she said. "No!"

She spoke a little wildly. Was it the first doubt that ran shadow--like
across her brain, leaving her so strangely cold? She wished it had not