For the greater part of three days she sewed assiduously, surrounded the while by three admiring children who listened entranced to a new kind of Scheherazade tales. Between times she gathered flowers for the many jugs and jars, learned to make salads and to perform little household duties hitherto unknown. Then suddenly there came a swift change of mood. The sense of uneasiness, the need of freedom, the desire that pervades the wistful note of the imprisoned bird was in her blood. "My life is too full of work-days," she declared. "Three days of domesticity! I can no more. I will see if Jo hasn't returned." Seeking new fields that night, she slipped surreptitiously down to the mess hall. "Halloa!" greeted Jo rapturously. "I've been watching for you, Li'l Penny Ante. Just got back. What you been doing since the dance?" "Behaving. And I must get even some way or go stark mad. What have you been doing?" "Me? Jakey here and I've been entertaining ourselves with a game of craps." "Play it with me instead. It's the only game I've never learned." "Sure, I'll show you. Sit down here on the floor." Later Kingdon, in search of the missing guest, strolled down to the mess hall, guided thither by a rippling laugh chorused with responsive guffaws. Curious, he looked in. Seated on the floor were Jo and Pen excitedly playing an evenly matched game, while an adoring circle of men applauded, encouraged and scoffed in turn. There were two patches of crimson in Pen's cream-white cheeks, a bright sparkle of excitement in her eyes, which changed to the apprehensive look of a child expecting reproof as she looked up and saw Kingdon. "I'm having such a good time!" she told him deprecatingly. He smiled. "You look it. The children and the rest of us are lamenting your absence. We want a good time, too." "I'll come again," she promised, with a backward look at the men, as she docilely walked on with Kingdon. Jo hurried after them. "To-morrow's field day," he reminded her. "You'll be there?" "I'm living on the thought of it. You're the manager, aren't you?" He grinned. "_Acting_ manager--for Kurt Walters." "Mayn't I do a stunt, too?" she asked eagerly. "Sure thing, you may. We'll be glad to have a novelty in the way of a lady performer. What'll it be?" "I'll see you in the morning and tell you what I can do." Mrs. Kingdon smiled understandingly when she heard of the game of craps. "Just a few days up here have done wonders for you," she observed, looking at her young charge approvingly. "Yes; I feel physically fit--like a real soldier." CHAPTER VI With a little sigh of relief and pleasure, Pen laid aside some garments, on which she had been steadily and surreptitiously working, and sought Jo. "Come down under cover of one of the hills," she urged, "and I will show you what my part in the day's work will be. Special exhibition. Admittance free, but no other spectators allowed."