the way of an eagle
TRANSCRIPT
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TheWayofanEagle
EthelM.Dell
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Therebethreethingswhicharetoowonderfulforme,yea,fourwhichIknownot:
Thewayofaneagleintheair;thewayofaserpentuponarock;thewayofashipinthemidstofthesea;andthewayofamanwithamaid.
Proverbsxxx,
18
19.
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CONTENTS
PARTI
CHAPTER
I.TheTrustII.ASoldiersDaughterIII.TheVictimofTreacheryIV.DesolationV.TheDevilintheWildernessVI.WhenStrongMenFail
VII.TheComing
of
an
Army
PARTII
VIII.ComradesIX.TheSchoolofSorrowX.TheEagleSwoopsXI.TheFirstFlightXII.TheMessage
XIII.TheVoice
of
aFriend
XIV.ThePoisonofAddersXV.TheSummonsXVI.TheOrdeal
PARTIII
XVII.AnOldFriendXVIII.TheExplanation
XIX.AHero
Worshipper
XX.NewsfromtheEastXXI.AHarbourofRefugeXXII.AnOldStoryXXIII.TheSleepCalledDeathXXIV.TheCreedofaFighterXXV.AScentedLetterXXVI.TheEternalFlameXXVII.TheEagleCaged
XXVIII.TheLions
Skin
XXIX.OldFriendsMeetXXX.AnOfferofFriendshipXXXI.TheEagleHovers
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PARTIV
XXXII.TheFaceintheStorm
XXXIII.TheLifting
of
the
Mask
XXXIV.AttheGateofDeathXXXV.TheArmisticeXXXVI.TheEagleStrikesXXXVII.ThePenaltyforSentimentXXXVIII.TheWatcheroftheCliffXXXIX.BySingleCombatXL.TheWomansChoiceXLI.TheEaglesPrey
XLII.TheHardest
Fight
of
All
XLIII.RequiescatXLIV.LovesPrisoner
PARTV
XLV.TheVisionXLVI.TheHeartofaManXLVII.IntheNameofFriendship
XLVIII.TheHealing
of
the
Breach
XLIX.TheLoweringoftheFlagL.ErebusLI.TheBirdofParadiseLII.AWomansOfferingLIII.TheLastSkirmishLIV.SurrenderLV.OmniaVincitAmorLVI.TheEagleSoars
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PARTI
CHAPTERI
THETRUST
Thelongclatterofanirregularvolleyofmusketryrattledwarninglyfromthenakedmountainridges;overagreatgreyshoulderofrockthesunsankinasplendidopalglow;fromverynearathandcametheclatteroftincupsandthesoundofasubduedBritishlaugh.AndintheroomoftheBrigadierGeneralamanliftedhisheadfromhishandsandstaredupwardswithunseeing,fixedeyes.
Therewasanimpotent,crushedlookabouthimasofonenearingtheendofhisstrength.Thelipsundertheheavygreymoustachemovedalittleasthoughtheyformedsoundlesswords.Hedrewhisbreathonce or twice sharply through his teeth. Finally, with a curiousgropingmovementhereachedoutandstruckasmallhandgongonthetableinfrontofhim.
The door slid open instantly and an Indian soldier stood in the
opening.The
Brigadier
stared
full
at
him
for
several
seconds
as
if
he
sawnothing,his lipsstillmovingsecretly, silently.Thensuddenly,withastiffgesture,hespoke.
Ask themajor sahib and the two captain sahibs to come tomehere.
TheIndiansalutedandvanishedlikeaswiftmovingshadow.
TheBrigadier
sank
back
into
his
chair,
his
head
drooped
forward,
his
handsclenched.Therewastragedy,hopelessandabsolute,ineverylineofhim.
There came the careless clatter of spurred heels and looselyslungswordsinthepassageoutsideofthehalfcloseddoor,thesoundofastumble,ashortejaculation,andagainasmotheredlaugh.
ConfoundyouGrange!Whycantyoukeepyour feet toyourself,
youungainly
Triton,
and
give
us
poor
minnows
achance?
TheBrigadiersatuprightwithajerk.Itwasgrowingrapidlydark.
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Comein,allofyou,hesaid.Ihavesomethingtosay.Aswelltoshutthedoor,Ratcliffe,thoughitisnotacouncilofwar.
Therebeing
nothing
left
to
discuss,
sir,
returned
the
voice
that
had
laughed. It isjust a simple case of sitting tight now till Bassettcomesroundthecorner.
TheBrigadierglancedupatthespeakerandcaughtthelastglowofthefadingsunsetreflectedonhisface.Itwasacleanshavenfacethatshould have possessed a fair skin,butby reason of unfavourablecircumstances itwasburnt to a deep yellowbrown. The featureswere pinched andwrinkledtheymight havebelonged to a very
oldman;
but
the
eyes
that
smiled
down
into
the
Brigadiers
were
shrewd, bright,monkeylike. They expressed a cheeriness almostgrotesque.Thetwomenwhomhehadfollowedintotheroomstoodsilentamongtheshadows.Thegloomwassuchascouldbefelt.
Suddenly,inshort,painfultonestheBrigadierbegantospeak.
Sitdown,hesaid.Ihavesent foryou toaskoneamongyou toundertakeformeacertainservicewhichmustbeaccomplished,but
whichI
he
paused
and
again
audibly
caught
his
breath
between
histeethwhichIamunabletoexecuteformyself.
An instants silence followed the halting speech. Then the youngofficerwhostoodagainstthedoorsteppedbrisklyforward.
Whatsthejob,sir?IllwagermyeveningskillyIcarryitthrough.
Oneof themen in the shadowsmoved,and spoke ina repressive
tone.Shut
up,
Nick!
This
is
no
mess
room
joke.
Nickmadeasharp,halfcontemptuousgesture.Ajokeonlyceasestobe ajokewhen there isnoone left to laugh, sir,he said. Wehaventcometothatatpresent.
He stood in front of theBrigadier for amomentan insignificantfigurebut for the perpetual suggestion of simmering activity thatpervadedhim;thensteppedbehindthecommandingofficerschair,
andthere
took
up
his
stand
without
further
words.
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TheBrigadierpaidnoattentiontohim.Hismindwasfixedupononesubjectonly.Moreover,nooneevertookNickRatcliffeseriously.Itseemedamoralimpossibility.
Itisquiteplaintome,hesaidheavilyatlength,thatthetimehascometofacethesituation.Idonotspeakforthediscouragementofyoubravefellows.IknowthatIcanrelyuponeachoneofyoutodoyourdutytotheutmost.Butweareboundtolookatthingsastheyare,andsopreparefortheinevitable.IforoneamfirmlyconvincedthatGeneralBassettcannotpossiblyreachusintime.
He paused,but no one spoke. Themanbehind himwas leaning
forward,listening
intently.
He went on with an effort. We are a mere handful. We havedwindledtofourwhitemenamongahostofdark.Reliefisnotevenwithinaremotedistanceofus,andwearealreadyborderinguponstarvation.Wemayholdout for threedaysmore.And thenhisbreath came suddenly short,buthe forcedhimself to continueIhavetothinkofmychild.Shewillbeinyourhands.Iknowyouwillalldefendhertothelastounceofyourstrength;butwhichofyou
aterrible
gasping
checked
his
utterance
for
many
labouring
seconds;
heputhishandoverhiseyeswhichofyou,hewhisperedatlast,his words barely audible, will have the strength toshoot herbeforeyourownlastmomentcomes?
Thequestionquiveredthroughthequietroomasifwrungfromthetwitching lipsby sheer torture. Itwent out in silenceadreadful,lastingsilence inwhich thesoulsofmen,strippednakedofhumanconvention,stoodconfronting thefirstprimaeval instinctofhuman
chivalry.
It continued through many terrible secondsthat silence, andthrough itnoonemoved,noone seemed tobreathe. Itwasas ifaspellhadbeencastuponthehandfulofEnglishmengathered thereinthedeepeningdarkness.
TheBrigadiersatbowedandmotionlessat the table,hisheadsunkinhishands.
Suddenlytherewasaquietmovementbehindhim,andthespellwasbroken.Ratcliffesteppeddeliberatelyforwardandspoke.
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General,hesaidquietly,ifyouwillputyourdaughterinmycare,Isweartoyou,sohelpmeGod,thatnoharmofanysortshalltouchher.
Therewas no hint of emotion in his voice, albeit thewordswerestrong;but it had a curious effect upon thosewho heard it. TheBrigadierraisedhisheadsharply,andpeeredathim;andtheothertwo officers started asmen suddenly stumbling at an unexpectedobstacleinafamiliarroad.
One of them,MajorMarshall, spoke,briefly and irritably,with atouchofcontempt.Hisnerveswereonedge in thatatmosphereof
despair.
You,Nick!he said. Youareabout the least reliableman in thegarrison. You cant be trusted to take even reasonable care ofyourself.Heavenonlyknowshowitisyouwerentkilledlongago.Itwas thanks to no discretion on your part. You dont know themeaningoftheword.
Nick did not answer, did not somuch as seem to hear.Hewas
standingbefore
the
Brigadier.
His
eyes
gleamed
in
his
alert
face
twoweirdpinpointsoflight.
Shewillbe safewithme, he said, in a tone that held not thesmallestshadeofuncertainty.
But theBrigadierdidnotspeak.HestillsearchedyoungRatcliffesfaceasamanwhoviewsthroughfieldglassesaregiondistantandunexplored.
After amoment the officer who had remained silent throughoutcameforwardastepandspoke.HewasamagnificentmanwiththephysiqueofaHercules.Hehadremainedonhisfeet,impassivebutobservant,fromthemomentofhisentrance.Hisvoicehadthatsoftqualitypeculiartosomebigmen.
IamreadytosellmylifeforMissRoscoessafety,sir,hesaid.
NickRatcliffe
jerked
his
shoulders
expressively,
but
said
nothing.
He
waswaitingfortheGeneraltospeak.Asthelatterroseslowly,withevident effort, from his chair, he thrust out a hand, as if almostinstinctivelyofferinghelptooneinsoreneed.
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GeneralRoscoe grasped it and spoke at last.He had regained hisselfcommand. Letme understand you, Ratcliffe, he said. YousuggestthatIshouldplacemydaughterinyourcharge.ButImust
knowfirst
how
far
you
are
prepared
to
go
to
ensure
her
safety.
Hewasansweredinstantly,withanunflinchingpromptitudehehadscarcelyexpected.
I am prepared to go to the uttermost limit, sir, said NicholasRatcliffe,hisfingersclosinglikespringsuponthehandthatgrippedhis,ifthereisalimit.Thatistosay,Iamreadytogothroughhellforher.Iamastraightshot,acoolshot,adeadshot.Willyoutrust
me?
His voice throbbed with sudden feeling. General Roscoe waswatchinghimclosely.CanItrustyou,Nick?hesaid.
