le
grimly. Peter Carew of the Blues had been no shunner of women in those
days; no taciturn, silent, unappreciative onlooker. Rather he had
loved too many, kissed too freely, ridden away too light-heartedly.

Until the blue-grey eyes, so like Meryl's, looked shyly up, and then
in their turn ran away from him. Of course, he had followed blindly
like the hot-headed, hard-riding sportsman he was--followed blindly,
wooed irresistibly, and won gloriously.

And then ...

Over the kopjes, over the vleis, over the veldt a black cloud came
down, and suddenly all the picture was blotted out. An expression that
was momentarily almost wistful left the fine mouth; the far-away
softness left the keen blue eyes, and his face hardened strangely.
Then he looked up at Meryl, riding beside him, and saw all the
questioning interest in her face.

"I'm afraid you have a very dull companion," he said; but it was in
the voice that Diana usually called his snarl.

Meryl smiled. "I did not for a moment suppose that you would talk."

She could hardly say that his face relaxed, but at least there was
that in it which suggested he liked her answer far better than any
conventional politeness.

Suddenly a wholly unlooked-for twinkle lurked somewhere in his eyes.

"Bears don't usually," he said.

Meryl laughed. "Diana is too fond of nicknaming her friends and
acquaintances; but on the whole I think she has let you off lightly. A
bear is a magnificent animal."

"Not given to much amiability. No Prince Charming, for instance," and
he smiled a little grimly.

"But strong--and--well--dangerous, which is better."

"You think so?" He looked at her rather curiously.

"Decidedly."

They rode on in silence, and, for a little way, the road being rough,
he reined in his horse to the narrow path behind her. Then, when it
grew smoother again, she waited for him to come alongside.

"You haven't always been in this part of Rhodesia?"

"No; only recently."

"Long enough to get very attached to it."

"More or less," and suddenly his voice hardened a little, as if
scenting a discussion and wishful to ward it off.

"I wonder why Rhodesia is so fascinating?" And her eyes roved with
love in them from far horizon to far horizon. "I suppose you do not
attempt to analyse it? You are content to care unquestioningly."

"Yes"--with an effort--"after a time, one just cares."

"And at first?..."

"At first one has to find one's footing, so to speak. S