heeks in her palms and looking
from Kemper to me with eyes made starry by excitement.

"And _what_ do you think!" she continued, under her breath. "To prove
what they said they brought for my inspection a skull. And then two more
skulls like the first one.

"Every skull had been painted with Spanish red; the coarse black hair
still stuck to the scalps. And, behind, just over where the pituitary
gland is situated, was a hollow, bony orbit--unmistakably the socket of
a _third eye_!"

"W-where are those skulls?" demanded Kemper, in a voice not entirely
under control.

"They wouldn't part with one of them. I tried every possible persuasion.
On my own responsibility, and even before I communicated with Mr.
Smith--" turning toward me, "--I offered them twenty thousand dollars for
a single skull, staking my word of honour that the Bronx Museum would
pay that sum.

"It was useless. Not only do the Seminoles refuse to part with one of
those skulls, but I have also learned that I am the first person with a
white skin who has ever even heard of their existence--so profoundly have
these red men of the Everglades guarded their secret through centuries."

After a silence Kemper, rather pale, remarked:

"This is a most astonishing business, Miss Grey."

"What do you think about it?" I demanded. "Is it not worth while for us
to explore Black Bayou?"

He nodded in a dazed sort of way, but his gaze remained riveted on the
girl. Presently he said:

"Why does Miss Grey go?"

She turned in surprise:

"Why am I going? But it is _my_ discovery--_my_ contribution to science,
isn't it?"

"Certainly!" we exclaimed warmly and in unison. And Kemper added: "I was
only thinking of the dangers and hardships. Smith and I could do the
actual work--"

"Oh!" she cried in quick protest, "I wouldn't miss one moment of the
excitement, one pain, one pang! I _love_ it! It would simply break my
heart not to share every chance, hazard, danger of this expedition--every
atom of hope, excitement, despair, uncertainty--and the ultimate
success--the unsurpassable thrill of exultation in the final instant
of triumph!"

She sprang to her feet in a flash of uncontrollable enthusiasm, and stood
there, aglow with courage and resolution, making a highly agreeable
picture in her apron and cuffs, the sea wind fluttering the bright
tendrils of her hair under her dainty cap.

We got to our feet much impressed; and now absolutely convinced that
there did