Therewasan instantssilence,and the twomen in thebackgroundwereawarethatsomethingpassedbetweenthemalookorarapidsignwhichtheydidnotwitness.ThenrecklessanddebonaircameNicksvoice.
Idontknow,sir.ButifIamuntrustworthy,mayIdietonight!
GeneralRoscoelaidhisfreehandupontheyoungmansshoulder.
Is it so,Nick?hesaid,andutteredaheavysigh.Wellsobe itthen.Itrustyou.
Thatsettlesit,sir,saidNickcheerily.Thejobismine.
Heturnedroundwithacertainarroganceofbearing,andwalkedtothedoor.Buttherehestopped,lookingbackthroughthedarknessatthedimfigureshehadleft.
Perhaps you will tellMiss Roscoe that you have appointedmedeputygovernor,he said. And tellhernot tobe frightened, sir.SayImnotsuchabogeyasIlook,andthatshewillbeperfectlysafewithme.Histonewashalfserious,halfjocular.Hewrenchedopen
thedoor
not
waiting
for
areply.
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Imust goback to the guns, he said, and the nextmomentwasgone,stridingcarelesslydown thepassage,andwhistlingamusichallballadashewent.
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CHAPTERII
ASOLDIERSDAUGHTER
In the centreof the little frontier fort therewasa roomwhichoneandallof itsdefenders regardedas sacred. Itwasan insignificantchamber,narrowasaprisoncellandalmostasbare;but itwasthesafest place in the fort. In itGeneralRoscoes daughterthe onlywhitewomaninthegarrisonhaddweltsafelysincethebeginningofthatdreadfulsiege.
Strictly forbiddenbyher father to stir fromher refugewithouthis
expresspermission,
she
had
dragged
out
the
long
days
in
close
captivity, living in themidstofnerveshattering tumultbut takingnoparttherein.Shewaslittlemorethanachild,andaccustomedtorender implicit obedience to the father she idolised, or she hadscarcely been persuaded to submit to this rigorous seclusion. Itwould perhaps have been better for her physically and evenmentally tohavegoneoutand seen thehorrorswhichwerebeingdailyenactedallaroundher.Shehadat firstpleaded forat leastalimitedfreedom,urgingthatshemighttakeherpartincaringforthe
wounded.But
her
father
had
refused
this
request
with
such
decision
thatshehadneverrepeated it.Andsoshehadseennothingwhilehearing much, lying through many sleepless nights with nervesstrung to a pitch of torture far more terrible than any bodilyexhaustion,andvividimaginationeveratworkuponpicturesmoreghastly thaneven theghastlyrealitywhichshewasnotallowed tosee.
The strainwas such as no human frame could have endured for
long.Her
strength
was
beginning
to
break
down
under
it.
The
long
sleeplessnightsweremore than she couldbear.And there cameatimewhenMuriel Roscoe, driven to extremity, sought relief in aremedyfromwhichinhernormalsensesshewouldhaveturnedindisgust.
Ithelpedher,butitleftitsmarkuponheramarkwhichherfathermusthavenoted,hadhenotbeenalmostwhollyoccupiedwiththeburden thatweighed him down.Morning and evening he visited
her,yet
failed
to
read
that
in
her
haunted
eyes
which
could
not
have
escapedaclearervision.
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Entering her room two hours after his interviewwith his officersregarding her, he looked at her searchingly indeed, but withoutunderstanding.She layamongcushionsonacharpoyofbamboo in
thelight
of
ashaded
lamp.
Young
and
slight
and
angular,
with
a
pale little face ofutterweariness,withgreatdark eyes thatgazedheavilyoutoftheblackshadowsthatringedthemround,suchwasMurielRoscoe.Herblackhairwassimplyplaitedandgatheredupattheneck.Itlayincloudymassesabouthertempleswonderfulhair,quitelustreless,soabundantthatitseemedalmosttoomuchforthelittlehead thatbore it.Shedidnotriseatherfathersentrance.Shescarcelyraisedhereyes.
Soglad
youve
come,
Daddy,
she
said,
in
asoft,
low
voice.
Ive
beenwantingyou.Itsnearlybedtime,isntit?
Hewenttoher,treadinglightly.Histhoughtshadbeenallofherforthe past few hours and in consequence he looked at her morecritically thanusual.For the first timehewasstruckbyherpallor,her lookofdeathlyweariness.On the tablenearher layaplateofboiled ricepiledhigh ina snowypyramid.He saw that ithadnotbeentouched.
Why,child,hesaid,asuddennewanxietyathisheartyouhavehadnothingtoeat.Yourenotill?
She roused herself a little, and a very faint colour crept into herwhite cheeks. No, dear, only tiredtoo tired tobe hungry, shetoldhim.Thatriceisforyou.
Hesatdownbesideherwithasoundthatwasalmostagroan.You
musteat
something,
child,
he
said.
Being
penned
up
here
takes
awayyourappetite.Butallthesameyoumusteat.
She sat up slowly, and pushed back the heavy hair from herforeheadwithasigh.
Very well, Daddy, she said submissively. But youmust havesometoo,dear.Icouldntpossibleeatitall.
Somethingin
his
attitude
or
expression
seemed
to
strike
her
at
this
point,andshemadeadeterminedefforttoshakeoffherlethargy.Aspoonandforklaybytheplate.Shehandedhimtheformerandkeptthelatterforherself.
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Wellhaveapicnic,Daddy.shesaid,withawistfullittlesmile.Itoldayahalwaystobringtwoplates,butshehasforgotten.Wedontmind,though,dowe?
Itwas childishly spoken,but thepathos of itwent straight to themans heart. He tasted the rice under her watching eyes andpronounceditverygood;thenwaitedforhertofollowhisexamplewhichshedidwithaslightshudder.
Delicious,Daddy, isnt it? she said.And even hedid not guesswhatcourageunderlaythewords.
Theykept
up
the
farce
till
the
pyramid
was
somewhat
reduced;
then
bymutual consent they suffered their ardour to flag.Therewas afaintcolourinthegirlsthinfaceassheleanedbackagain.Hereyeswerebrighter,thelidsdroopedless.
Ihadadreamlastnight,Daddy,shesaid,suchacuriousdream,andsovivid.IthoughtIwasoutonthemountainswithsomeone.Idontknowwhoitwas,butitwassomeoneverynice.Itseemedtobeverynearthesunrise,foritwasquitebrightupabove,thoughit
wasalmost
dark
where
we
stood.
And,
do
you
knowdont
laugh,
Daddy,Iknow itwasonlyasillydreamwhenI lookedup,Isawthat everywhere themountainswere fullofhorsesand chariotsoffire. I feltsosafe,Daddy,andsohappy. Icouldhavecriedwhen Iwokeup.
Shepaused. Itwasratherdifficult forher tomakeconversationforthesilentmanwhosatbesidehersogloomyandpreoccupied.Savethatshelovedherfatherasshelovednooneelseonearth,shemight
havefelt
awed
in
his
presence.
As itwas, receivingno response, she turned to look,and thenextinstantwasonherkneesbesidehim,herthinyoungarmsclingingtohisneck.
Daddy,darling,darling!shewhispered,andhidher faceagainsthiminsudden,namelessterror.
Heclasped
her
to
him,
holding
her
close,
that
she
might
not
again
seehisfaceandthelookitwore.Shebegantotremble,andhetriedtosootheherwithhishand,butformanysecondshecouldfindnowords.
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What is it,Daddy? shewhispered at last, unable to endure thesilencelonger.Wontyoutellme?Icanbeverybrave.Yousaidsoyourself.
Yes,hesaid.Youwillbeabravegirl,Iknow.Hisvoicequiveredandhepausedtosteadyit.Muriel,hesaidthen,Idontknowifyouhaveever thoughtof theendofall this.Therewillbeanend,youknow.Ihavehadtofaceittonight.
She looked up at him quickly,but hewas ready for her.He hadbanishedfromhisfacetheawfuldespairthathecarriedinhissoul.
WhenSir
Reginald
Bassett
comes
she
began
uncertainly.
Heputhishandonhershoulder.Youwilltrynottobeafraid,hesaid. I amgoing to treatyou, as Ihave treatedmy officers,withabsolutecandour.Weshallnotholdoutmorethanthreedaysmore.SirReginaldBassettwillnotbehereintime.
Hestopped.Murielutterednotaword.Herfacewasstillupturned,andhereyeshad suddenlygrown intenselybright,buthereadno
shrinkingin
them.
With an effort he forced himself to go on. Imay notbe able toprotectyouwhentheendcomes.Imaynotevenbewithyou.Butthereisonemanuponwhomyoucansafelyrelywhateverhappens,who will give himself up to securing your safety alone. He hassworn tome thatyou shallnotbe taken, and Iknow thathewillkeephisword.Youwillbesafewithhim,Muriel.Youmaytrusthimas longasyou live.Hewillnotfailyou.Perhapsyoucanguesshis
name?
Heasked thequestionwitha touchofcuriosity in themidstofhistragedy.Thatupturned,listeningfacehadinitsolittleofawomansunderstanding,somuchofthedeepwonderofachild.
Heranswerwaspromptandconfident,andalbeitherverylipswerewhite,therewasafainthintofsatisfactioninhervoiceasshemadeit.
CaptainGrange,ofcourse,Daddy.
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He started and looked at her narrowly. No, no! he said. NotGrange!Whatshouldmakeyouthinkofhim?
Hesaw
alook
of
swift
disappointment,
almost
of
consternation,
darkenhereyes.Forthefirsttimeherlipsquivereduncertainly.
Whothen,Daddy?NotnotMr.Ratcliffe?
Hebent his head. Yes,Nick Ratcliffe. I have placed you in hischarge.Hewilltakecareofyou.
YoungNickRatcliffe!shesaidslowly.Why,Daddy,hecanteven
takecare
of
himself
yet.
Every
one
says
so.
Besides,a
curiously
womanly touch crept intoher speechIdont likehim.Only theother day I heard him laugh at something that was terriblesomethingitmakesmesicktothinkof.Indeed,Daddy,IwouldfarratherhaveCaptainGrange to takecareofme.Dontyou thinkhewouldifyouaskedhim?Heissomuchbiggerandstronger,andandkinder.
Ah! Iknow,her fathersaid.Heseemsso toyou.But it isnerve
thatyour
protector
will
need,
child;
and
Ratcliffe
possesses
more
nerve thanall the restof thegarrisonput together.No, itmustbeRatcliffe,Muriel.Andremembertogivehimallyourtrust,allyourconfidence.Forwhateverhedoeswillbewithmyauthoritywithmyfullapproval.
Hisvoice failed suddenlyandhe rose, turning sharplyaway fromthe light.She clung tohisarm silently, inapassionof tenderness,though she was far from understanding the suffering those last
wordsrevealed.
She
had
never
seen
him
thus
moved
before.
