Dunmore paused, looking down thoughtfully, his hand over his mouth.
"I will try," he repeated, in a whisper, "and, if he will let us alone, some day I may ask you to bring him here. You tell him to be wise and keep away."
Strong nodded, with full understanding of all that lay behind the message.
The old lady came out of the door and that ended their interview. She spoke to Strong with a kindly query as to his sister, and then came a great surprise for him.
"I wish she would come and visit me," said the old lady. "And I would love also to see those little children."
Dunmore took the hand of his mother and no word was spoken for half a moment.
"It's a good idea," he said, thoughtfully. Then, turning to Strong, he added: "We shall ask them to come soon. I shall want to see those children again."
In the moment of silence that followed he thought of those little people—of how they had begun to soften his heart and prepare him for what had come.
The Emperor paddled back to the landing and returned to Lost River camp.