prevail against what
you call his cold logic. He's certain that he's right, and he has the
power to make me go."

"Oh, if I only had the brains to out-argue him!" My voice choked, and I
bowed my head in her lap.

For a while we were silent. Her hand continued to stroke my hair, and
soon her fingers strayed to my temple and gently pressed it--as if she
knew that my head burned and ached, and wanted to make it well.

"You don't have to argue, always my own," I heard her whisper. "There's
something stronger than words pleading for you."

I looked up quietly, saying:

"Let's run away to-night! Let's have another rescue, and go back to our
Oasis----" But she stopped me by putting her hand over my mouth,
although she was breathing fast and the color had flown to her cheeks.

"Don't, don't," she gasped. "I've thought of that so many times!"

"To-night," I begged. "You know I'll always make you happy?"

"Happy?" Her eyes, half closed, held mine with a look that did not try
to hide its longing. "There'd be no happiness on earth like that of
being entirely yours at our Oasis!"

"Then, sweetheart----"

"No, Jack," she now sat straighter. "I was dreaming. Besides, he'd
follow with every officer in Florida. Don't you understand, dear, that
he has the _right_? I'm helpless to refuse! I can't--possibly! It's
simply awful, but it's got to be."

Yet I believed that she had been on the point of yielding, and was about
to urge still further when Monsieur's voice, speaking to Echochee,
brought me to my feet.

"Well, my boy Jack," he exclaimed, entering with a cheeriness I found
detestable, "we shall leave her now, eh? She has packing to do, and must
get early to rest."

His protectorate seemed to brook no opposition, and an angry retort
sprang to my lips which remained unspoken when I saw the pallor of
Doloria's face.

"Yes," she said, without animation, "I must pack. See you to-morrow--on
the march."

So, ignoring him, I passed out. But a better humor came to me as I
thought of Tommy's scheme about the _Orchid_, and coming upon Echochee
at the landing I asked--lightly for her benefit, yet quite seriously for
myself:

"Is there any magic in your tribe that can bring a troubled princess
sleep and pleasant dreams?"

I knew that she was searching my face with her black little eyes that
glistened like a snake's, as she answered slowly:

"Injun maiden find plenty good dream when her head lay on breast of
sleeping brave.