did this girl, this child of the forest and the river, who mingled
in herself the different beauty of the Saxon and the Spaniard, ripened
by the African sun and dignified by the long companionship of Nature.
There was a grace about her movements, a purity in her face, a mystery
in the wide eyes and curved and smiling lips, such as Leonard had never
seen before, and which overcame him utterly. Alas for the fickleness of
the human heart! from that moment the adoration of his youth, the dream
of his lonely years of wandering, Jane Beach, began to grow faint
and fade away. But though this was so, as yet he did not admit it to
himself; indeed, he scarcely knew it.

Juanna looked up and saw him standing before her, proud and handsome,
an air of command upon his thoughtful face, deep-chested, bearded,
vigorous, a man amongst men. She saw the admiration in his eyes and
blushed, knowing that, do what she would to prevent it, it was reflected
in her own. She remembered all that this stranger had done for her, how
he had risked his life a hundred times, how she would now have been
dead and unlovely were it not for his intrepid deeds, and remembering,
something stirred at her heart.

Was it gratitude that moved her thus? She did not know; but whatever it
was, she turned her head that he might not read it on her face. Another
moment, and she was holding out her hand to him and smiling pleasantly.

"Good morning," she said, "I hope that you have slept well, and that you
have no bad news."

"I spent eight hours in a state of absolute stupor," he answered
laughing, "and there is no news at all to speak of, except that I have
got rid of those slaves, poor creatures. I fancy that our friends, the
slave-dealers yonder, have had enough of our company, and are scarcely
likely to follow us."

Juanna turned a shade paler, and answered:

"I trust so. At least I have had enough of them. By the way, Mr. Outram,
I--I--have to thank you for a great deal;" here her eyes caught the
gleam of the gold circlet on the third finger of her left hand--"this
ring belongs to you, I will return it at once."

"Miss Rodd," said Leonard gravely, "we have passed through a very
strange adventure together; will you not keep the ring in remembrance of
it?"

Her strong impulse was to refuse. While she wore this ring the thought
of that hateful scene and still more hateful mockery of marriage would
be always with her. And yet, as the words of prompt refusal