o, three slow and
distinct taps were given on the crown of his head. Bonaparte's jaw fell:
each separate joint lost its power: he could not move; he dared not
rise; his tongue lay loose in his mouth.

"Take all, take all!" he gurgled in his throat. "I--I do not want them.
Take"--

Here a resolute tug at the grey curls at the back of his head caused him
to leap up, yelling wildly. Was he to sit still paralyzed, to be dragged
away bodily to the devil? With terrific shrieks he fled, casting no
glance behind.

*****

When the dew was falling, and the evening was dark, a small figure moved
toward the gate of the furthest ostrich-camp, driving a bird before it.
When the gate was opened and the bird driven in and the gate fastened,
it turned away, but then suddenly paused near the stone wall.

"Is that you, Waldo?" said Lyndall, hearing a sound.

The boy was sitting on the damp ground with his back to the wall. He
gave her no answer.

"Come," she said, bending over him, "I have been looking for you all
day."

He mumbled something.

"You have had nothing to eat. I have put some supper in your room. You
must come home with me, Waldo."

She took his hand, and the boy rose slowly.

She made him take her arm, and twisted her small fingers among his.

"You must forget," she whispered. "Since it happened I walk, I talk,
I never sit still. If we remember, we cannot bring back the dead." She
knit her little fingers closer among his. "Forgetting is the best thing.
He did watch it coming," she whispered presently. "That is the dreadful
thing, to see it coming!" She shuddered. "I want it to come so to me
too. Why do you think I was driving that bird?" she added quickly. "That
was Hans, the bird that hates Bonaparte. I let him out this afternoon; I
thought he would chase him and perhaps kill him."

The boy showed no sign of interest.

"He did not catch him; but he put his head over the half-door of your
cabin and frightened him horribly. He was there, busy stealing your
things. Perhaps he will leave them alone now; but I wish the bird had
trodden on him."

They said no more till they reached the door of the cabin.

"There is a candle and supper on the table. You must eat," she said
authoritatively. "I cannot stay with you now, lest they find out about
the bird."

He grasped her arm and brought his mouth close to her ear.

"There is no God!" he almost hissed; "no God; not anywhere!"

She started.

"Not anywhere!"