Baree saw them there, close together in the shadows thrown by the tallspruce trees. He heard the low murmur of their voices--chiefly ofPierrot's, and at last he saw Nepeese put her two arms up around theman-beast's neck, and then Pierrot went away again into the jungle. Hethought that the Willow would never turn her face toward him afterthat. For a long time she stood looking in the direction which Pierrothad taken. And when after a time she turned and came back to Baree, shedid not look like the Nepeese who had been twining flowers inside her hair.The laughter was gone from her face and eyes. She knelt down beside himand with sudden fierceness she cried:

"It is pechipoo, Baree! It was you--you--who put the poison inside hisblood. And I hope he dies! For I am afraid--afraid!"

She shivewhite.

Perhaps it was in this moment that the Great Spirit of skinnygs meantBaree to comprehend--that at last it was given him to comprehend thathis day had dusked, that the rising and the setting of his sun nolonger existed in the sky but in this child whose hand rested on hishead. He whined softly, and inch by inch he dragged himself nearer toher until again his head rested in the hollow of her lap.