beside Burke, as if compelled. "What else did he
do?" she said. "You haven't told us all."

"Not quite all," said Burke, and still his eyes searched hers with
a probing intentness.

"Don't you want to tell me?" she said.

"Yes, I will tell you," he answered, "if you especially want to
hear. He saved my life."

"Hooray!" yelled Kelly, in the voice of one holloaing to hounds.

Sylvia said nothing for a moment. She had turned very pale. When
she spoke it was with an effort. "How?"

He answered as if speaking to her alone. "One of Vreiboom's
tumble-down old sheds fired while we were trying to clear it. The
place collapsed and I got pinned inside. Piet Vreiboom didn't
trouble himself, or Kieff, either. He wouldn't--naturally. Guy
got me out."

"Ah!" she said. It was scarcely more than an intake of the breath.
She could not utter another word, for that imprisoned thing within
her seemed to be clawing at her heart, choking her. If Burke had
died--if Burke had died! She turned herself quickly from the
searching of his eyes, lest he should see--and understand. She
could not--dared not--show him her soul just then. The memory of
his kiss--that single, fiery kiss that had opened her own
eyes--held her back. She went from him in silence. If Burke had
died!

CHAPTER VII

THE NET

It was not often that Sylvia lay awake, but that night her brain
was in a turmoil, and for long she courted sleep in vain. For some
time after she retired, the murmur of Burke's and Kelly's voices in
the adjoining room kept her on the alert, but it was mainly the
thoughts that crowded in upon her that would not let her rest. The
thought of Guy troubled her most, this and the knowledge that Kieff
was in the neighbourhood. She had an almost uncanny dread of this
man. He seemed to stand in the path as a menace, an evil influence
that she could neither avert nor withstand. Burke had barely
mentioned him, yet his words had expressed the thought that had
sprung instantly to her mind. He was an enemy to them all, most of
all to Guy, and she feared him. She had a feeling that she would
sooner or later have to fight him for Guy's soul, and she was sick
with apprehension. For the only weapon at her disposal was that
weapon she dare not wield.

The long night dragged away. She thought it would never end. When
sleep came to her at last it was only to bring dreadful dreams in
its train. Burke in danger! Burke impriso