He spoke no word as he crushed her hand.  The hot grip of his fingers, the deep flush in his face, was interpreted by her as a welcome which it did not require speech to strengthen.  He shook hands with Brokaw, and as the three followed after the factor his eyes sought vainly for Pierre and Jeanne.

They were gone, and he felt suddenly a thrill of repugnance at the gentle pressure of Eileen Brokaw’s hand upon his arm.

VIII

Philip did not see the hundred staring eyes that followed in wonderment the tall, beautiful girl who walked at his side.  He knew that Miss Brokaw was talking and laughing, and that he was nodding his head and answering her, while his brain raged for an idea that would give him an excuse for leaving her to follow Jeanne and Pierre.  The facts that Gregson had left him so strangely, that Eileen had come with her father, and that, instead of clearing up the mystery in which they were so deeply involved, the arrival of the London ship had even more hopelessly entangled them, were forgotten for the moment in the desire to intercept Jeanne and Pierre before they could leave Churchill.  Miss Brokaw herself unconsciously gave him the opportunity for which he was seeking.

“You don’t look very happy, Philip,” she exclaimed, in a chiding voice, meant only for his ears.  “I thought—­perhaps—­my coming would make you glad.”

Philip caught eagerly at the half question in her voice.

“I feared you would notice it,” he said, quickly.  “I was afraid you would think me indifferent because I did not go out to meet you in the boat, and because I stood hidden at the end of the pier when you landed.  But I was looking for a man.  I have been hunting for him for a long time.  And I saw his face just as we came through the crowd.  That is why I am—­am rattled,” he laughed.  “Will you excuse me if I go back?  Can you find some excuse for the others?  I will return in a few minutes, and then you will not say that I am unhappy.”

Miss Brokaw drew her hand from his arm.

“Surely I will excuse you,” she cried.  “Hurry, or you may lose him.  I would like to go with you if it is going to be exciting.”

Philip turned to Brokaw and the factor, who were close behind them.

“I am compelled to leave you here,” he explained.  “I have excused myself to Miss Brokaw, and will rejoin you almost immediately.”

He lost no time in hurrying back to the shore of the Bay.  As he had expected, Jeanne and her companion were no longer in sight.  There was only one direction in which they could have disappeared so quickly, and this was toward the cliff.  Once hidden by the fringe of forest, he hastened his steps until he was almost running.  He had reached the base of the huge mass of rock that rose up from the sea, when down the narrow trail that led to the cliff there came a figure to meet him.  It was an Indian boy, and he advanced to question him.  If Jeanne and Pierre had passed that way the boy must surely have seen them.