"I'll see that you do not meet her!" returned the Missourian, in mock alarm. Then they laughed light-heartedly. "I know whom she'd choose—if she had the opportunity. Burroughs wouldn't stand a show, nor I either."
"There she is now." Danvers nodded toward the ford, where he had seen, for several moments, the trader and Eva riding easily.
"Bob's got his nerve! How about Pine Coulee and the child?" exploded Latimer.
"S-sh!" warned Philip, seeing a movement of the bullberry bushes near them.
As the young men looked toward the riders, whose mounts were close together and walking slowly, a dark face, with passionate eyes gleaming, pushed cautiously out from the sheltering branches, and Pine Coulee also watched the unconscious maid and the trader.
When Colonel Macleod, wishing to impress his American visitors, ordered the troops under his command to go through their cavalry exercises, Miss Thornhill sat on a glossy mare beside him, while troopers passed at a walk or trot, and wondered why she had found it so difficult to meet Lieutenant Danvers. As the lines of superb and faultlessly groomed men and horses swept past on the last mad gallop she forgot her brooding and clapped her hands enthusiastically.
"Oh, Colonel Macleod! That was splendid! Make them go on, and on!" she cried.
"Why, of course, if you wish," assented the gallant Macleod, forgetting that the rise of ground directly in front of him had the river on its farther slope.