"By gad," he thought to himself, reaching the end of his story, "Boone was right! She is no daughter of Grigg's. What a glorious girl she is!" "Evidently, sir, it was a plot against you," she said, her brow wrinkling deliciously in thought. "But why did you not stay and face the absurd charge?" "For many reasons"--and Norton was instantly on guard--"chief of which was that I have important business down the river. I believe that I take the left fork from this trail, do I not?" "If you wish to reach the Tennessee settlements, yes," she returned drily. "If you want to reach the river, take the right fork, which brings you out just below the post-road at Sullivan's ferry." "Eh? You are certain of that?" "Of course!" There was wonder in the clear grey eyes. "Why?" "Oh, no reason at all--I must have been hugely mistaken in my notions of your roads hereabouts," he smiled. "You see, I am going to the Blue River settlements and am a stranger in this country. Did you see Colonel Boone this morning?" Norton was not at all surprised to find that Duval had directed him to the wrong road. He had half suspected as much, and guessed that when the lawyer reached town he would set the pursuers going in the right direction. He was, however, no little astonished when the girl shook her head in reply to his casual question. Though Boone had not said it in so many words, he had distinctly understood that the frontiersman had seen the girl that morning. "No, Mr. Norton--I was looking for him even now. Was he in town?" "He came to town with me from Colonel Dick Taylor's this morning, Kitty--or let us say Kathleen, which is more dignified and has a right Irish touch to it. I thought he had intended to visit you long ere this!" "So had I," she returned, her eyes on the circling trees. "Still, he will be here before he leaves Kentucky. He was doubtless detained on business." Norton nodded, remembering Elisha Ayres. Probably Boone had sought the little schoolmaster and the latter had detained him. Well, so much the better; friends were at work, and there seemed to be sore need of them all. "When you see him, then, tell him of seeing me here," said the Louisianian. It would be well to have Boone kept informed. "He is a very good friend----" "Wait," the girl broke in quietly, frowning. "What are you going to do? If the rivermen are after you, as it seems they are, you would be very foolish to take the river trail----" "I am a woodsman, sweet Kitty," he laughed easily, "and I am willing to take my chance against any white man save only Boone--and perhaps one other. Would that honest Davy Crockett were here with me! He and I have had many a trail together, but--well, no matter. Trust me, Kitty; the forest can harm me not." "But the river can, my confident paladin of Louisiana! Bethink you, the rivermen can use canoes to get ahead of you, lay an ambush----"