ubt! And see the heart starvation stamped on 'daughter's'
face, because 'father' was nearly bankrupt and she _did_ write 'Mrs.' to
save him! Taking them in retrospect, it's a question if the thing they
called sacrifice wasn't plain damn foolishness. Why, hell, Jack, d'you
mean to say that the professor and his musty European customs--oh, I
can't be profane enough!--the English language is trifling and
inadequate! But I'm going to take a hand in this courtship, myself!"

"For a gregarious animal, Tommy, you're something of a wonder," I began
to laugh, because it was like myrrh and frankincense blown upon my
doubts and fears to hear him talk.

We went quietly on after this. Our boots made no noise in the soft
earth, and thus silently we approached the fort; then halted. For on the
farther side, hidden by the walls, a man was speaking in tones of
earnestness, yet at that very instant a voice interrupted him.

"I wish you wouldn't persist in talking now," it said irritably, "I'm
too unhappy over the lives which most have been lost, and----"

"But Your Serenity must realize that lives are nothing. The new destiny
that----"

"Oh, I know what you'd say," the voice cried. "But don't give me any
more arguments, for Heaven's sake! They're utterly useless and, besides,
you might convince me!"

Softly we tiptoed away and, when at a safe distance I stopped to rub my
arm where Tommy's fingers had been digging into it, he whispered:

"That didn't sound sacrificy, did it?"

"The old fellow hasn't struck his pace, yet," I answered doubtfully.

"Well," Tommy looked back toward the fort, "the pressure's high enough
for one day. She needs another rescuing. You go and speed up the grub."

So, whistling the Charpentier love song, he left me.

CHAPTER XXIV

GERMAN CRUELTY

At the kitchen fire Echochee was busily preparing food for a company now
swelled to ten, and Smilax had dropped in rank to an assistant. I saw
from her activity that this was not a fortunate moment to interrupt, yet
there are some few things in life more important than a well-turned
meal, and I therefore advanced, wishing to speak in the presence of our
two sailors who hovered near with lips that all but drewled in
anticipation of the feast.

"I want to remind each of you," I said, "not to tell the princess that
any one was killed. Let it go that a few were scratched, and the rest
got away. You get the idea? I don't want her shocked."

My men under