in Peshawur till she learned the truth.
But the name Hare suggested nothing to me, not till after I had left
her at Singapore. So I shall go back with you. But please let Kathlyn
continue to think of me as a man who earns his own living."

"God bless you, my boy! You have put a new backbone in me. It's hard
not to have a white man to talk to, to plan with. Ahmed expects that
we shall be ready for the return in the morning. He, however, intends
to go back on a racing camel, to go straight to my bungalow, if it
isn't destroyed by this time. Perhaps Winnie has not arrived there
yet. I trust Ahmed."

"So do I. I have known him for a long time--that is, I thought I
did--and during the last few weeks he has been a revelation. Think of
his being your head man all these years, and yet steadily working for
his Raj, the British Raj."

"They can keep secrets."

"Well, we have this satisfaction: when Pundita rules it will be under
the protecting hand of England. Now let us try to look at the cheerful
side of the business. Think of what that girl has gone through with
scarcely a scratch! Can't you read something in that? See how strong
and self-reliant she has become under such misfortunes as would have
driven mad any ordinary woman! Can't you see light in all this? I
tell you, there is good and evil working for and against us, and that
Ahmed's fakir will in the end prove stronger than your bally old guru.
When I am out of the Orient I laugh at such things, but I can't laugh
at them somehow when I'm in India."

"Nor I."

That night Kathlyn signified that she wished to go down to the beach
beyond the harbor basin. Bruce accompanied her. Often he caught her
staring out at the twinkling lights on board the Simla. By and by they
could hear the windlass creaking. A volume of black smoke suddenly
poured from the boat's slanting funnel. The ship was putting out to
sea.

"Why do you risk your life for us?" she asked suddenly.

"Adventure is meat and drink to me, Miss Hare."

The prefix sounded strange and unfamiliar in her ears. Formality. She
had been wrong, then; only comradeship and the masculine sense of
responsibility. Her heart was like lead.

"It is very kind and brave of you, Mr. Bruce; but I will not have it."

"Have what?" he asked, knowing full well what she meant.

"This going back with us. Why should you risk your life for people who
are almost strangers?"

"Strangers?" He laughed sof