Aftera fewsecondshe turnedback toher,andbendingkissedherpiteous face.Sheclungclosely tohimwithanagonised longing tokeephimwithher;butheputhergentlyfromhimatlast.
Liedownagain,dear,hesaid,andgetwhatrestyoucan.Trynottobefrightenedat thenoise.There issure tobeanassault,butthe
fortwill
hold
to
night.
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He stood amoment, lookingdown ather.Then again he stoopedand kissed her. Goodbye,my darling, he said huskily, tillwemeetagain!
Andsohurriedly,asifnottrustinghimselftoremainlonger,helefther.
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CHAPTERIII
THEVICTIMOFTREACHERY
There came again the running rattle of riflefiring from the valleybelowthefort,andMurielRoscoe,lyingonhercouch,pressedbothhands tohereyesand shivered. It seemed impossible that theendcouldbesonear.Shefeltasifshehadexistedforyearsinthislivingnightmareofmanyhorrors,had laindownandhadsleptwith thatdreadful sound inher ears from theverybeginningof things.Thelife she had ledbefore these ghastly happenings hadbecome sovague a memory that it almost seemed to belong to a previous
existence,to
an
earlier
and
ahappier
era.
As
in
adream
she
now
recalledthevisionofherEnglishschoollife.Itlaynotayearbehindher,but she felt herself to have changed so fundamentally sincethosesunny,peacefuldaysthatsheseemedtobeadifferentpersonaltogether.TheMurielRoscoeofthosedayshadbeenamerry,lighthearted personality. She had revelled in games and all outdooramusements.Moreover,shehadbeenquicktolearn,andherlessonshadnevercausedheranytrouble.Adaringspriteshehadbeen,withamost fertile imagination and a longing for adventure that had
neverbeen
fully
satisfied,
possessing
withal
so
tender
and
loving
a
heartthattheverybeesinthegardenhadbeenamonghercherishedfriends.Sherememberedallthesunnyidealsofthatgoldentimeandmarvelled at herself, forgetting utterly the eager, even passionate,craving that had then been hers for the wider life, the broaderknowledge, that lay beyond her reach, forgetting the feverishimpatience with which she had longed for the day of heremancipation when she might join her father in the wonderfulglowing Eastwhich she so often pictured in her dreams. Of her
mothershe
had
no
memory.
She
had
died
at
her
birth.
Her
father
wasalltheworldtoher;andwhenatlasthehadtravelledhomeonabrief leaveand takenher fromherquietEnglish life to thestrange,swiftexistenceofthelandofhisexile,hersoulhadoverflowedwithhappiness.
Nevertheless,shehadnotbeencarriedawayby thegaietiesof thisnewworld.Thefascinationsofdanceandgymkhanahadnotcaughther.Thejoyofbeingwithherfatherwastoosacredandtooprecious
tobe
foregone
for
these
lesser
pleasures,
and
she
very
speedily
decided tosacrificeallsocialentertainments towhichhecouldnotaccompanyher.Sherodewithhim,campedwithhim,andbecamehis inseparablecompanion.Undeveloped inmanyways,shy in the
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presenceofstrangers,shesoonforgotherearlierambitiontoseetheworldandall that itcontained.Her fathers societywas toherallsufficing,anditwasnosacrificetohertowithdrawherselffromthe
gaycrowd
and
dwell
apart
with
him.
Hehadnowishtomonopoliseher,butitwasarelieftohimthattheconstantwhirlofpleasureaboutherattractedherso little.Helikedtohaveherwithhim,anditsoonbecameamatterofcoursethatsheshould accompany him on all his expeditions. She revelled in histours of inspection. They were so many picnics to her, and sheenjoyedthemwiththezestofachild.
Andso
it
came
to
pass
that
she
was
with
him
among
the
hills
of
the
frontierwhen, like a pent flood suddenly escaping, the storm ofrebellionbrokeandseethedaboutthem,threateningthemwithtotalannihilation.
No serious troublehadbeenanticipated.Acertain tractofcountryhadbeenreportedunquiet,andGeneralRoscoehadbeenorderedtoproceed thither on a tour of inspection and also, to a verymilddegree,of intimidation.Marching through thedistrict from fort to
fort,he
had
encountered
no
shadow
of
opposition.
All
had
gone
well.Andthen,hisworkover,andallhesetouttodosatisfactorilyaccomplished,hisfacetowardsIndiaandhisbacktothemountains,theunexpectedhadcomeuponhimlikeathunderbolt.
Hordesof tribesmen,gatheredHeavenknewhow orwhence,hadsuddenlyburstuponhimfromthesouth,hadcutoffhisadvancebysheerimmensityofnumbers,and,hemminghimin,hadforcedhimgraduallyback into themountain fastnesses throughwhichhehad
justpassed
unmolested.
Itwasastrokesowhollynew,sosubtlyexecuted, that ithadwonsuccess almostbefore the General had realised theweight of thedisasterthathadcomeuponhim.Hehadbelievedhimselfatfirsttobe involved in a mere fray with border thieves. But before hereachedthefortuponwhichhefoundhimselfobligedtofallback,heknewthathehadtocopewithageneralrisingofthetribes,andthatthemeansathisdisposalwereasinadequatetostemtherisingflood
ofrebellion
as
apebble
thrown
into
amountain
stream
to
check
its
flow.
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Themenunderhiscommand,with theexceptionofa fewofficers,were all native soldiers, and he soon began to have a strongsuspicion thatamong thesehenumbered traitors.Nevertheless,he
establishedhimself
at
the
fort,
determined
there
to
make
his
stand
tillreliefshouldarrive.
The telegraph wires were cut, and for a time it seemed that allcommunicationwiththeoutsideworldwasanimpossibility.Severalrunnerswere sent out,but failed tobreak through thebesiegingforces.Butat lastaftermanydesperatedays therecameamessagefromwithoutascrapofpaperattached toastoneand flungoverthe wall of the fort at night. News of the disaster had reached
Peshawur,and
Sir
Reginald
Bassett,
with
ahastily
collected
force,
wasmovingtotheirassistance.
Thenewsputheart into thegarrison,andfora time itseemed thatthe worst would be averted. But it became gradually evident toGeneralRoscoethattherelievingforcecouldnotreachthemintime.The water supply had run very low, and themen were alreadysubsisting upon rations that were scarcely sufficient for themaintenanceoflife.Therewassicknessamongthem,andtherewere
alsomany
wounded.
The
white
men
were
reduced
to
four,
including
himself, thenative soldiers hadbegun todesert, andhehadbeenforcedatlasttofacethefactthattheendwasverynear.
All this had Muriel Roscoe come through, physically scathless,mentallytornandbattered,andshecouldnotbringherselftorealisethatthelongdrawnoutmiseryofthesiegecouldeverbeover.
Lyingthere,tenseandmotionless,shelistenedtotheshotsandyells
inthe
distance
with
ashuddering
sense
that
it
was
all
apart
of
her
life,ofherverybeing,even.Thetortureandthemiseryhadsoeatenintohersoul.Nowand thensheheard thequick thunderofoneofthe small guns that armed the fort, and at the sound her pulsesleaped andquivered.Sheknew that the ammunitionwas runningverylow.Thesegunsdidnotoftenspeaknow.
Then, during a lull, there came to her the careless humming of aBritishvoice,thefree,confidenttreadofBritishfeet,approachingher
door.
Shecaughtherbreathasahandrappedsmartlyuponthepanel.Sheknewwhothevisitorwas,butshecouldnotbringherselftobidhim
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enter.Asuddenawful fearwasuponher.Shecouldneither speaknormove. She lay, listening intently, hoping against hope that hewouldbelievehertobesleepingandgoaway.
Theknockwasnotrepeated.Deadsilencereigned.Andthenquicklyanddecidedly thedooropened,andNickRatcliffe stoodupon thethreshold.Thelightstruckfulluponhisfaceashehaltedaclever,whimsicalfacethatmightmaskalmostanyqualitygoodorbad.
MayIcomein,MissRoscoe?heasked.
Forshehadnotmovedathisappearance.Shelayasonedead.Butas
hespoke
she
uncovered
her
face,
and
terror
incarnate
stared
wildly
athimfromherstartingeyes.Heenteredwithoutfurtherceremony,andclosedthedoorbehindhim.Intheshadedlamplighthisfeaturesseemedtotwitchasifhewantedtosmile.Soatleastitseemedtoherwroughtupfancy.
He gazed greedily at the plate of rice on the table as he cameforward.GreatJupiter!hesaid.Whatasumptuousrepast!
Thetotal
freedom
from
all
anxiety
or
restraint
with
which
he
made
this simple observation served to restore to somedegree thegirlstotteringselfcontrol.Shesatup,sufficientlyrecoveredtorememberthatshedidnotlikethisman.
Prayhavesomeifyouwantit,shesaidcoldly.
He turnedhisbackon itabruptly.No,dont temptme,he said.Its a fast day forme. Im acquiring virtue,being conspicuously
destituteof
all
other
forms
of
comfort.
Why
dont
you
eat
it
yourself?
Areyouacquiringvirtuetoo?
Hestood lookingdownatherquizzically,underrapidly flickeringeyelids.Shesat silent,wishingwithallherheart thathewouldgoaway.
Nothing,however,wasapparentlyfurtherfromhisthoughts.Afteramomenthe satdown in the chair thather fatherhadoccupiedan
hourbefore.
It
was
very
close
to
her,
and
she
drew
herself
slightly
awaywith a small, instinctivemovement of repugnance.ButNickwassublimelyimpervioustohints.
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I say, you know, he said abruptly, you shouldnt take opium.Yourdonkeyofanayahoughttoknowbetterthantoletyouhaveit.
Murielgave
agreat
start.
I
dontshe
faltered.
II
Heshookhisheadather,asthoughreprovingachild.Pussysout,heobserved.Itisnogoodgivingchase.Butreally,youknow,youmustntdoit.Youusedtobeabravegirlonce,andnowyournervesarealltopieces.
Therewasaspeciesofpaternalreproachinhistone.Lookingathim,shemarvelled thatshehadever thoughthimyoungandheadlong.
Almostin
spite
of
herself
she
began
to
murmur
excuses.
Icanthelpit.Imusthavesomething.Idontsleep.Ilieforhours,listening to the fighting. Ititsmore than I canbear.Her voicequivered,andsheturnedherfaceaside,unabletohideheremotion,butfuriouswithherselffordisplayingit.
Nicksaidnothingatalltocomforther,andshebitterlyresentedhissilence. After a pause he spoke again, as if he hadbanished the
matterentirely
from
his
mind.
Lookhere,hesaid.Iwantyoutotellmesomething.IdontknowwhatsortofafellowyouthinkIam,thoughIfancyyoudont likememuch.Butyourenotafraidofme,areyou?YouknowImtobetrusted?
Itwas her single chance of revenge, and she took it. I havemyfatherswordforit,shesaid.
