Though he stood within reach of the gunwale, a gulf of three years was between.

The womanhood of twenty, added unto the girl of seventeen, made a sum more prodigious than he had imagined.

He did not know whether to bear-hug the radiant young creature or to take her hand and help her ashore.

But there was no apparent hitch, for she leaped beside him and was into his arms.

Those above looked away to a man till the two came up the bank hand in hand.
"Gentlemen, my daughter." There was a great pride in his face.
Frona embraced them all with a comrade smile, and each man felt that for an instant her eyes had looked straight into his..