“What is that question, oh, queen?”
“Don’t address me by that title—call me Olive,” she exclaimed, rising and laying her hand upon his shoulder. “The question I would ask is, Do you love me?”
For the space of a minute a deep silence reigned, and then Dick Vincey spoke:
“I do, Olive.”
He stretched forth his arms as if to fold her to his bosom, but she waved him back with a pleased laugh.
“I am glad,” was all she said. And then she motioned him to retire to the companionship of his friends.
Much mystified, Dick obeyed.
He was half angry at being turned aside just as he had made his declaration of love; but then he did not know that the queen was but putting him to the test to see if he was sincere.
“What’s the matter, old fellow?” asked Leo, as Dick approached the house that had been given to the swamp explorers. “You look as though you were worried over something.”
“Oh, I am all right,” was the reply; and then he took the weapons belonging to him, strapping the belt about his waist and thrusting the pair of revolvers and hunting knife into it.