"Nothing is the matter, I assure you. Something unexpected has happened,
but only to my father and me, and I want to talk to you about it. That
is all."

"Something unexpected? What?"

"Come down to the river side; it is quiet there and cool."

They went down together; it was growing very dark, and the turf on the
bank was soft and uneven. Lucia put her hand through Maurice's arm with
her old childlike familiarity, and said,

"Why do you excite my curiosity if you don't mean to satisfy it, you
tiresome Maurice?"

"Are you in such a hurry to hear my news, then? I feel in no such haste
to tell it. Look, do you see those lights on the river?"

"Yes. How quickly they move! What are they?"

"What we very seldom see here. They are the lights Indians use in
spearing fish."

"Indians!"

Lucia's voice was faint, and she clung to Maurice's arm. Surprised to
feel her trembling, he said, "I intended a night or two ago to tell you
to look out for them. Surely, you are not afraid of an Indian?"