cross the _veldt_.
Somewhere on the very top of the _kopje_ a bird uttered a
twittering note. She turned her face, listening for the answer,
and found Burke seated on another boulder not six yards away.

So unexpected was the sight that she caught her breath in
astonishment and a sharp instinctive sense of dismay. He was not
looking at her, but gazing forth to the distant hills like an eagle
from its eyrie. His eyes had the look of seeing many things that
were wholly beyond her vision.

She sat in silence, a curious feeling of embarrassment upon her, as
if she looked upon something which she was not meant to see and yet
could not turn from. His brown face was so intent, almost terribly
keen. The lines about the mouth were drawn with ruthless
distinctness. It was the face of a hunter, and the iron resolution
of it sent an odd quiver that was almost of foreboding through her
heart.

And then suddenly he turned his head slightly, as if he felt her
look upon him, and like a knife-thrust his eyes came down to hers.
She felt the hot colour rush over her face as if she had been
caught in some act of trespass. Her confusion consumed her, she
could not have said wherefore. She looked swiftly away.

Quietly he left his rock and came to her.

She shrank at his coming. The pulse in her throat was throbbing as
if it would choke her. She wanted to spring up and flee down the
hill. But he was too near. She sat very still, her fingers
gripping each other about her knees, saying no word.

He reached her and stood looking down at her. "I followed you," he
said, "because I knew you would never get to the top alone."

She lifted her face, striving against her strange agitation. "I
wasn't thinking of going any further," she said, struggling to
speak indifferently. "It--is steeper than I thought."

"It aways is," said Burke.

He sat down beside her, close to her. She made a small,
instinctive movement away from him, but he did not seem to notice.
He took off his hat and laid it down.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Merston had to be inflicted on you for so long," he
said. "I'm afraid she is not exactly cheery company."

"I didn't mind," said Sylvia.

He gave her a faintly whimsical look. "Not utterly fed up with
Africa and all her beastly ways?" he questioned.

She shook her head. "I don't think I am so easily swayed as all
that."

"You would rather stay here with me than go back home to England?"
he said.

Her eyes