the
guide might think fit to lay out for the day. He would have expressed
his thanks to the girl, and indeed he would have made her a handsome
present, and bestowed on her a kind word at parting, but she was
nowhere to be seen. The morning meal did not occupy much time, and
after taking leave of Pritchard, Isidore and the guide set out on their
day's march.

[Illustration: Tailpiece to Chapter III]

[Illustration: Headpiece to Chapter IV]

CHAPTER IV.

On quitting the clearings, Isidore and his guide once more plunged into
the seemingly interminable forest, and had proceeded about half a
league when Boulanger, whose eye appeared to be unceasingly on the
look-out, cast a glance behind him and then came to a halt, saying,
"Why, there is that girl again! What can she be up to?"

Isidore looked round, and there she was, sure enough. Amoahmeh, too,
had stopped and remained standing about a hundred yards from them, but
she showed no signs of wishing to avoid notice, and looked as if she
only waited for them to go on in order to follow them.

"This will not do," exclaimed the guide; "she must have some object in
tracking us like this. Hola! come here," he added, beckoning to her.
Amoahmeh was at their side in a moment.

"What do you want? where are you going?" inquired Boulanger, sharply.

The girl looked timidly at him, then gazed for a minute in Isidore's
face.

"The young brave knows where they are," said she; "I am going with him."

"With him! Nonsense," ejaculated the Canadian, "you can't go with him.
Get you back, there's a good girl. Pritchard and the rest of them will
be at the old place before nightfall, I daresay. You must go back to
them."

The girl did not answer, neither did she manifest any disposition to do
as Boulanger desired her.

"_Peste!_" said the latter. "One doesn't know how to deal with these
idiots; it's of no use talking sensibly to them, and they are as
obstinate as mules. Monsieur must try to make her go back. One cannot
beat her, you know," he added half apologetically, as the thought of
Amoahmeh's resolutely refusing to relieve them of her company probably
suggested some such extreme proceeding.

"Beat her!" exclaimed Isidore indignantly, "I should think not. My
good girl, I cannot take you with me. You must go back to your
friends."

She looked at him long and wistfully. At last she said, "You are my
friend, you know where they are. I will go with you