He nodded thoughtfully as if unaware of the thrust. Yes, yourfather knowsme.And sohe smiled at her suddenlyyou areready to trustmeonhisrecommendation?Youareready tofollowmeblindfoldthroughdangerifIgiveyoumyhandtohold?
Shefeltasharpchillstrikeherheart.Whatwas ithewasaskingofher?Whatdidthosewordsofhisportend?
Idont
know,
she
said.
I
dont
see
that
it
makes
much
difference
howIfeel.
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Well, it does, he assured her. And that is exactlywhat I havecometotalkabout.MissRoscoe,willyouleavethefortwithme,andescape in disguise? I have thought it all out, and it canbe done
withoutmuch
difficulty.
Ido
not
need
to
tell
you
that
the
idea
has
yourfathersfullapproval.
Theywereherfathersownwords,butatsoundofthemsheshrankandshivered, insheerhorrorat thecoolnesswithwhich theywereuttered.HemighthavebeenaskinghertostrollwithhimintheleafyquietofsomeEnglishlane.
Could itbe, she asked herself incredulously, could itbe that her
fatherhad
ever
sanctioned
and
approved
so
ghastly
arisk
for
her?
Sheputherhandtohertemples.Herbrainwasreeling.Howcouldshe do this thing? How could she have permitted it to be evensuggestedtoher?Andthen,swiftthroughhertorturedmindflashedhiswords:Therewillbeanend.Ihavehadtofaceittonight.Wasitthisthathehadmeant?Wasitforthisthathehadbeenpreparingher?
With amuffled exclamation she rose, trembling in every limb. I
cant!she
cried
piteously,
oh,
Icant!
Please
go
away!
Itmighthavebeen the frightenedprayerofa child, sobeseechingwasit,sofullofweakness.ButNickRatcliffehearditunmoved.Hewaitedafewsecondstillshecametoastandbythetable,herbacktowards him. Then with a sudden quiet movement he rose andfollowedher.
Ibegyourpardon,hesaid.Butyoucantaffordtoshirkthingsat
thisstage.
Iam
offering
you
deliverance,
though
you
dont
realise
it.
Hespokewithforce,andifhisaimhadbeentorousehertoamorepracticalactivity,hegainedhisend.She turneduponhim in swiftanddesperateindignation.Hervoicerangalmostharsh.
Howcanyoucallitdeliverance?Itisatbestachoiceoftwohorribleevils.Youknowperfectlywellthatwecouldnevergetthrough.You
mustbe
mad
to
suggest
such
athing.
We
should
be
made
prisoners
andmassacredundertheverygunsofthefort.
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Ibegyourpardon,hesaidagain,andhiseyelidsquiveredalittleasifunderthepressureofsomecontrolledemotion.Weshallnotbemadeprisoners.IknowwhatIamsaying.ItisdeliverancethatIam
offeringyou.
Of
course
you
can
refuse,
and
Ishall
still
do
my
utmost
to save you. But the chances are not equal. I hope you will notrefuse.
Themoderation of this speech calmed her somewhat. In her firstwildpanicshehadalmost imagined thathecould takeheragainstherwill.Shesaw thatshehadbeenunreasonable,butshewas tooshaken to tell him so.Moreover, there was still that about him,notwithstanding hiswords, thatmade her afraid to yield a single
inchof
ground
lest
by
some
hidden
means
he
should
sweep
her
altogetherfromherprecariousfoothold.Eveninthesilence,shefeltthathewasdoingbattlewithher,andshedidnotdaretofacehim.
With a childishgestureofabandonment, shedropped into a chairandlaidherheaduponherarms.
Oh,pleasegoaway!shebesoughthimweakly.Iamsotiredsotired.
ButRatcliffe did notmove.He stood looking down at her, at theblackhair that clustered aboutherneck, at thebowed,despairingfigure,thepiteous,clenchedhands.
A little clock in the roombegan to strike in silvery tones, and heglancedup.Thenextinstanthebentandlaidabonyhanduponhertwoclaspedones.
Cantyou
decide?
he
said.
Will
you
let
me
decide
for
you?
Dont
letyourselfgetscared.Youhavekeptsostrongtillnow.Firmlyashe spoke, therewas somehowanoteof soothing inhisvoice,andalmostinsensiblythegirlwasmovedbyit.Sheremainedsilentandmotionless,but the stronggripofhis fingers comfortedher subtlynotwithstanding.
Come,he said,listenamomentand letme tellyoumyplanofcampaign.Itisverysimple,andforthatreasonitisgoingtosucceed.
Youare
listening
now?
His tone was vigorous and insistent. Muriel sat slowly up inresponsetoit.Shelookeddownatthethinhandthatgraspedhers,
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and wondered at its strength; but she lacked the spirit at thatmomenttoresentitstouch.
Heleaned
down
upon
the
table,
his
face
close
to
hers,
and
began
to
unfoldhisplan.
Weshallleavethefortdirectlythemoonisdown.Ihaveadisguiseforyou thatwill concealyour faceandhair.And I shall fakeasatribesman, so that my dearest friend would never recogniseme.Theywillbecollectingthewoundedinthedark,andIwillcarryyouthroughonmyshoulderas if Ihadgotadeadrelation.Youwontobjecttoplayingadeadrelationofmine?
Hebroke intoa sudden laugh,but sobered instantlywhenhe sawhershrinkatthesound.
Thats about all the plan, he resumed. There is nothing veryalarming about it, for theywill never spot us in the dark. Im asyellowasaChinamanalready.Weshallbemilesawaybymorning.AndIknowhowtofindmywayafterwards.
Hepaused,
but
Muriel
made
no
comment.
She
was
staring
straight
beforeher.
Canyousuggestanyamendments?heasked.
Sheturnedherheadandlookedathimwithnewlyrousedaversionin her eyes. She had summoned all her strength to the combat,realising that nowwas themoment for resistance if shemeant toresist.
No,Mr.Ratcliffe, she said,with a species ofdesperate firmnessverydifferentfromhisown.Ihavenothingtosuggest.Ifyouwishtoescape,youmustgoalone.Itisquiteuselesstotrytopersuademeanyfurther.Nothingnothingwillinducemetoleavemyfather.
WhetherornothehadexpectedthisoppositionwasnotapparentonNicksface.Itbetrayedneitherimpatiencenordisappointment.
Therewould
be
some
reason
in
that,
he
gravely
rejoined,
if
you
coulddoanygoodtoyourfatherbyremaining.OfcourseIseeyourpoint,butitseemstomethatitwouldbeharderforhimtoseeyoustarve with the rest of the garrison than to know that you had
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escaped with me. A woman in your position is bound to be acontinualburdenandanxiety to thosewhoprotecther.Thedearersheistothem,somuchtheheavieristheburden.MissRoscoe,you
mustsee
this.
You
are
not
an
utter
child.
You
must
realise
that
to
leaveyourfatherisaboutthegreatestsacrificeyoucanmakeforhimatthepresentmoment.Heiswornoutwithanxietyonyourbehalf,literallyboweddownby it.Forhis sake,you aregoing todo thisthing,itbeingtheonlythingleftthatyoucandoforhim.
Therewasmorethanpersuasion inhisvoice.Itheldauthority.ButMurielhearditwithoutawe.Shehadpassedthatstage.Thematterwastoomomentoustoallowofweakness.Shehadstrungherselfto
thehighest
pitch
of
resistance
as
ahunted
creature
at
bay.
She
threw
backherhead,a lookofobstinacyabouther lips,her slight figurestraightenedtotherigidityofdefiance.
I will not be forced, she said, in sharp, uneven tones. Mr.Ratcliffe,youmaygoonpersuading and arguing tilldoomsday. Iwillnotleavemyfather.
Ratcliffestoodupabruptly.Acuriousglittershone inhiseyes,and
thelight
eyebrows
twitched
alittle.
She
felt
that
he
had
suddenly
ceased todobattlewithher,yet thatthevictorywasnothers.Andforasecondshewashorriblyfrightened,asthoughanirontraphadcloseduponherandheldherathismercy.
Hewalkedtothedoorwithoutspeakingandopenedit.Sheexpectedhimtogo,satwaitingbreathlesslyforhisdeparture,but insteadhestoodmotionless,lookingintothedarkpassage.
Shewondered
with
nerves
on
edge
what
he
was
waiting
for.
Suddenly she heard a stepwithout, a fewmurmuredwords, andNick stood on one side. Her fathers Sikh orderly passed him,carryingatrayonwhichwasaglassfullofsomedarkliquid.Hesetitdownonthetablebeforeherwithadeepsalaam.
TheGeneralSahibwishesMissySahib tohaveagoodnight,hesaid.Hecannotcome toherhimself,buthe sendsher thisbyhisservant,andhebidsherdrinkitandsleep.
Muriellookedupatthemaninsurprise.Herfatherhadneverdonesuch a thingbefore, and themessage astonished her not a little.Then,remembering thathehadshownsomeanxietyregardingher
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appearancethatevening,shefanciedshebegantounderstand.Yetitwasstrange,itwasutterlyunlikehim,todesirehertotakeanopiate.Shelookedattheglasswithhesitation.
Givehimmy love,Purdu,shesaidfinallytothewaitingorderly.TellhimIwilltakeitifIcannotsleepwithout.
The man bowed himself again and withdrew. To her disgust,however,Nickremained.Hewaslookingatheroddly.
MissRoscoe,hesaidabruptly,Ibegyou,dontdrink thatstuff.Your father must be mad to offer it to you. Let me take the
beastlinessaway.
She facedhim indignantly.My fatherknowswhat isgood formebetterthanyoudo,shesaid.
Heshruggedhisshoulders.Idontprofesstobeasage.Butanyonewilltellyouthatitismadnesstotakeopiuminthisrecklessfashion.ForHeavenssake,bereasonable.Donttakeit.
Hecame
back
to
the
table,
but
at
his
approach
she
laid
her
hand
upontheglass.Shewasquiveringwithangryexcitement.
I will not endure your interference any longer, she declared,goaded toheadlong,nervous furybyhispersistence.My fatherswishesareenoughforme.Hedesiresmetotakeit,andsoIwill.
She took up the glass in a sudden frenzy of defiance. He hadfrightenedheryes,hehadfrightenedherbutheshouldseehow
littlehe
had
gained
by
that.
She
took
ataste
of
the
liquid,
then
paused,againassailedbyacurioushesitancy.Hadherfatherreallymeanthertotakeitall?
Nickhadstoppedshortather firstmovement,butasshebegan tolower theglass in response to thatdisquietingdoubt,he swoopedsuddenlyforwardlikeamanpossessed.
Forafleetinginstantshethoughthewasgoingtowrestitfromher,
butin
the
next
she
understoodunderstood
the
mans
deep
treachery, andwithwhatdevilish ingenuity he hadworkeduponher.Holdingherwithanarmthatfelt like iron,heforcedtheglassbackbetweenherteeth,andtiltedthecontentsdownherthroat.She
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strove to resist him, strovewildly, frantically, not to swallow thedraught.Butheheldherpitilessly.Hecompelledher,grippingherrighthandwiththeglass,andpinningtheothertoherside.
