at me, my dear. I am wondering if it has
occurred to Roger the mysterious 'Country Beyond' of which Yellow
Bird dreamed might be the great country down there--south--BEYOND THE
BORDER--the United States?"

Something which he could not control seemed to drive the words from
his lips, and in an instant he saw that Nada had seized upon their
significance. Her eyes widened. The blue in them grew darker, and Roger
observed her fingers grip suddenly in the softness of her dress as she
turned from Father John to look at him.

"Or--it might be China, or Africa, or the South Seas," he tried to
laugh, remembering his old visions. "It might be--anywhere."

Nada's lips trembled, as if she were about to speak; and then very
quietly she sat, with her hands tightly clasped in her lap, and Father
John knew she was not expressing the thought in her heart when she said,

"Someday I want to tell Yellow Bird how much I love her."

Now in these hours since he and his master had come to the Burntwood
it seemed to Peter that he had lost something very great, for in his
happiness McKay had taken but scant notice of him, and Nada seemed to
have found a greater joy than that which a long time ago she had found
in his comradeship. So now, as she saw him lying in his loneliness a
short distance away, Nada suddenly ran to him, and together they went
into the thick screen of the balsams, Peter yipping joyously, and Nada
without so much as turning her head in the direction of Roger and Father
John. But even in that bird-like swiftness with which she had left them,
Father John had caught the look in her eyes.

"I have made a mistake," he confessed humbly. "I have sinned, because in
her I have roused the temptation to urge you to fly away with her--down
there--south. She is a woman, and being a woman she has infinite
faith in Yellow Bird, for Yellow Bird helped to give you to her. She
believes--"

"And I--I--also believe," said McKay, staring at the green balsams.

"And yet--it is better for you to remain. God means that judgment and
happiness should come in their turn."

Jolly Roger rose to his feet, facing the south.

"It is a temptation, father. It would be hard to give her up--now. If
Breault would only wait a little while. But if he comes--NOW--"

He walked away slowly, following through the balsams where Nada and
Peter had gone. Father John watched him go, and a trembling smile came
to his lips when he was alone. In his heart he knew