sed
slowly over them. More than one ghastly trace of that grim running
fight met the eye, but to Clare's mind and to Clare's gaze, there was
only one sight--that of him who had hurried to their rescue, of him whom
she had watched with admiration, yes and love, she knew it now--so
skilfully and intrepidly handling his gallant little force. The horrors
of that day were all merged in this. And in those three short days she
had loved, and lost! No, it would not bear dwelling upon.

How the subsequent days were lived through Clare was never quite sure.
Over and above the poignancy of bereavement an awful depression would
come upon her, and in her dreams she would again see the horrors and
bloodshed she had witnessed--ay, and taken part in; and the savage faces
of those she herself had slain would rise to confront her, glaring
hideously with distorted features and threatening snarl. What was she
expiating, she would wonder, that no peace should be hers either by
night or by day?

If she suffered, it was in silence. Hers was far the stronger mind of
the two, and even to her sister she shrank from laying it entirely open.
Yet her reticence was seen through, and everybody was considerate and
sympathetic. Every scrap of news relating to what was going on in the
field was promptly conveyed to her, all but what she thirsted to hear,
and that was still lacking. Day followed upon day, and the whereabouts
of Peters and his following remained shrouded in a mystery as
impenetrable as that of him whom they sought.

Among those who strove to cheer her up was Driffield the Native
Commissioner, and he in a measure succeeded.

"Don't give up, yet, Miss Vidal," he said, "no, not by any means. I
wish I could bring you round to my belief, and that is that Lamont will
turn up again."

"I wish you could," she answered. "But--time goes on and we hear--
nothing."

"I'm not sure that's against it," returned Driffield. "Lamont was a
peculiar chap--in fact, a very peculiar sort of chap. He was friendly
with Zwabeka's people and with Zwabeka himself. Well, then, it's just
possible some of them may be hiding him away until it's safe to turn him
loose."

"Why do you think that, Mr Driffield?"

"I don't know. It occurs to me as quite within the possibilities. The
great thing is--we know he wasn't killed there, and we know that two
others were. Lamont understands natives thoroughly--I could see that--
and I fancy I know a little