ver of her attraction by
reason of the intensified sense of her wrought by her letter, he glanced
surreptitiously at the rigid form in the chair and a wave of pity mixed
with a half conscious pride that she belonged to him, rose within him.
Then Birnier started as he was brought back to a realization of the
passing of time by a harsh voice that told of creaking nerves:

"Herr Professor, what is your pleasure to do with me, if you please?"

"I beg your pardon!" Birnier sat up. "Er--naturally I shall endeavour to
get you away as early as possible. It would be as well if you took
advantage of the present--er--saturnalia to escape. I cannot do much. I can
provide you with a gun and food. As you are not injured you should be able
to get a reasonable distance from here by morning; for the rest I am
afraid you must fend for yourself. I wish that I could do more, but I'm
afraid that my power is not yet sufficient to ensure any help from the
natives."

An inarticulate sound emerged from zu Pfeiffer's mouth. Birnier's eyes
caught the sheen of the photograph upon the wall. Escape! Lucille! Almost
involuntarily he stretched out a hand and took Lucille's letter from the
table. Again came zu Pfeiffer's voice:

"I thank you, Herr Professor, but I cannot accept--for myself." Birnier
stared at him. "I wish you to understand that for myself that is
impossible." The tall figure seemed to straighten in the chair. "But as I
have the honour to serve his Imperial Majesty I am bound to preserve to
the best of my ability my body in order to answer for my culpable
negligence which has resulted in the loss of my two companies. Most
distinctly, Herr Professor, I wish you to know that I accept your offer in
order to place myself before the Court Martial that awaits me."

Birnier almost gasped. That this anomaly of a man, who was capable of
cold-blooded murder at the prompting of an hallucination, and who now
appeared equally capable of the utter annihilation of self at the service
of his Imperial Master, meant what he said, Birnier did not doubt. Yet it
was not anomalous. Logical in fact; the capability of supreme sacrifice
for either of his idols.

"I understand you, Lieutenant," said he courteously. "I----" The two letters
in his hand crackled. Before he could master the mean desire he had handed
the second letter to zu Pfeiffer with the words:

"Forgive me, I have here a letter which it is my duty to return to you."

The sapphires winked