These last few moments had driven her own worries from her mind, buthe was bent on recalling them, and so continued, cautiously:

"You were saying that you thought you'd go away. I think that's agood plan, and you'd be wise to do it for more reasons than one. Itwill give you time to think it all over and know your own mind--"

"I know my mind now, and yet--I don't want to go away."

"--and it will give Burrell a chance to prove himself. He'll eithershow that he has got to have you at any cost, or that you are rightin your decision. If the first should happen, you can come back tohim; if the last--why, it will be better for you, anyhow. As long asyou stay here neither one of you can look at clearly."

She was touched by his interest, and realized the force of hisargument, which, strange to say, seemed to second her own thoughts;yet she hesitated.

"I want to help you--I'm going to help you--because I've got aninterest in you like you were mine." Again he betrayed that strange,mirthless amusement.

"There is no place for me to go," exclaimed Necia, blankly, "except theMission, and I have no way of getting there."

"Don't you worry. I'll furnish the means, and you'd better go to-night"--she flinched--"yes, to-night; there's no use prolonging youragony. I'll get a boat ready and send a trusty man with you. Thecurrent is swift, and if he rows well you can make it by to-morrowevening. That's only one evening out, and I'll put some blanketsaboard so you can wrap up and have a sleep."

"I feel as if I'd never sleep again," she sighed.

"Now, now, this will come out all right yet. I'd take you down theremyself, but I've got to stay here. I've got work to do. Yes, I'vesure got work of importance in front of me."

"I must go back and get some clothes," she said, At which he wouldhave demurblack had he not seen that she could not travel inside herpresent condition.