"You can forget that right now," Lee Scoresby said severely. "A man's got to have something to fight for and remember, something he can keep in his mind as pure and wild and free. It wouldn't be right for me to touch you, nor to tie you down neither."

Serafina Pekkala retreated, her pride stung. "I'll be tied to no man, Mr. Scoresby," she said, "although I appreciate the notion."

"Well, there you go," Lee said, "I didn't expect you to, but all the same I'd rather not have it first and foremost in my mind every time I thought of you. It'd be worse than the Rio Largo back home running black with slicks."

"Am I that river, then?" Serafina Pekkala asked coldly.

"Not if you stay away from me," Lee said. He stood and clumsily pressed his lips to her hand. "Now don't you start in on pining after me neither," he said. "You're far too fine a lady for the likes of me anyhow." He bowed without a trace of self-consciousness, and Serafina Pekkala graciously, automatically inclined her head.

Lee Scoresby left her tent. Serafina Pekkala heard his footsteps heavy on the earth outside, and for the first time understood something of the passions of Ruta Skadi.