king out to the garden. From the Nile rose
the voices of the sailors singing their song. He listened to it for a
moment.

"What a strange time it's been since we first heard that song together,
Ruby," he said.

"Yes."

"When we first heard it, I was so strong, so happy--strong to protect
you, happy to have you to protect, and--and it's ended in your having to
protect and take care of me."

She moved.

"Yes," she said again, in a dry voice.

"I--I think I'm glad we can't look into the future. One wants a lot of
courage in life."

She said nothing.

"But I feel a little courage now. I never quite told you how it was with
me on the _Loulia_. If I had stayed on her much longer, as we were, I
should have died. I should have died very soon."

"No, no, Nigel."

"Yes, I should. But here"--he moved, stretched out his arms, sighed--"I
feel that I shall get better, perhaps get well, even. How--how splendid
if I do!"

"Well, I must go and look after things," she said.

"You're tired, aren't you?"

"No. Why should you think so?"

"Your voice sounds tired."

"It isn't that."

"What is it?"

"You know that for your sake I am enduring a companionship that is
odious to me," she said, in a low voice.

At that moment, Meyer Isaacson came into the room.

"We must get the patient to bed as soon as possible," he said, in his
quiet, practical, and strong voice.

"I'll go and see about the room," said Mrs. Armine.

She went away quickly.

When she got upstairs there were drops of blood on her lower lip.

XLI

Nigel had come to hate the _Loulia_. They had no further need of her,
and he begged his wife to telegraph to Baroudi in his name to take her
away as soon as he liked.

"Ibrahim has his address, I know," he said.

The telegram was sent. In reply came one from Baroudi taking over the
_Loulia_. The same day the Reis came up to the villa to receive
backsheesh and to say farewell. He made no remark as to his own and his
crew's immediate destiny, but soon after he had gone the _Loulia_
untied, crossed the Nile, and was tied up again nearly opposite to the
garden against the western bank. And in the evening the sailors could be
heard in the distance "making the fantasia."

Mrs. Armine heard them as she walked alone in the garden close to the
promontory, and she saw the blue light at the mast-head. The cabin
windows were dark.

So this was the end of their voyage to the South!

She stood still ne