"What? You would stay here in this place of evil, knowing what goes on!"
"There is no other way," she repeated. "I will have learned much since my coming here, Master Ormerod, and amongst other things, to think the less harshly of you."
"For that I am thankful," I replied, "but sure, you must let us take you back to Fort Orange. Governor Burnet will care for you."
"It can not be," she insisted. "My place is here. Wicked as they be, these men here—and he who is called my father is not the cleanest of them—they work in a good cause. 'Tis for me to stay by and see they do what is expected of them for it."
"We will force you to come with us," I declared hotly.
She shook her cumbrous mask.
"You would not do so. Now be off, sir. The False Faces will be on us any moment—and I am not wishing to be caught by them, even though they would not venture to do me harm."
A burst of ferocious yelling came from the heart of the pine wood.
"They have seen traces of us in the open space by the altar," interpreted Ta-wan-ne-ars.
He swung musket and bundle to his shoulder, and faced the bear-mask, a splendid figure in bronze.