The river was finally quiet but for the empty swallowing of its whirlpool.
"Look!" Roya exclaimed.
IV
Toka followed Roya's gaze up river. As if guided by an invisible pilot, an empty black canoe was drifting straight toward Toka. The party was swiftly in. Thrusting his paddle into the mucky bank, Toka shoved the canoe into the current. The paddles dipped, the canoe shot up-stream into the gloom of the winding cavern.
Roya's voice echoed musically. "Isn't that a ring you're wearing, Toka?"
A miracle she hadn't noticed the damnable thing sooner!
"Let me see it!" Roya laughed.
"No time to stop paddling."
"But where did you get it?"