"
"Cannot you even allow a woman her privilege of the last word?" she
cried indignantly.
Roland's brow cleared, and a smile came to his lips, as he remained
silent, thus bestowing upon her the prerogative she seemed to crave.
Hilda lay back in the prow of the boat between her sleeping women, with
hands clasped behind her head, and her eyes closed. More and more the
light increased, and sturdily with his paddle Roland propelled the boat
towards the shore, bringing it alongside the low bank at last. He sprang
out on the turf, and with the paddle in one hand held the boat to land
with the other.
"We are now," he said, "a short distance above St. Goarhausen, where I
hope to purchase horses. Will you kindly disembark?"
The girl, without moving, or opening her eyes, said quietly:
"Please throw the paddle into the boat again. I shall make for
Nonnenwerth in this craft, which is more comfortable than a saddle."
The paddle came rattling down upon the bottom of the skiff. Roland
stooped, and before she knew what he was about, took Hilda in his arms,
lifted her ashore, and laid her carefully on the grass.
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