? ? ? ? And then in sudden brutality that was as unlike Clayton as courteous consideration is unlike an ape, he blurted out:
? ? ? ? "When your forest god left you he was doubtless hurrying to the feast."
? ? ? ? He was sorry ere the words were spoken though he did not know how cruelly they had cut the girl. His regret was for his baseless disloyalty to one who had saved the lives of every member of his party, and offered harm to none.
? ? ? ? The girl's head went high.
? ? ? ? "There could be but one suitable reply to your assertion, Mr. Clayton," she said icily, "and I regret that I am not a man, that I might make it." She turned quickly and entered the cabin.
? ? ? ? Clayton was an Englishman, so the girl had passed quite out of sight before he deduced what reply a man would have made.
? ? ? ? "Upon my word," he said ruefully, "she called me a liar. And I fancy I jolly well deserved it," he added thoughtfully.
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