ace."

The spot they did select for a camp-ground was some little way further
on, and a wild and secluded one it was, right in among rocks and trees,
and well up on the hillside. This elevated position was of further
advantage in that a reedy swamp wound through the valley bottom; two
water-holes of oval formation, gleaming like a pair of great eyes from
its midst.

"I'm afraid `skoff' is running low, Nidia," remarked John Ames,
surveying gravely a pair of turtle-doves and a _swempi_, the latter a
small variety of partridge, which he had knocked over with stones during
their journeying. "A brace of record pedestrians can't afford to let
themselves run down in condition. The English of which is that I must
go out and kill something--or try to."

"Mayn't I go with you?" she asked, rather wistfully. He looked
doubtful.

"I wish you could," he answered slowly. "But--you have walked enough
the last couple of days; and apart from the discomfort to you, it is
essential you should not overtire yourself. In fact, it might become a
matter of life or death. No. Be good now, and remain perfectly quiet
here, and rest. I'll be back before dark. Good-bye."

What impulse moved her to put out both her bands to him? He took them.

"Good-bye," he said again. One second more of their eyes thus meeting
and his resolution would be shattered. With a farewell pressure he
dropped her hands and was gone.

It was early in the afternoon, and warm withal. Left alone Nidia grew
drowsy and fell into a doze. When she awoke the sun was just going off
the valley beneath, and she was still alone. She sat up congratulating
herself upon having got through those lonely hours in sleep. He would
be back now at any moment. Rising, she went over to the runnel of water
which trickled down the rocks just behind their resting-place, and
bathed her face in one of its clear basins. Then she returned. Still
no John Ames.

The sun was off the valley now--off the world. In the brief twilight
the stars began to rush forth. A terrible loneliness came over her.
Oh, why was he so late? The two water-holes in the valley glared up at
her with a lack-lustre stare, as of a pair of gigantic eyes, watching
her loneliness. Still he came not.

Was he uncertain of the place? They had but just arrived there, and he
might well be. Fool that she was not to have thought of it, and now her
hands trembled with eagerness as she collected some dry grass