When itwas over,when he hadworked hiswill and the hatefuldraughtwasswallowed,hesetherfreeandturnedhimselfsharplyfromher.
Shespranguptremblingandhysterical.Shecouldhaveslainhiminthat instant had she possessed the means to her hand. But herstrength was more nearly exhausted than she knew. Her limbsdoubled up under her weight, and as she tottered, seeking for
support,she
realised
that
she
was
vanquished
utterly
at
last.
Shesawhimwheelquicklyandstarttosupporther,soughttoevadehim, failedand as she felt his arms lift her, she cried aloud inanguishedhelplessness.
Whatfolloweddwelteverafterinhermemoryasahideousdream,vividyetnotwhollytangible.Helaidherdownuponthecouchandbentoverher,hishandsuponher,holdingherstill;foreverymuscle,
everynerve
twitched
spasmodically,
convulsively,
in
the
instinctive
effort of the powerless body to be free. She had a confusedimpressionalsothathespoketoher,butwhathesaidshewasneverable to recall. In the end, her horror faded, and she saw him asthrough a mist bending above her, grim and tense and silent,controllingherasitwerefromanimmensedistance.Andevenwhilesheyetdimlywondered,hepassed like a shadow fromher sight,andwonderitselfceased.
Halfan
hour
later
Nicholas
Ratcliffe,
the
wit
and
clown
of
his
regiment, regardedbymany as harebrained orwantonly reckless,carriedawayfromthebeleagueredfortamongthehostilemountainstheslight,impassivefigureofanEnglishgirl.
Thenightwasdark,populatedby terrorsaliveandghastly.Buthewent through itasoneunawareof itsmanydangers.Lightfootedandfearless,hepassedthroughthemidstofhisenemies,marchingwiththesublimeaudacityofthedominantrace,despisingcaution
yea,grinning
triumphant
in
the
very
face
of
Death.
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CHAPTERIV
DESOLATION
Out of a deep abyss of darkness in which she seemed to havewandered ceaselessly and comfortlessly for many days, MurielRoscoe camehaltinglyback to the surfaceof things.Shewasveryweak,soweakthattoopenhereyeswasanexertionrequiringallherresolution, and to keep them open during those first hours ofreturning life aphysical impossibility. She knew that shewas notalone, for gentle handsministered to her, and shewas constantlyaware of some onewhowatched her tirelessly,with neverfailing
attention.But
she
felt
not
the
smallest
interest
regarding
this
faithful
companion,being tooweary tocarewhethershe livedorfellawayfor ever down those unending steeps up which some unseeninfluenceseemedmagneticallytodrawher.
Itwas a stageof returning consciousness that seemed to last evenlongerthantheperiodofherwandering,butthisalsobegantopassat length. The light grew stronger all about her, themists rolledslowly away from her clogged brain, leaving only a drowsing
languorthat
was
infinitely
restful
to
her
tired
senses.
And then while she lay halfdreaming and wholly content, aremorseless handbegan tobathe her face and headwith icecoldwater.Sheawokereluctantly,evenresentfully.
Dont!sheentreatedlikeachild.Iamsotired.Letmesleep.
Mypoordear,Iknowallaboutit,amotherlyvoicemadeanswer.
Butits
time
for
you
to
wake.
She did not grasp thewordsonly, very vaguely, theirmeaning;andthisshemadeadetermined,butquitefruitless,efforttodefy.Inthe end,being roused in spiteofherself, sheopenedhereyesandgazedupwards.
And all his life longNickRatcliffe remembered the reproach thatthoseeyesheldforhim.Itwasasifhehadlaidviolenthandsupona
spiritthat
yearned
towards
freedom,
and
had
dragged
it
back
into
thesordidcaptivityfromwhichithadsonearlyescaped.
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Butitwasonlyforamomentthatshelookedathimso.Thereproachfadedswiftlyfromthedarkeyesandhesawastartledhorrordawnbehindit.
Suddenly she raised herselfwith a faint cry. Where am I? shegasped.Whatwhathaveyoudonewithme?
She staredaroundherwildly,withunreasoning,nightmare terror.Shewas lyingonabedof fern inanarrow,darkravine.Theplacewasfullofshadow,thoughfaroverheadshesawthelightofday.Atone end,onlya fewyards fromher,a stream rushedandgurgledamonggreatboulders,anditsinsistentmurmurfilledtheair.Behind
herrose
agreat
wall
of
grey
rock,
clothed
here
and
there
with
some
darkgrowth. Its rugged facewasdentedwithhollows that lookedlikethehomesofwildanimals.Therewasaconstanttrickleofwateron all sides, an eeriewhispering, remotebut incessant.As she satthere in growing panic, a great batlike creature, immense andshadowy,swoopedsoundlesslybyher.
She shrankbackwith another cry, and foundNickRatcliffes armthrustprotectinglyabouther.
Its all right, he said, in a matteroffact tone. Youre notfrightenedatflyingfoxes,areyou?
Recalledtothefactofhispresence,sheturnedsharply,andflunghisarm away as though it hadbeen a snake. Dont touchme! shegasped,passionateloathinginvoiceandgesture.
Sorry,saidNickimperturbably.Imeantwell.
Hebegan tobusy himselfwith a smallbundle that lay upon theground,whistling softlybetween his teeth, and for a few secondsMuriel sat andwatched him.Hewas dressed in a flowing nativegarment, that covered him from head to foot. Out of the heavyenveloping foldshis smooth,yellow face looked forth, sinisterandterrible to her fevered vision.He looked like some evilbird, shethoughttoherself.
Glancingdown,
she
saw
that
she
was
likewise
attired,
save
that
her
headwasbare.Thehairhungwetonher forehead,and thewaterdrippeddownher face.Sheputupherhandhalfmechanically towipethedropsaway.Herfearwasmountingrapidlyhigher.
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Sheknewnowwhathadhappened.Hehaddruggedherforciblysheshiveredat theremembranceandhadborneheraway to thisdreadful place during her unconsciousness. Her father was left
behindin
the
fort.
He
had
sanctioned
her
removal.
He
had
given
her,
ahelplesscaptive,intothismanskeeping.
Butno!Herwholesoulroseup insudden fiercedenialof this.Hehadneverdonethisthing.Hehadnevergivenhisconsenttoanactso cowardly and sobrutal.Hewas incapable of partingwith herthus.He could never have permitted sobase a trick, so cruel, sooutrageous,adeedoftreachery.
Strengthcame
suddenly
to
herthe
strength
of
frenzy.
She
leaped
to
herfeet.Shewouldescape.Shewouldgobacktohimthroughallthehordes of the enemy. She would face anythinganything in theworldratherthanremainatthemercyofthisman.
Buthehadnotbeenlookingather,andhedidnotlookather,hisarm shotoutas shemoved,andhishand fastened clawlikeuponherdress.
Sorry,he
said
again,
in
the
same
practical
tone.
But
youll
have
somethingtoeatbeforeyougo.
Shestoopedandstrovewildly,frantically,toshakeoffthedetaininghand.Butitheldherlikeavice,withawfulskeletonfingersthatshecouldnot,darednot,touch.
Letmego!shecriedimpotently.Howdareyou?Howdareyou?
Stillhe
did
not
raise
his
head.
He
was
on
his
knees,
and
he
would
noteventroublehimselftorise.
I cant help myself, he told her coolly. Its not my fault. Itsyours.
Shemadea final,violent effort towrestherself free.And thenitwas as if all powerwere suddenly taken from herher strainednerves gave way completely, and she dropped down upon the
groundagain
in
aquivering
agony
of
helplessness.
Nickshandfellawayfromher.Youshouldnt,hesaidgently.Itsnogood,youknow.
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He returned to his former occupationwhile she satwith her facehidden,inastuporoffear,afraid tomove lestheshould touchheragain.
Now,saidNick,afterabriefpause,letmehave thepleasureofseeingyoubreakyourfast.Thereissomeofthatexcellentboiledriceofyourshere.Youwillfeelbetterwhenyouhavehadsome.
She trembledat thesoundofhisvoice.Couldhemakehereatalsoagainstherwill,shewondered?
Come!saidNickagain, ina toneofsoftwheedlingthathemight
haveemployed
to
afractious
child.
Itll
do
you
good,
you
know,
Muriel.Wontyoutry?Justamouthfultopleaseme!
Reluctantly she uncovered her face, and looked at him. He waskneeling in front of her, the chuddah pushedback from his face,humbly offering her an oatmealbiscuitwith a small heap of ricepileduponit.
Shedrewbackshuddering.Icouldnteatanythingpossibly,she
said,and
even
her
voice
seemed
to
shrink.
You
can.
You
take
it.
I
wouldratherdie.
Nickdidnotwithdrawhishand.Take it,Muriel,hesaidquietly.Itisgoingtodoyougood.
Sheflashedhimadesperateglanceinwhichanger,fear,abhorrence,werestronglymingled.Headvancedthebiscuitalittlenearer.Therewasaqueerlookonhisyellowface,almostabullyinglook.
Takeit,hesaidagain.
And against her will, almost without conscious movement, sheobeyedhim.Theuntemptingmorselpassed fromhishand tohers,andunderthecompulsionofhisinsistenceshebegantoeat.
She feltas ifeverymouthfulwouldchokeher,butshepersevered,urgedbythedreadcertaintythathewouldsomehowhavehisway.
Notuntilthelastfragmentwasgonedidshefeelhisvigilancerelax,but he ate nothinghimself though there remained severalbiscuitsandaverylittleoftherice.
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Youarefeelingbetter?heaskedherthen.
Acurioussuspicionthathewaswaitingtotellhersomethingmade
heranswer
almost
feverishly
in
the
affirmative.
It
amounted
to
a
premonition of evil tidings, and instinctively her thoughts flew toherfather.
What is it? she questioned nervously. You have something tosay.
Nicksfacewasturnedfromher.Heseemedtobegazingacrosstheravine.
Yes,hesaid,afteramoment.
Oh,what?shebrokein.Tellmequicklyquickly!Itismyfather,Iknow,Iknow.Hehasbeenhurtwounded
Shestopped.Nickhadliftedonehandasiftosilenceher.Mydear,hesaid,hisvoiceverylow,yourfatherdiedlastnightbeforeweleftthefort.
Ather cryofagonyhe startedup,and ina secondhewasonhiskneesbyher sideandhadgatheredher tohimas though shehadbeenalittlechildinneedofcomfort.Shedidnotshrinkfromhiminherextremity.Theblowhadbeentoosudden,toooverwhelming.Itblottedoutalllessersensibilities.Inthosefirstterriblemomentsshedidnot thinkofNickatall,wasscarcelyconsciousofhispresence,thoughshevaguelyfeltthecomfortofhisarms.
