Nahnya recoiled in a kind of terror. "You—you kissed me!" she faltered. "Me!"
"I'll do it again!" cried Kitty. "And again! And again! I think you are just sweet!"
With an odd little cry the dark girl hid her face on Kitty's shoulder and clung to her, and broke into a silent shaken weeping. Broken whispers of confession reached the white woman's ear.
"I never have a friend.... Always inside of me I am alone.... I think I am marked out to be alone.... My heart hurt me like any woman's heart ... but always I mus' make out I don't care about anything..."
An hour later they heard a hail from far up the river. Kitty leaped up in great excitement. Nahnya answered the hail. She had the riverman's trick of sending the voice to a distance. By and by they came flying around the bend, father and sons paddling like men possessed, and momentarily raising hoarse, anxious cries. Nahnya tore off a branch of leaves, and putting it into Kitty's hands, urged her down to the beach to wave it. At the sight of her safe on dry land, the three men sent up tremendous shouts of joy and relief. Nahnya retired up on the bank.
They landed, and Kitty was instantly locked in her father's arms. Dick collapsed in the boat, while Bill's legs caved under him on the beach. Both boys wept, unashamed.
"We heard the rapids," Bill blubbered. "We thought we were just too late!"
They quickly recovered. Kitty had presently to submit to their bear-hugs, and again to her father's embraces. All four talked at once, and foolishly laughed. Kitty was abashed by their transports. Never had she seen her men so stirred. Afterward questions began to fly.
"How did you drift off without knowing it?"
"Why didn't you scramble ashore and let the boat go?"