shoreward side spreading out their great branches in a leafy canopy,
while on the other, acres of rushes and lily-pads lined the way. It
was a fairy-like scene through which she moved, and but for the serious
thoughts which were agitating her mind, her soul would have been
thrilled at the magnificent vista spreading out before her.

Reaching at length the mouth of the brook, where the shallowness of the
water made further progress impossible, she ran the bow of the canoe
gently upon the shore under the shade of a big maple tree. Here she
rested and viewed with interest the antics of two red squirrels as they
frisked about and scolded most furiously at the intrusion of the
stranger in their domain. So funny did they appear that Jean was
compelled to laugh outright. She always enjoyed watching the tiny
creatures of the wild, especially the squirrels. She could get closer
to these saucy and daring rascals of the nimble feet than their shyer
comrades of the forest.

Presently in the midst of their antics the squirrels suddenly started,
ceased their scolding, and scurried rapidly away. That something had
frightened them Jean was certain, and she grew nervous. She was about
to back the canoe from the shore and leave the place, when the tall
form of a man unexpectedly emerged from the forest and stood before
her. So great was her own fright that for a few seconds she was
completely unnerved, although she uttered no sound. Her face became
very white, and her heart beat wildly. Then recognising the intruder
as Dane Norwood, she gave a slight hysterical laugh, and her tense body
relaxed.

"Oh, my, how you frightened me!" she gasped. "I didn't know you at
first."