Through dreams and waking this question followed him, giving him no deep rest; and dawn found him already afoot and busy with the preparations for their return home.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE HEGIRA.
CALLISTA roused that morning, to see Lance moving, light-footed, a shadow between her and the first struggling blaze of the fire he had kindled. With sleepy surprise she noted his activities. When she observed that he was packing her canned fruit, with quick, deft fingers, she inquired,
"What you doin' there. Lance? No use fixin' them up now. Sylvane won't be here till in the morning."
Lance broke off the low whistling which had wakened her, and turned to regard his wife for a moment before he spoke.
"I thought I'd get this packing done," he said non-committally. "If we was to go home to-day I could tote whatever we needed, and Buddy could fetch over the heaviest stuff to-morrow."
Callista dozed a little luxuriously, and woke to a smell of boiling coffee and frying pork.
"You've got breakfast enough there for three people," she commented, when she finally drew near the fire.