"We are almost there now," he answered, amazed at the feminine
inconsistency of the command.

"Turn back at once, I say. You are not too tired to paddle up the river
again, are you?"

"No, madame," he answered, "but it is so useless; we are almost there.
We shall land you, and then the canoe will go up lighter."

"I wish to go with you. Do what I tell you, and I will pay you."

The stolid boatman gave the command; the man at the bow paddled one way,
while the man at the stern paddled another, and the canoe swung round
upstream again.




CHAPTER IV.


The sun had gone down when Miss Sommerton put her foot once more on the
landing.

"We will go and search for him," said the boatman.

"Stay where you are," she commanded, and disappeared swiftly up the
path. Expecting to find him still at the falls, she faced the prospect
of a good mile of rough walking in the gathering darkness without
flinching. But at the brow of the hill, within hearing distance of the