ng to read, and
only anxieties to think on. The greater part of the day Leonard and
Juanna occupied in talking, for practice, in the language of the People
of the Mist. When their conversation was exhausted they told each other
tales of their adventures in past years, or even invented stories like
children and prisoners; indeed they were prisoners--prisoners, as they
feared, under sentence of death.

They grew to know each other very well during those five weeks, so well
indeed that each could almost guess the other's thoughts. But no tender
word ever passed their lips. On this subject, whatever their hearts
might feel, their tongues were sealed, and in their curious perversity
the chief object of each was to disguise the truth from the other.
Moreover, Leonard never for one moment forgot that Juanna was his ward,
a fact that in itself would have sufficed to cause him to conceal any
tender emotions he might have felt towards her.

So they lived side by side, lovers at heart, yet talking and acting as
brother and sister might, and through it all were still happy after a
fashion because they were together.

But Soa was not happy. She felt that her mistress no longer trusted her,
and was at no loss to guess the cause. Day by day she stood behind them
like a mummy at an Egyptian feast, and watched Leonard with ever-growing
jealousy.

Francisco for his part did not attempt to conceal his fears. He was
certain that they were about to perish and sought consolation in the
constant practice of religion, which was edifying but scarcely improved
him as a companion. As for Otter, he also believed that the hour of
death was nigh, but being a fatalist this did not trouble him much. On
the contrary, in spite of Leonard's remonstrances he began to live hard,
betaking himself freely to the beer-pot. When Leonard remonstrated with
him he turned somewhat sulky.

"To-day I am a god, Baas," he answered, "to-morrow I may be carrion.
While I am a god, let me drink and be merry. All my days also women
have cursed me because I am ugly, but now my wife holds me great and
beautiful. What is the good of thinking and looking sad? The end will
come soon enough. Already Nam sharpens the knife for our hearts. Come
and be merry with me, Baas, if the Shepherdess will let you."

"Do you take me for a pig like yourself?" said Leonard angrily. "Well,
go your own way, foolish that you are, but beware of the beer and the
spirits. Now you are beginning