Andhe,
holding
her
fast
against
his
breast,
found
no
consolation,
no
word of any sort wherewith to soothe her. He only rocked hergently,pressingherheadtohisshoulder,whilehisface,bentaboveher,quiveredalloverasthefaceofamanintorture.
Muriel spokeat last,breakingher stricken silencewitha strangelyeffortlesscomposure.Tellmemore,shesaid.
Shestirredinhisarmsasiftofreeherselffromsomeoppression,and
finallydrew
herself
away
from
him,
though
not
as
if
she
wished
to
escapehistouch.Shestillseemedtobehardlyawareofhim.Hewasthemediumofherinformation,thatwasall.Nickdroppedbackintohis former attitude, his hands clasped firmly round his knees, his
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eyes,keenasabirdsandextremelybright,gazingacrosstheravine.His lipsstillquivereda little,buthisvoicewasperfectlyevenandquiet.
It happened very soon after the firingbegan. Itmust havebeendirectlyafterheleftyou.Hewashitinthebreast,justovertheheart.We couldnt do anything for him. He knew himself that it wasmortal.Infact,I thinkhehadalmostexpected it.We tookhimintothe guardroom and made him as easy as possible. He lostconsciousness before he died. He was lying unconscious when Icametoyou.
Murielmade
asharp
movement.
And
you
never
told
me,
she
said,
inadrywhisper.
I thought itbest,heansweredwithgreatgentleness.Youcouldnothavegonetohim.Hedidntwishit.
Why not? she demanded, and suddenly her voice rang harshagain.WhycouldInothavegonetohim?Whydidnthewishit?
Nickhesitated
for
asingle
instant.
Then,
It
was
for
your
own
sake,
hesaid,notlookingather.
Youmeanhesuffered?
While he remained consciousyes. Nick spoke reluctantly. Itdidntlastlong,hesaid.
Shescarcelyseemedtohearhim.Andsoyoutrickedme,shesaid;
youtricked
me
while
my
father
was
lying
dying.
Iwas
not
to
see
himeither thenorafterformyownsake!Anddoyou thinkhervoicerisingdoyouthinkthatyouwereinanywayjustifiedintreatingmeso?DoyouthinkitwasmercifultoblindmeandtotakefrommeallIshouldeverhaveofcomforttolookbackupon?DoyouthinkIcouldnthaveborneitalltenthousandtimeseasierifIcouldhaveseenandknown theveryworst? Itwasmyrightitwasmyright!Howdaredyou take it fromme? Iwillnever forgiveyounever!
Shewasonherfeetasthepassionateprotestburstfromher,butsheswayedasshestoodandflungoutherarmswithagropinggesture.
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I couldhaveborne it, she criedagainwildly,piteously.I couldhaveborneanythinganythingifIhadonlyknown!
Shebroke
into
asudden,
terrible
sobbing,
and
threw
herself
down
headlong upon the earth, clutching at the moss with shaking,convulsive fingers, and crying between her sobs for Daddy!Daddy!asthoughheragonycouldpiercethedividingbarrierandbringhimbacktoher.Nickmadenofurtherattempttohelpher.Hesatgazingstonilyoutbeforehiminasphinxlikestillnessthatnevervariedwhilethestormofheranguishspentitselfathisside.
Evenafterher sobshadceased from sheerexhaustionhemadeno
movement,no
sign
that
he
was
so
much
as
thinking
of
her.
Onlywhen at last she raised herselfwith difficulty, and put theheavyhairback fromherdisfigured face,didhe turn slightlyandholdouttoherasmalltincup.
Itsonlywater,hesaidgently.Havesome.
Shetookitalmostmechanicallyanddrank,thenlaybackwithclosed
eyesand
burning
head,
sick
and
blinded
by
her
paroxysm
of
weeping.
Alittlelatershefelthishandsmovingaboutheragain,butshewastoospent toopenhereyes.Hebathedherfacewithacareequaltoanywomans,smoothedbackherhair,andimprovisedapillowforherhead.
Andafterwardssheknewthathesatdownbyher,outofsightbut
closeat
hand,
asilent
presence
watching
over
her,
till
at
last,
worn
outwithgriefand thebitterstrainof thepastweeks,shesank intonatural,dreamlessslumber,andsleptforhours.
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CHAPTERV
THEDEVILINTHEWILDERNESS
ItwasdarkwhenMuriel awokesodark that she lay forawhiledreamily fancying herself in bed. But this illusion passed veryquicklyasherbrain,refreshedandactive,resumeditswork.Thecryofajackalatnogreatdistancerousedhertofullconsciousness,andshestartedupinthechilldarkness,tremblingandafraid.
Instantlyawarmhandgraspedhers,andalowvoicespoke.Itsallright,saidNick.Imhere.
Oh,isntitdark?shesaid.Isntitdark?
Dontbefrightened,heansweredgently.Comeclosetome.Youarecold.
Shecrepttohimshivering,thankfulfortheshieldingarmhethrewaroundher.
Thesunrise
cant
be
far
off,
he
said.
I
expect
you
are
hungry,
arentyou?
Shewasveryhungry,andheputabiscuit intoherhand.Theveryfactofeating there in thedarkness insomemeasurereassuredher.Sheateseveralbiscuits,andbegantofeelmuchbetter.
Gettingwarmer?questionedNick.Letmefeelyourhands.Theywerestillcold,andhetookthemandthrustthemdownagainsthis
breast.She
shrank
alittle
at
the
touch
of
his
warm
flesh.
Itwillmakeyousocold,shemurmured.
Butheonlylaughedathersoftly,andpressedthemcloser.Iamnoteasilychilled,hesaid.Besides, itssleeping thatmakesyoucold.AndIhaventslept.
Murielheardthenewswithastonishment.Shewasnolongerangry
withNick,
and
her
fears
of
him
were
dormant.
Though
she
would
neverforgetandmightneverforgivehistreachery,hewashersoleprotector in that wilderness ofmany terrors, and she lacked theresolution to keep him at arms length. There was, moreover,
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something comforting in his presence, something that vastlyreassuredher,makingherleanuponhimalmostinspiteofherself.
Haventyou
slept
at
all?
she
asked
him
in
wonder.
How
in
the
worlddidyoukeepawake?
Hedidnotanswerher,onlylaughedagainasthoughatsomesecretjoke.He seemed tobe in rathergood spirits, shenoticed, and shemarvelled at himwith a heavy pain at her heart thatwas utterlybeyondexpressionorrelief.
Shesatsilentforalittle,thenatlengthwithdrewherhands,assuring
himthat
they
were
quite
warm.
AndIwanttotalktoyou,sheadded,inamorepracticaltonethanshehadpreviouslymanagedtoassume.Mr.Ratcliffe,youmaybeincommandofthisexpedition,butIthinkyououghttotellmeyourplans.
CallmeNick,wontyou?hesaid.Itllmakethingseasier.Youarequite welcome to know my plans, such as they are. I havent
managedto
develop
anything
very
ingenious
during
all
these
hours.
You seeweare, toa certain extent,at themercyof circumstances.Thisplaceisntmorethanadozenmilesfromthefort,andthehillsallroundareinfestedwithtribesmen.Ihopedatfirstthatweshouldget clear in the night,but youwere asleep, and on thewhole itseemedbesttolieupforanotherday.Wemightmakeaboltforittomorrow night if all goeswell. I have a sort of instinct for thesemountains.Thereisalwaysplentyofcoverforthosewhoknowhowto find it. It will be slow progress, of course, but we will keep
movingsouth,
and,
given
luck,
we
may
fall
in
with
Bassetts
relief
columnbeforemanydays.
Sowithmuchserenityhedisclosedhisplans,andMurielmarvelledafresh at the confidence that buoyed him up. Was he really assublimely free from anxiety as he wished her to believe, shewondered? Itwasdifficult to thinkotherwise,even thoughhehadadmitted that theywere governedby circumstance. Shebegan tothinkthattherewasmagic inhim,somehiddenreserveforceupon
whichhe
could
always
draw
when
all
other
resources
failed.
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Anothermatterhadalsocaughtherattention,andthisshepresentlydecidedtoinvestigate.ShehadneverthoughtofNickRatcliffeasinanysensearemarkablepersonbefore.
Didyouactuallycarrymetenmiles?sheasked.
Somethingverynearit,saidNick.
How in theworld did you do it?Her interestwas quickened.Undoubtedlytherewassomethinguncannyinthismansstrength.
Yourenotveryheavy,youknow,hesaid.
Hisarmwas stillaroundher,and she suffered it; for thedarknessstillfrightenedherwhensheallowedherselftothink.
Haveyouhadanythingtoeat?sheaskedhimnext.
Not quite lately, saidNick. Ivebeen smoking. Iwonder youdidntnoticeit.
Histone
was
somehow
repressive,
but
she
ignored
it
with
agrowing
temerity.Afterall,hedidnot seem such an alarmingpersonon aneareracquaintance.
Doessmokingdoaswellaseating?sheasked.
Muchbetter,saidNickpromptly.Caretotry?
Sheshookherheadinthedarkness.Idontthinkyouaretellingthe
truth,she
said.
What?saidNick.
Hespokecarelessly,butshedidnotrepeatherassertion.Asuddenshynessdescendeduponher,andshebecamesilent.Nickwasquiettoo, and shewonderedwhatwaspassing inhismind.But for thetensenessofthearmthatencircledher,shecouldhavebelievedhimtobedozing.The silencewasbecomingoppressivewhenabruptly
hebroke
it.
See!hesaid.Herecomesthedawn!
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Shestartedandstaredinfrontofher,seeingnothing.
Overtoyourleft,saidNick.Andturningshebeheldalightening
ofthe
darkness
high
above
them.
Shebreathedasighofthankfulness,andwatcheditgrow.Itspreadrapidly.Thewalls of the ravine showedghostlygrey, then faintlypink.Through thedimness thebouldersscatteredabout thestreamstood up like mediaeval monsters, and for a few panicstrickensecondsMuriel took the twining roots of a rhododendron close athandfor thecoilsofagiganticsnake.Thenas theordinary lightofdayfiltereddownintothegloomyplaceshesighedagainwithrelief,
andlooked
at
her
companion.
Hewassittingwithhischinonhishand,gazingacross theravine.He did not stir or glance in her direction. His yellow face wasseamedinathousandwrinkles.
A vaguemisgiving assailed her as she looked at him. Therewassomethingunnaturalinhisstillness.
Nick!she
said
at
length
with
hesitation.
Heturnedsharply,andinaninstantthereadygrinleapedoutuponhisface.Goodmorning,hesaid lightly.Iwasjustthinkinghownice itwouldbe togodown thereandhaveawash.Wevegot topassthetimesomehow,youknow.Willyougofirst?
