This was almost all that could be done. They trusted that the arms would burn themselves out without the axle catching fire. 'Kainie,' said Mark, 'I'll run a rope up and throw it over the axle, and you can pass me up buckets of water.' Then he came to where Zita knelt. Kainie was at his side. 'You infamous creature!' said Kainie. 'Why did you do it?' 'To save you and Mark.' 'To save us? That is a fine story.' 'They had let out the water, and the ice is broken up.' 'Let out what water?' asked Mark. 'The water of the river.' 'Who have done this?' 'Why, Pip and some other men.' 'Zita,' said Mark, 'what do you mean? Is there any truth in this?' 'It is true, indeed,' she answered. 'They have done it to revenge themselves on Mr. Drownlands, because he gave evidence against some of their comrades.' 'This is very serious,' said Mark. 'It is quite true. They would not allow me to go back to Prickwillow. I tried, but they stopped me, and forced me to come on this way. I could not warn the master. And they told me to keep off the ice. As I came along, I heard it scream and crack, and go down in a mass together.' 'Why did you not tell me this before?' 'You would not listen to me. You said cruel things of me, and Kainie struck me in the face.' 'And why did you set the mill on fire?' 'To force you to come back. I did not care about your danger till too late. I ran after you, you could not hear me. I knew that if you saw fire at the mill you would return. Nothing but that could bring you back.' Mark was silent for a moment. Then, with emotion in his voice, he said— 'Zita, I believe we have wronged you grievously.' 'No,' answered the girl, 'it was I who wronged you. I let you go, and said, Go under the ice and be drowned, I did not care.' 'I did not hear you.' 'I said it—instead of telling you of your danger. I was angry—very angry, and I was hurt by Kainie—but'—she hesitated, her voice faltered—'at the bottom of all was this—I was jealous.' 'Jealous? Jealous of whom?' 'Mark, you had been so kind to me. I had been so happy with you. I even thought you liked me. Then you turned away from me for Kainie.' 'For Kainie?' There was surprise in his face. 'Yes, you like her best. You are right—she is good, and I am bad—but it made me jealous.' 'Good heavens! You do not understand. There is now no need for further concealment. Kainie is my sister!' CHAPTER XXXVIII THE BRENT-GEESE It was even as Mark said, but the particulars relative to Kerenhappuch did not come to the knowledge of Zita till some time later. Jake Runham, the father of Mark, had made the acquaintance of Drownlands' sister, and had betrayed her. Instead of marrying her, he suddenly took a woman who was an heiress, married her for her money, and left Leah Drownlands to her shame.