e network of wrinkles around her
eyes and at the corners of her mouth was only faintly visible.

"But I'm getting old," she thought. "Those long trips have rejuvenated
my spirits but my body is tired. I haven't the physique for adventuring
any longer. I don't think I could stand a shock of any kind, great or
small."

Her thoughts broke off at this point and she idly touched the railing of
the porch with one of her little feet and set the hammock to a gentle
motion like a rocking cradle.

"No, I shall not put myself in the way of shocks. I am glad we are not
touring this summer; just taking life peacefully----"

Again her thoughts broke off. Her eyes wandered across the wide vista of
valley flanked by a range of mountains. The landscape was flecked by
great shadows cast by lazily moving ribbons of cloud. The foliage of the
trees and the undergrowth on the opposite mountains were like rugs of
velvet. One might imagine a gigantic figure stretched out on the soft
green patches of forest. There were no harsh outlines to the mountains.
Their rugged edges were veiled and softened by the shadows of the
passing clouds. Miss Campbell closed her eyes.

"Life is very pleasant," she thought, "even at sixty."

After a long dreamy period as untroubled as a summer sea, some instinct
compelled her to open her eyes, and she found herself looking straight
into the eyes of Mrs. Lupo who was standing at the foot of the hammock.
Mrs. Lupo held her hands behind her back. Miss Campbell noticed at once
that the woman's expression had changed. She had lost that look of a shy
gentle animal. Her eyes had narrowed into little slits and her upper lip
was drawn back showing an even row of glistening teeth. Without taking
her eyes off Mrs. Lupo's, Miss Campbell sat up very straight and stiff.

"Well, what do you want?" she demanded, always holding the woman's gaze
with hers.

Mrs. Lupo moved a step nearer, still with her hands behind her back.

"Stand where you are," ordered Miss Campbell, fired with superhuman
courage and never once shifting her gaze. "Stand where you are," she
repeated. There was not a tremor in her voice. "Now, give me what you
are hiding behind you."

For at least a moment the two women stood looking at each other. If Miss
Campbell had flinched, there is no telling what the half-savage
creature, insane with rage, might have done.

And even now, with a swift movement, Mrs. Lupo brandished a long carving
knife in Miss C