Ambrose turned away with a helpless gesture.  Colina moved haughtily toward the door.  Within ten minutes their wonderful happiness had been born and strangled again.

“I don’t suppose you will want to send my letter now,” Ambrose said with a sinking heart.

Colina blushed with shame, but she would not let him see it.  “Certainly,” she said coldly.  “What has this to do with a question of justice?”

Ambrose, sore and indignant, would not make any more overtures.  “There’s a postscript I must add,” he said coldly, extending his hand for the letter.

“I cannot wait for you to write it,” she said.  “Tell me.  I will add it myself.”

“I think it likely,” Ambrose said, “that Nesis”—­Colina winced at the sound of the name—­“has been spirited away from the Kakisa village.  There are two other villages, one on Buffalo Lake and one on Kakisa Lake, about sixty miles up the Kakisa River.

“They brought her up the river with me, so it is hardly likely she was sent down again to Buffalo Lake.  I think she’s at Kakisa Lake, if she’s alive.”

Colina bowed.  “I will tell Germain Grampierre,” she said.  Her hand rose to the door.

Ambrose’s heart failed him.  “Ah, Colina!” he cried reproachfully and imploringly.

She slipped out without answering.

Ambrose flung himself on his bed and cursed fate again.  He was not experienced enough to realize that this was not necessarily a fatal break.

All night he tried to steel his heart against fate and against Colina.  It was harder now.  It was an utterly wretched Ambrose that faced the dawn.

While it was still early Emslie passed him a note through the window.  Ambrose knew the handwriting, and tore it open with trembling fingers.  He read: 

MY DEAR LOVE: 

I was hateful.  It was the meanest kind of jealousy.  I was furious at her because she helped you at the time when I was on the side of your enemies.  I have been suffering torments all night.  Forgive me.  I am going to find Nesis myself.  That is the only way I can make up for everything.  I love you.

COLINA.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

COLINA’S ENTERPRISE.

Upon leaving Ambrose, Colina despatched his letter across the river by
Michel Trudeau.  She then dressed for dinner.

To-night was to be an occasion, for beside Inspector Egerton they had
Duncan Seton, inspector of Company posts, and his wife.

The Setons had come down with the police.  Seton was to run the post at Fort Enterprise while John Gaviller and Gordon Strange were absent at the trials.

Colina, buoyed up with anger, dressed with care.  She saw herself self-possessed and queenly at the foot of her own table’s favorite picture of herself.

Nevertheless, the reaction was swiftly setting in.  She couldn’t help having a generous heart, nor could she put away the picture of Ambrose and his miserable, untasted supper.