ng
them out to him and whispering my question so as not to disturb the
motionless girl.

"Is that the Landing over there?"

"Ah certainly 'spects it must be, sah; dar ain't no other town directly
'round dese parts."

"Then those lights higher up must be on the bluff at Beaucaire?"

"Yas, sah; looks like de whol' house was lit up. I reckon things am
right lively up thar 'bout now." He chuckled to himself, smothering a
laugh. "It's sure goin' fer ter bother Massa Donaldson ter lose dis
nigger, sah, fer Ah's de only one he's got."

The lights slowly faded away in the far distance, finally disappearing
altogether as we rounded a sharp bend in the river bank. The engine
increased its stroke, giving vent to louder chugging, and I could feel
the strain of the planks beneath us as we battled the current. This
new noise may have aroused her, for Rene lifted her head as though
suddenly startled and glanced about in my direction.

"We have passed the village?" she asked, rather listlessly.

"Yes; it is already out of sight. From the number of lights burning I
imagine our escape has been discovered."

"And what will they do?" an echo of dismay in her voice.

All fear of any treachery on the part of the negro had completely
deserted me, and I slipped down from my perch on the edge of the
cockpit to a place on the bench at her side. She made no motion to
draw away, but her eyes were upon my face, as though seeking to read
the meaning of my sudden action.

"We can talk better here," I explained. "The engine makes so much
noise."

"Yes; and--and somehow I--I feel more like trusting you when I am able
to see your face," she admitted frankly. "I am actually afraid to be
alone."

"I have felt that this was true from the first. Indeed, I seriously
wonder at the trust you have reposed in me--a total stranger."

"But--but how could I help it? Have I been unwomanly? I think I
scarcely know what I have done. I could very easily have told what was
right in the old days; but--but surely you understand--this was not to
be decided by those rules. I was no longer free. Do you mean that you
blame me for what has been done?"

"Far from it. You have acted in the only way possible. To me you are
a wonderfully brave woman. I doubt if one in a thousand could have
faced the situation as well."

"Oh I can hardly feel I have been that. It seems to me I have shown
myself strangely weak--permitting you to do exactly as y