with you. Whether I wish to or not, I am compelled to trust myself to your
protection. You may call me Christie Maclaire, or anything else you
please; you may even think me unworthy respect, but you possess the face
of a gentleman, and as such I am going to trust you--I must trust you.
Will you accept my confidence on these terms?"

Keith did not smile, nor move. Weak from hunger and fatigue, he leaned
wearily against the wall. Nevertheless that simple, womanly appeal awoke
all that was strong and sacrificing within him, although her words were so
unexpected that, for the moment, he failed to realize their full purport.
Finally he straightened up.

"I--I accept any terms you desire," he gasped weakly, "if--if you will
only give one return."

"One return?--what?"

"Food; we have eaten nothing for sixty hours." Her face, which had been so
white, flushed to the hair, her dark eyes softening.

"Why, of course; sit down. I ought to have known from your face. There is
plenty here--such as it is--only you must wait a moment."




Chapter IX

The Girl of the Cabin