"Northwest of the fort, two days' journey," said Davy. "We were there a week, and then the kids got well. On the way back home Mary had a warning, She said she felt a danger threatening you." Shyness overcame the boy here. "You—you were friendly to us," he stammered. "So we wanted to come to you. We didn't know where you were, but Mary said the warning came from the south, so we left the trail, and hit straight across the prairie till we came to the river trail. There we found your tracks, and followed them here."
"A warning!" said Jack, amazed. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know," the boy said simply. "Mary has them."
Mary returned to the fire with a composed face. All three of the youngsters were embarrassed for speech. How could they find words to fit the strange feelings that agitated them.
Jack, gazing at Mary's graceful pose, on her knees by the fire, suddenly exclaimed: "Why, it was you, all the time!"
"What was?" asked Mary.
"The mermaid."
"What's a mermaid?" Davy wanted to know.
Mary answered before Jack could. "An imaginary creature, half woman, half fish."
"Why, how did you know?" asked Jack unthinkingly.