more mine. Come, my brave, true lad, accept your
fate. Go into the next tent, and come back my chief. I have brought
many of my best officers over to be presented to you--noble men who will
place their swords at your feet, for they know what you have done, and
they are eager to receive you as their brave young leader. There, I
cannot be angry with you, boy. You master even me, and make me quite
your slave. Kill, imprison you! It is impossible. You accept?"

I shook my head.

I thought he was going to flash cut again in his anger; but though his
brow wrinkled up, it was only with a puzzled look; and then he looked
alarmed, for I sank back half fainting, and for a few moments everything
before me was misty.

But it passed off as I felt a vessel of cold water at my lips; and
directly after I came quite to myself.

"What is it?" he said anxiously. "You are ill."

"Your hand was pressing my wounded shoulder," I said rather faintly.

"My dear Gil!" he cried, as he took and pressed my hand, "I did not
know."

"Of course not," I said, smiling. "It is long healing. I'm better now.
It was very weak and cowardly of me to turn so. There," I cried, with
an attempt at being merry; "you see what a poor officer I should make."

"You cowardly!" he cried. "It is wonderful how you have recovered so
quickly. But, come, it is getting late, and we have a long journey
back. Go and put on your uniform."

"I cannot," I said sadly.

"I am not asking you to say `Yes' now," he continued calmly. "I only
wish you to appear before my people worthily dressed as my friend, and
ready to enter my city."

"You want to take me with you?" I said quickly.

"Yes; you will share my howdah. It is you I care for as my friend. I
do not care for your clothes; but my people would think it strange."

I sat frowning and thinking of Dost and Brace, but I was helpless.

"If I put on the uniform you have brought, it is accepting your proposal
and promising to serve you."

"No, I shall want a better promise than that, Gil. I shall wait. You
do not know Ny Deen yet. Some day you will come to me and say `Yes. I
know you now as a brave, good man, who is seeking to do what is right.'
You think of me now, and judge me by what savage men have done
everywhere at a time when I only wished that they should fight as
soldiers. When you know me well, you will place your sword at my
service. I am going to wait."

"Then leave me here," I s