Hisgaietybaffledher,butshedidnotfeelwhollyreassured.Shegotupslowly,andasshedidso,herattentionwascaughtbysomething
thatsent
athrill
of
dismay
through
her.
Dont look at my feet, please, said Nick. They wont bearinspectionatpresent.
Sheturnedhorrifiedeyestohisface,ashethrustthemdownintoabunchoffern.Howdreadful!sheexclaimed.Theyareallcutandgashed.Ididntknowyouwerebarefooted.
Iwasnt,
said
Nick.
Ive
got
some
sandals
here.
Dont
look
like
that!Youmakemewant to cry. Iassureyou itdoesnthurt in theleast.
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Hegrinnedagainasheutteredthischeerfullie,butMurielwasnotdeceived.
Youmust
let
me
bind
them
up,
she
said.
Notfortheworld,laughedNick.Icouldntwalkwithmyfeetinpoulticebags,andweshallhavesomemoreroughmarching todotonight.Nowdontyouworry.Runalonglikeagoodgirl.Imgoingtosaymyprayers.
Itwasflippantlyspoken,butMurielrealisedthatitwouldbebettertoobey.Sheturnedaboutslowly,andbegantomakeherwaydown
tothe
stream.
The sunlightwasbeginning to slant through the ravine, and hereand there the racing water gleamed silvery. It was intenselyrefreshingtokneelandbathefaceandhandsinitsicycoldness.Shelingered longover it. Itssparklingpurityseemed toreachandstillthe throbbingmisery at her heart. In some fashion itbrought herpeace.
Shewould
have
prayed,
but
she
felt
she
had
no
prayer
to
offer.
She
had no favour to ask for herself, and herworldwas quite emptynow.Shehadnooneinherheartforwhomtopray.
Yet for awhile she knelt dumb among the lifeless stones, her facehidden, her thoughtswith the fatherwhose loss she had scarcelybegun to realise. Itmightbe thatGodwouldunderstandandpityhersilence,shethoughtdrearilytoherself.
Therush
of
the
water
drowned
all
sound
but
its
own,
and
the
memoryofNick,waitingabove,fadedfromherconsciousnesslikeadream.Herbrain felt numb and heavy still. She did notwant tothink. She leaned her head against a rock, closing her eyes. Thecontinuousbabbleofthestreamwaslikealullaby.
Under its soothing influence she might have slept, a blesseddrowsiness was stealing over her, when suddenly there flashedthroughherbeingaswiftwarningofapproachingdanger.Whenceit
cameshe
knew
not,
but
its
urgency
was
such
that
instinctively
she
startedupandlookedabouther.
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Thenext instant,with a soundhalfgasp,halfcry, shewasonherfeet, and shrinking back against her sheltering boulder in theparalysis of a great horror. There,within a few yards of her and
drawingnearer,
ever
nearer,
with
abeast
like
stealth,
was
atall,
blackbeardedtribesman.Transfixedbyterror,shestoodandgazedathim,waitingdumbly, cold fromhead to foot, feelingas thoughherveryhearthadturnedtostone.
Nearer he came, and yet nearer, soundlessly over the stones.Hiseyes, gleaming, devilish,were to her as the eyes of a devouringmonster. Inheragony she tried to shriekaloud,buthervoicewasgone,herthroatseemedlocked.Shewaspowerless.
Close toher, fora single instanthepaused; then,as ina lightningflash, she saw the narrow, sinewy hand and snakelike arm dartforwardtoseizeher,felteverymuscleinherbodystiffentorigidityin anticipation of its touch, and shrankshrank in every nervethoughshemadenooutwardsignofshrinking.
Butontheinstant,withapantherlikespring,sure,noiseless,deadly,another figure leapt suddenly across her vision. There followed a
violentstruggle
in
front
of
her,
aconfused
swaying
to
and
fro,
acry
chokedinstantlyandterribly,thetinklingsoundofsteelfallinguponstone.Andthenbothfigureswereonthegroundalmostatherfeet,lockedtogetherinmortalcombat,fighting,fightinglikedemonsinasilencethatthrobbedwiththetumultofunrestrainedsavagery.
LatershenevercouldrememberhowlongittookhertorealisethatthesecondapparitionwasNick,orifshehadknownitfromthefirst.Shefeltherselfhoveringuponthebrinkofagreatemptiness,avoid
immense,and
yet
all
her
senses
were
alive
and
tingling
with
horror.
Withagonisedperceptionofwhatwaspassing,sheyetfeltnumbed:as thoughherbodyweredead,but still containedavital, torturedsoul.
And itwas thus that shepresently sawNicks facebentabove theblackbearded face of his enemy; and remembered suddenly andhorriblyapictureshehadonceseenofthedevilinthewilderness.
Withhis
knees
he
was
gripping
the
writhing
body
of
his
fallen
foe.
Withhishandsitcameuponheras shewatchedwitha shockofanguished comprehensionhe was deliberately and with deadlyintentionchokingoutthemanslife.
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Curseyou!Die!sheheardhimsayandhisvoicesoundedlikethesnarlofawildbeast.Hisupper lipwasdrawnback,the loweronewasbetweenhis teeth,and from it theblooddrippedcontinuously
uponhis
hands
and
upon
the
dark
throat
he
gripped.
Givemethatknife!hesuddenlysaid,withanupwardjerkofthehead.
Adaggerwas lyingalmostwithinhis reach, close toher foot.Shecouldhavekickedittowardshimhadnotherbodybeenfastboundin thatdeathly inertia.Butherwholesoulroseup inwildrevoltattheorder.Shetriedtocryout,toimplorehimtohavemercy,butshe
couldnot
make
asound.
She
could
only
stand
in
frozen
horror,
and
witnessthisawfulthing.
ShesawNickshifthisgriptoonehandandreachoutwiththeotherfor the weapon. He grasped it and recovered himself. A greatdarknesswasdescendinguponher,but itdidnotcomeatonce. Ithoveredbeforehereyes,andseemedtopass,andagainshesawthehorroratherfeet;sawNick,benttodestroylikeaneagleabovehisprey,merciless,fullofstrength, terrible;saw themanbeneathhim,
writhing,convulsed,
tortured;
saw
his
upturned
face,
and
starting
eyes; saw the sudden downward swoop ofNicks right hand, theflashofthedescendingsteel.
Inheragonysheburstthespellthatboundher,andshriekingturnedtofleefromthatawfulsight.
Butevenasshemoved,thedarknesscamesuddenlybackuponher,enveloping her, overwhelming hera darkness that couldbe felt.
Foralittle
she
fought
against
it
frantically,
impotently.
Then
her
feet
seemed to totterover the edgeofadreadful, formless silence.Sheknewthatshefell.
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CHAPTERVI
WHENSTRONGMENFAIL
Wakeup!saidNicksoftly.Wakeup!Dontbeafraid.
ButMuriel turned her face from the lightwith amoan.Memorywingedwithhorrorwassweepingbackuponher,andshewantednevertowakeagain.
Wakeup!Nicksaidagain,andthistimetherewasinsistenceinhisvoice.Openyoureyes,Muriel.Thereisnothingtofrightenyou.
Shuddering, she obeyed him. Shewas lying oncemore upon hercouchof ferns,andhewas stoopingoverher, looking closely intoher face.His eyeswere extraordinarilybright, like the eyes of aneagle,butthelidsflickeredsorapidlythatheseemedtobelookingthroughherrather thanather.Therewasawounduponhis lowerlip, and at the sight she shuddered again, closing her eyes. Sherememberedthatthelasttimeshehadlookeduponthatface,ithadbeenthefaceofadevil.
Oh,goaway!Goaway!shewailed.Letmedie!
Iwillgoaway,heansweredswiftly,ifyouwillpromisetodrinkwhatisinthiscup.
Hepresseditagainstherhand,andshetookitalmostmechanically.Itisonlybrandyandwater,hesaid.Youwilldrinkit?
IfImust,
she
answered
weakly.
Youmust,he rejoined,and sheheardhim riseandmoveaway.Shestrainedherearstolisten,butsheverysoonceasedtohearhim;and thenraisingherselfcautiously,shedrank.Awarm thrillof liferan through her veinswith thedraught, steadying her, refreshingher.Butitwaslongbeforeshecouldbringherselftolookround.
Theminiature roarof the streamwas theonly sound tobeheard,
andwhen
at
length
she
glanced
downwards
there
was
no
sign
anywhereof theghastly spectacle shehadjustwitnessed.She sawthe rock behind which she had knelt, and again a violent fit ofshudderingassailedher.Whatdidthatrockconceal?
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Nevertheless shepresently took courage to rise, lookingaboutherfurtively, half afraid that Nickmight pop up at anymoment todetainher.Forshefelt thatshecouldnotstay longer in thatplace,
whateverhe
might
say
or
do.
The
one
idea
that
possessed
her
was
to
getawayfromhim,toescapefromhishorriblepresence,whithersheneitherknewnorcared.Ifheappearedtostopherthen,shethoughtthatshewouldgoravingmad.
Butshesawnothingofhimasshestoodthere,andwithdeepreliefshebegantocreepaway.Halfadozenyardsshecovered,andthenstoodsuddenlystillwithherheartinherthroat.There,immediatelyin frontofher, flungproneupon the groundwithhis face onhis
arms,was
Nick.
He
did
not
move
at
her
coming,
did
not
seem
to
hear.Andthethoughtcametohertoavoidhimbyacircuit,andyetescape.But somethingaqueer, indefinable somethingmadeherpause.Whywas he lying there?Had hebeen hurt in that awfulstruggle?Washewasheunconscious?Washedead?
She foughtback the impulse to fly, not for its unworthiness,butbecauseshefeltthatshemustknow.
Trembling,she
moved
alittle
nearer
to
the
prostrate,
motionless
figure.
Nick!shewhisperedunderherbreath.
Hemadenosign.
Her doubt turned to sudden, overmastering fear that pricked herforwardinspiteofherself.
Nick!shesaidagain,andfindingherselfclosetohimshebentandveryslightlytouchedhisshoulder.
Hemoved then, and shealmostgaspedwith relief.He turnedhisheadsharplywithoutraisinghimself,andshesawthegrimlinesofhisleancheekandjaw.
Thatyou,Muriel?hesaid,speakinghaltingly,spasmodically.Im
awfullysorry.
Fact
isIm
not
well.
Ishall
bebetterdirectly.
Go
back,wontyou?
Hebrokeoff,andlaysilent,hishandsclenchedasifhewereinpain.
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Muriel stood looking down at him in consternation. It was herchance to escapea chance thatmightneveroccuragainbut shehadnofurtherthoughtoftakingit.
Whatisit?sheaskedhimtimidly,CanIdoanything?
And then she suddenly sawwhatwas thematter. Itburst uponherastartlingrevelation.Possibly thesightof thoseskeleton fistshelpedher to enlightenment. She turned swiftly and spedback totheircampingground.
