She comforted
herself at first with the thought that with the brawling,
deafening stream between them, there would be no chance for
embarrassing conversation. But soon her sympathies became aroused,
as she saw him toilsomely making his way over the rocks and
through the tangled thickets: and as she could not speak to him,
she smiled her encouragement so often that she felt it would be
impossible to go back to her old reserve.
Stanhope now came to a little opening in the brush. The cleared
ground sloped evenly down to the stream, and its current was
divided by a large rock. He hailed the opportunity here offered
with delight, for he was very anxious to speak to her before they
should join the others. So he startled Elsie by walking out into
the clearing, away from the stream.
"Well, I declare; that's cool, to go and leave me alone without a
word," she thought.
But she was almost terror-stricken to see him turn and dart to the
torrent like an arrow. With a long flying leap, he landed on the
rock in the midst of the stream, and then, without a second's
hesitation, with the impetus already acquired, sprang for the
solid ground where she stood, struck it, wavered, and would have
fallen backward into the water had not she, quick as thought,
stepped forward and given him her hand.
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