madness."

He ceased and they stood in silence, both looking on the ground, and
for a time nothing was heard above the crackling of the fire but the
intoning of Omar glorifying the God--his God, and the Faith--his faith.
Then Babalatchi cocked his head on one side and appeared to listen
intently to the hum of voices in the big courtyard. The dull noise
swelled into distinct shouts, then into a great tumult of voices, dying
away, recommencing, growing louder, to cease again abruptly; and in
those short pauses the shrill vociferations of women rushed up, as if
released, towards the quiet heaven. Aissa and Babalatchi started, but
the latter gripped in his turn the girl's arm and restrained her with a
strong grasp.

"Wait," he whispered.

The little door in the heavy stockade which separated Lakamba's private
ground from Omar's enclosure swung back quickly, and the noble exile
appeared with disturbed mien and a naked short sword in his hand. His
turban was half unrolled, and the end trailed on the ground behind him.
His jacket was open. He breathed thickly for a moment before he spoke.

"He came in Bulangi's boat," he said, "and walked quietly till he was
in my presence, when the senseless fury of white men caused him to rush
upon me. I have been in great danger," went on the ambitious nobleman
in an aggrieved tone. "Do you hear that, Babalatchi? That eater of swine
aimed a blow at my face with his unclean fist. He tried to rush amongst
my household. Six men are holding him now."

A fresh outburst of yells stopped Lakamba's discourse. Angry voices
shouted: "Hold him. Beat him down. Strike at his head."

Then the clamour ceased with sudden completeness, as if strangled by
a mighty hand, and after a second of surprising silence the voice of
Willems was heard alone, howling maledictions in Malay, in Dutch, and in
English.

"Listen," said Lakamba, speaking with unsteady lips, "he blasphemes his
God. His speech is like the raving of a mad dog. Can we hold him for
ever? He must be killed!"

"Fool!" muttered Babalatchi, looking up at Aissa, who stood with set
teeth, with gleaming eyes and distended nostrils, yet obedient to the
touch of his restraining hand. "It is the third day, and I have kept
my promise," he said to her, speaking very low. "Remember," he added
warningly--"like the sea to the thirsty! And now," he said aloud,
releasing her and stepping back, "go, fearless daughter, go!"

Like an arrow, rapid and silen