Inthirtysecondsorless,shewasbackagainandstoopingoverhim
withapiece
of
brown
bread
in
her
hand.
Eatthis,sheordered,inatoneofauthority.
Nicksfacewashiddenagain.Heseemedtobefightingwithhimself.Hisvoicecameatlength,muffledandindistinct.
No,no!Takeitaway!Illhaveadrainofbrandy.AndIvegotsometobaccoleft.
Muriel stooped lower. She caught the words though they werescarcely audible. She laid her handupon his arm, stronger in themomentsemergencythanshehadbeensinceleavingthefort.
Youaretoeatit,shesaidverydecidedly.Youshalleatit.Doyouhear,Nick?Iknowwhatisthematterwithyou.Youarestarving.Ioughttohaveseenitbefore.
Nickuttered
ashaky
laugh,
and
dragged
himself
up
on
to
his
elbows.Imnot starving,hedeclared.Take itaway,Muriel.Doyou think Imgoing toeatyour luncheon, tea,anddinner,and tomorrowsbreakfastaswell?
Youaregoingtoeatthis,sheanswered.
Heflashedheraglanceofkeencuriosity.AmI?hesaid.
Youmust,
she
said,
speaking
with
an
odd
vehemence
which
later
surprisedherself.Whyshouldyougooutofyourwaytotellmealie?DoyouthinkIcantsee?
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Nick raised himself slowly. Something in the situation seemed tohavedeprivedhimofhisusualreadiness.Buthewouldnottakethebread,wouldnotevenlookatit.
Imbetternow,hesaid.Wellgoback.
Muriel stood forasecond irresolute, then sharply turnedherback.Nicksatandwatchedherinsilence.Suddenlyshewheeled.There!shesaid.Ivedividedit.Youwilleatthisatleast.Itsabsurdofyouto starveyourself.Youmightaswellhave stayed in the fort todothat.
Thiswas
unanswerable.
Nick
took
the
bread
without
further
protest.
Hebegan to eat,marvelling at his owndocility; and suddenlyheknewthathewasravenous.
Therewasverylittleleftwhenatlengthhelookedup.
Showmewhatyouhavesavedforyourself,hesaid.
ButMurielbackedawaywithashort,hystericallaugh.
Hestartedtohisfeetandtookherrudelybytheshoulder.Doyoumean to sayhebegan, almostwithviolence;and then checkedhimself,peeringatherwithfierce,uncertaineyes.
Shedrewawayfromhim,allherfearsreturninguponherinaflood;butathermovementhesetherfreeandturnedhisback.
Heavenknowswhatyoudiditfor,hesaid,seemingtocontrolhis
voicewith
some
difficulty.
It
wasnt
for
your
own
sake,
and
Iwont
presume to think itwas formine. Butwhen the time comes forhanding round rewards,may itbe remembered thatyour offeringwassomethingmoresubstantialthanacupofcoldwater.
Hebrokeoffwithaqueersound in the throat,andbegan tomoveaway.
ButMuriel followedhim, anunaccountable senseof responsibility
overcomingher
reluctance.
Nick!shesaid.
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Hestoodstillwithoutturning.Shehadafeelingthathewasputtingstrong restraint upon himself.With an effort she forced herself tocontinue.
You want sleep, I know. Will youwill you lie down while Iwatch?
Heshookhisheadwithoutlookingather.
But I wish it, she persisted. I can wake you ifanythinghappens.
Youwouldnt
dare,
said
Nick.
Isupposethatmeansyouareafraidtotrustme,shesaid.
Heturnedatthat.Itmeansnothingofthesort.Butyouvehadonescare,andyoumayhaveanother.IthinkmyselfthatthatfellowwasascoutonthelookoutforBassettsadvanceguard.ButHeavenonlyknowswhatbrought him to this place, and theremaybe others.ThatswhyIdidntdaretoshoot.
Hepaused,his lighteyebrows raised,surveyingherquestioningly;forMurielhad suddenly coveredher facewithbothhands.But inanothermomentshelookedupagain,andspokewithaneffort.
Yourbeingawakecouldntlessenthedanger.Wontyoupleasebereasonableaboutit?Iamdoingmybest.
Therewas adeep note of appeal in her voice, and abruptlyNick
gavein.
Hemovedback to their restingplacewithout anotherword, andflunghimself facedownwardsbeside the nest of fern that hehadmadeforher,lyingstretchedatfulllengthlikealog.
Shehadnotexpected so suddenandcompleteasurrender. It tookherunawares,andshestoodlookingdownathim,uncertainhowtoproceed.
Butafterafewsecondsheturnedhisheadtowardsherandspoke.
Youllstaybyme,Muriel?
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Of course, she answered, that unwonted sense of responsibilitystillstronglyurgingher.
Hemurmured
something
unintelligible,
and
stirred
uneasily.
She
knewinaflashwhathewanted,butasicksenseofdreadheldherback. She felt during the silence that followed as though hewerepleading with her, urging her, even entreating her. Yet still sheresisted,standingnearhim indeed,butwithadesperatereluctanceatherheart,a shrinkingunutterable from thebare thoughtofanycloserproximity tohim thatwas as the instinctive recoilofpurityfromathingunclean.
Thehorror
of
his
deed
had
returned
upon
her
over
whelmingly
with
hisbriefreferencetoit.Hislackofemotionseemedtoherashideouscallousness, more horrible than the deed itself. His physicalexhaustionhadcalledheroutofherself,butthereactionwasdoublyterrible.
Nick said no more. He lay quite motionless, hardly seeming tobreathe,andsherealisedthattherewasnoreposeinhisattitude.Hewasnoteventryingtorest.
Shewrungherhandstogether.Itcouldnotgoon,thistension.Eithershemustyieldtohisunspokendesire,orhewouldsitupandcryoffthe bargain. And she knew that sleep was a necessity to him.Commonsensetoldherthathewastotallyunfitforfurtherhardshipwithoutit.
Sheclosedhereyesamoment,summoningallherstrength for thegreatest sacrifice she had evermade.And then in silence she sat
downbeside
him,
within
reach
of
his
hand.
Heutteredagreat sighandsufferedhiswholebody to relax.Andsheknewby theaction, thoughhedidnot speakaword, that shehadsethismindatrest.
Scarcelyaminutelater,hisquietbreathingtoldherthatheslept,butshesatonbyhissidewithoutmovingduringthelongemptyhoursof her vigil.He had trusted her without a question, and, as her
fathersdaughter,
she
would
at
whatever
cost
prove
herself
worthy
ofhistrust.
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CHAPTERVII
THECOMINGOFANARMY
Through a great part of the night that followed they trampedsteadily southward. The starswereNicks guide, though as timepassedhebegan tomakehiswaywith theconfidenceofonewellacquaintedwithhissurroundings.Theinstinctoflocalitywasasixthsensewith him.Hand in hand, over rocky ground, through deepravines,bysteepanddifficulttracks,theymadetheirdesperateway.Sometimesinthedistancedimfiguresmovedmysteriously,revealedby starlight,but none questioned ormolested them. They passed
fromrock
to
rock
through
the
heart
of
the
enemys
country,
unrecognised,unobserved.ThereweretimeswhenNickgraspedhisrevolverunderhisdisguise, ready, ready at amomentsnotice, tokeephiswordtothegirlsfather,shoulddetectionbetheirportion;buteach timeas thedangerpassed thembyhe tightenedhisholduponher,drawingherforwardwithgreaterassurance.
They scarcely spoke throughout the long, longmarch.Murielhadmovedatfirstwithacertainelasticity,thankfultoescapeatlastfrom
thehorrors
of
their
resting
place.
But
very
soon
agreat
weariness
cameuponher.Shewasphysicallyunfitforanyprolongedexertion.Thelongstrainofthesiegehadweakenedhermorethansheknew.
Nevertheless, shekeptonbravely,utteringno complaint,urged toutmosteffortbytheinstinctivedesiretoescape.Itwasthisoneideathatoccupiedallher thoughtsduring thatnight.Sheshrankwithavividhorrorfromlookingback.Andshecouldnotseeintothedimblankfuture.Itwasmercifullyscreenedfromhersight.
At her thirdheavy stumble,Nick stopped andmade her swallowsomerawbrandyfromhisflask.Thisbuoyedherupforawhile,butitwasevident to themboth thatherstrengthwas fast failing.Andpresently he stopped again, andwithout aword lifted her in hisarms.Shegaspedaprotesttowhichhemadenoresponse.Hisarmscompassedher like steel,makingher feelhelplessasan infant.Hewas limpinghimself,shenoticed;yetheboreherstrongly,withoutfaltering,surefootedasamountaingoatoverthebrokenground,till
hefound
at
length
what
he
deemed
asafe
halting
place
in
aclump
of
stuntedtrees.
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Thesunriserevealedanativevillagestandingamongriceandcottonfieldsinthevalleybelowthem.
Ishall
have
to
go
foraging,
Nick
said.
ButMurielsnervesthathadbeentotteringonthevergeofcollapsefor some time here broke down completely. She clung to himhystericallyandentreatedhimnottoleaveher.
Icantbearit!Icantbearit!shekeptreiterating.Ifyougo,Imustgotoo.IcantIcantstayherealone.
Hegave
way
instantly,
seeing
that
she
was
in
astate
of
mind
that
borderedupondistraction,andthathecouldnotsafelyleaveher.Hesat downbeside her, therefore,making her as comfortable as hecould;and shepresently sleptwithherheaduponhis shoulder. Itwasbutabrokenslumber,however,andsheawoke from itcryingwildly that amanwasbeingmurderedmurderedmurderedandimploringhimwithagonisedtearstointervene.
Hequietedherwithasteady insistencethatgained itsend,though
shecrouched
against
him
sobbing
for
some
time
after.
As
the
sun
rose higher her fever increased,but she remained conscious andsuffering intensely, all through the heat of the day. Then, as theeveningdrewon,sheslippedintoaheavystupor.
ItwastheopportunityNickhadawaitedforhours,andheseizedit.Layingherback in thedeep shadowofaboulder,hewent swiftlydownintothevalley.Thelastlightwaspassingashestrodethroughthevillage,agaunt,silentfigureinahillmansdress,anativedagger
inhis
girdle.
Save
that
he
had
pulled
the
chuddah
well
over
his
face,
heattemptednoconcealment.
Heglidedbya ringofoldmen seatedabouta fire,moving likeashadow through the glare. They turned to view him,but he hadalreadypassedwiththetreadofawolf,andthemudwallofoneofthecottageshidhimfromsight.
Intothishuthedivedasthoughsomeinstinctguidedhim.Hepaid
noheed
to
awoman
on
astring
bedstead
with
ababy
at
her
breast,
whochatteredshrillyathisentrance.Preparationsforamealwereinprogress, and he scarcely pausedbefore he lighted uponwhat hesought.Asmallearthenpitcherstoodonthemudfloor.Heswooped
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