I thought that they looked at the maid in the canoe. "He tarries,"
they answered.
I gave the signal and we slipped away. "To the shore," I commanded,
and the two canoes took new vigor. The men, like stall-fed beasts,
spurred themselves by the prospect of eating and idleness, and we were
soon at the beach. I bent over the woman.
"Be prepared," I whispered. "I must tell the men. If I play the clown
it is but to impress them, mademoiselle."
She met my glance with a look of entire understanding, and rising gave
me her finger tips and stepped from the canoe. I do not know how she
turned all in one instant from a sun-burned stripling to a great lady,
but that was what occurred. The men, stretching themselves as they
stepped to the shore, stopped and stared. I saw that I must speak
quickly.
"Let the canoes alone," I said. "We will stop here but a moment.
Go--all of you--and gather green twigs and young ferns, and flowers if
you can find them. Then bring them to me here. Go."
The men stood as jointless as tin images. But I saw that they were not
only dumfounded but afraid, so I laid my hand on my sword, to give them
better cause for their stupefaction. "Go!" I shouted again, and so
perverse is my nature that, though I knew well I had no cause for
merriment, I swallowed hard to keep back a smile.
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