,
rather awed me, and going softly I looked around at her face. Her cheeks
were wet and her lips were trembling with convulsive sobs. Oh, how I
hated myself then!

"Good God," I cried, throwing my arms about her, "see what I've done!"

But she put her palms against my shoulders and held me off, saying
brokenly:

"You haven't done anything."

"I have," I cried again. "I've hurt you--hurt the one I love most in all
the world!"

"Don't," she said, more startled now than at any time when she had been
facing a greater danger. "Quick! Please--let's get the things we need
for the fort!" And she sprang away from me, running toward the pool.

In a very few minutes we were back with the rifles, an ample supply of
cartridges, our canteens, and a blanket I had brought in case we decided
to slip away at night. Helping her over the parapet I followed, and we
stood looking intently for a sign of foes, but the waving grass spoke
only of a brisk wind. It might be a half an hour before Efaw Kotee's
band could get within range of us. Twice I whispered her name, but she
would not answer, so I turned her around until she had to face me.

"I have the right to speak now," I said gently, "because this may be the
last of things. The next few hours will decide. You understand, don't
you, and know that my words are their own excuse?"

There was a serious, calm mystery in her look that answered mine with
simple courage, as she whispered:

"Yes, I understand."

"We can't die," I drew her close to me, "because I love you--I love
you!"

For a quick moment, and then gone, a light shone in her eyes--as though
some fire raging below had been swept through the entirety of her being.
Her fingers that had been clutching my shoulders relaxed, and very
softly her arms crept around my neck, as she murmured: "No more than I
do you!"

It might have been a minute or a year that we drifted in a rapturously
agonizing kiss; but slowly her eyes opened, her lips sighed and,
touching them to my cheek, she whispered my name over and over again.

"We'll win to-day," I cried, giving the prairie a searching look above
her head, "and after that there's a kingdom waiting for you here!"

"I can feel it beating," she whispered adorably. "But if we----" She
could not say it, but let her moist lips cling to mine as if challenging
Death to part us.

Who dares measure time when Cupid perches on the clock! 'Twas a wise
providence that gave severe St. Gregory th