She whirled back to meet him and lift him against her heart.
"You are a man," she told him. "And one day you will stay by your woman, please God, as I am going to choose to stay by my man to-night and through Eternity."
Jellybrand surveyed the little scene, his face troubled, but he did not again try to prevent her from joining them.
In the canoe he leaned forward and touched her cold hand.
"The smallest boy," he said softly. "Did you adopt him?"
"No. He is Cyprian's. His mother is dead."
He was puzzled, but not inquisitive. Ferlie added dully, "That was before we found one another."
"I see." said her companion compassionately. And did not.
It took a long time in the canoes, under Kingfisher's guidance, to arrive at the spot where, eventually, they caught sight of the dim outlines of the motor-boat.
There was no sign of any living thing on the shimmering starlit shore. The canoes crept closer and closer, under the shadow of the bank, cutting the water noiselessly as otters. The foremost one, containing Kingfisher, had only just been beached when he took a sudden flying leap into the creek. They heard him scruffling with someone on the far side of the motor-boat.