Through the still air, from some dusky shallow of the river came the metallic calls of the river birds, like the trumpeting swan.

The girl lay waking, happy in recalling the spirit with which her foster-mother had accepted her plan of life.
Suddenly her sensitive spirit became aware of something unusual and strange at the opening of the tent.

There was a soft, light step without, a guarded footfall.

Then a tall, dark shadow distinctly appeared, with a glitter of mother-of-pearl ornaments and a waving of plumes.

It stood there like a ghost of a vivid fancy, for a time.