h, as I fondly believe, will lay a heavier toll on fortitude than
did this griping-stroke which I must endure standing erect. 'Tis no
figure of speech to say that I would have given the reversion of a
kingdom, and a crown to boot, for leave to double over and groan out the
agony of it.

Happily for us, there were no women with the band, so we were spared the
crueler refinements of these ante-burning torments; the flaying alive by
inch-bits, and the sticking of blazing splints of pitchwood in the
flesh to make death a thing to be prayed for. There was naught of this;
and tiring finally of the marksman play, the Indians made ready to burn
us. Some ran to recover the spent weapons; others made haste to heap the
wood in a broad circle about our trees; and the chief, with three or
four to help, renewed the deer-thong lashings.

'Twas in the rebinding that this headman, a right kingly-looking savage
as these barbarians go, thrust a bit of paper into my hand, and gave me
time to glance its message out by the light of the fire. 'Twas a line
from Margery; and this is what she said:

_Dear Heart:

Though you must needs believe my love is pledged to your good
friend and mine, 'tis yours, and yours alone, my lion-hearted
one. I am praying the good God to give you dying grace, and me
the courage to follow you quickly. Margery.

This by the hand of Tallachama._

For one brief instant a wave of joy caught and flung me upon its highest
crest, and all these savage tormentors could do to me became as naught.
Then the true meaning of this her brave _Ave atque vale_ smote me like a
space-flung meteor, and the joy-wave became an ocean of despair to
engulf me in its blackest depths. The letter was never meant for me;
'twas for Richard Jennifer, who, as she would think, must know the
story of her marriage to his friend and must believe her love went with
the giving of her hand. And she named him Lion-Heart because he was
brave, and true, and strong, like that first English Richard of the
kingly line.

I thrust the message back upon the bearer of it, begging him in dumb
show to give it quickly to my companion. I knew not at the time if he
did it, being so crushed and blinded by this fresh misery. But when the
Indians drew off to ring us in a chanting circle for the final act, I
would not let the lad see my face for fear he might fathom the
heart-break in me and know the cause of it.

'Twas at this crisis