"Or about the people round here?" "No." "It was strange," she said, "your saying 'tiger' and 'gorilla' just then. It was what I would have said--if I could have spoken." "I am sorry, very sorry we alarmed you," said Roger. "We didn't want to intrude." "Oh, I am glad you were here," she cried. "You don't know how glad I was to turn round and see you two instead of----" "Instead of tigers and gorillas?" laughed Roger. "Oh! I beg your pardon!" he cried in swift contrition at the look which the words brought back to her eyes. "I wouldn't for the world--but, surely--it's impossible; there are no dangerous wild animals on this pretty little key." "No," she said slowly, looking away from him. "No, there are not any dangerous--wild beasts on this key. It--it was just a morning nightmare." She laughed, looking up. "Perhaps I wasn't thoroughly awake yet." But she shuddered, and swiftly made pretense she was shaking herself. "There; I'm awake now. There are no dangerous wild animals here. There are only--people. It--it was just--just moonshine." "Do they make a little of it round here, miss?" Higgins winked eagerly and with such energy that his ears and hat moved. "Oh, Higgins!" groaned Roger; but the girl threw back her head and laughed with relief and gratitude for the chance of merriment until the virgin morning seemed filled with song. Higgins' hair-trigger laughter rumbled deep accompaniment; and, as always, the engineer's merriment forced itself upon Roger, and he joined in, while the silver of the girl's tones pealed above both, tinkling in the sun-kissed palms above, rolling out over the purple water, out to the mooring of the immaculate Egret. "We were on the Swastika, and rose early," explained Roger. "You're land buyers?" "Yes, I've invested in a big tract way up the river." "You're going up to-day?" "Yes." "Then--are you going right back after seeing your land--like the others?" "I plan to develop that land--if it is anything like what it was represented." Her manner changed. She grew thoughtful. "Whom did you buy your land from--if it isn't too impertinent?" "From Senator Fairclothe's company." "From Senator----! Why, that's----" she stopped. "Tell me, please; how was that land represented?" "Prairie land. Soil reports and surveys were furnished. I discounted them fifty per cent, and still thought it a good investment." "Did the fact that--Senator Fairclothe recommended the land influence you?" "Why, certainly. He's a United States Senator." She turned swiftly toward the Egret, but not swiftly enough to hide the flush that rushed to her cheeks. "I hope--I do hope you are not disappointed," she said. Her laughter of a moment before, penetrating to the cabin of the Egret, had brought a tall, thin woman, the sun glinting on the diamond pendants in her ears, out from a stateroom forward. "Ah, my dear Annette!" "Aunty! You awake so early?"