"I loathe the darkness that hides your beauty from me," said the young man. Strong turned his light upon her face. Tears glittered in the lashes of her eyes and a new peace and trustfulness were upon her countenance. "We shall see better to-morrow," the young man said. "My father is coming--he will be angry--he will not let me see you again--" Her voice trembled with its burden of trouble. "Leave that to me--no one shall keep us apart," he assured her. "I will see him tomorrow and tell him all." They walked awhile in silence. The whistle blew for the night-shift at Benson Falls. Its epic note bellowed over the plains and up and down the timbered hills of the Emperor. It seemed to warn the trees of their doom. She thought then of the great world, and said, "I will go with you." "And be my wife?" "Yes. I am no longer afraid." "We shall go soon," he answered. A mile or so from the shore of Buckhom they could hear the voice of a woman calling in the still woods, and they answered. Soon they saw the light of a lantern approaching in the trail. For a moment Master and the maiden whispered together. Soon the old nurse and servant of Edith Dun-more came out of the darkness trembling with fear and anxiety. Gently the girl patted the bare head of the woman as she whispered to her. In a moment all resumed their journey. When they had come to Buckhom and could see the camp-lights, Master launched a canoe and took the girl and her servant across the pond. He left them without a word and returned to the other shore. Strong and he stood for a moment listening. Then they set out for their homes far down the trail. The Emperor was busy "thinking out thoughts." "Mountaneyous!" he muttered, "g-great an' p-powerful." For the second time in his life he felt strongly moved to expression and seemed to be feeling for adequate words. Master put his arm around the big hunter and asked him what he meant. "Oh-h-h! Oh-h-h!" Strong murmured, in a tone of singular tenderness. "P-purty! purty! w-wonderful purty! She's too g-good fer this w-world. I jes' f-felt like t-takin' her on my b-back an' makin' r-right across the s-swamps an' hills fer heaven." The Emperor wiped his eyes and added: "You're as handy with a g-gal as I am with a f-fish-rod." Next day he noted this conclusion in his memorandum-book: _"Strong cant wait much longer. He's got to have a guide for the long trail."_ XXVI NEXT day Master went to Tillbury for his mail, a-walk of some twenty miles. He lingered for awhile near the shore of Buckhom on his way, but saw nothing of her he loved. Two fishermen had arrived at Strong's, and the Emperor had taken them to spring holes in the lower river. After supper that evening he built a big fire in front of the main camp, and sat down beside the fishermen with Socky and Sue in his lap. Darkness had fallen when Dunmore strode into the firelight. "Dwellers in the long house," he said, removing his cap, "I am glad to sit by your council fire."