their weapons, testing the sharpness of a
cutlass or seeing to the priming of a matchlock. The big door of the
stronghold was open, and through it I could see the white beach and the
sea-edge, where Lancelot stood scanning the horizon with the spy-glass.
The sun was very bright, and I could hear the parrots screaming away in
the woods behind us.

'Come outside, Ralph,' said Marjorie. 'I want to speak with you.'

We went out together through the gate into the open, and walked slowly a
little way in the direction of the sea. Both of us looked, naturally
enough, to that island where our enemies lay. Presently we halted and
stood in silence a few minutes, and then Marjorie spoke.

'Ralph,' she said quietly, 'you are my friend, I believe.'

I had it in my heart to cry wild words to her; to tell her again that I
loved her then and for ever, but though the words tingled on my lips
they never took life and sound. For Marjorie was looking at me so
steadfastly and sadly with a strange gravity in the angel-blue of her
eyes that I could not speak what she might not wish to hear. So I simply
nodded my head and held out my hand and caught hers and clasped it
close.

'Ralph,' she said again. 'We fight for the right, but right is not
always might, and our enemies may overpower us. If they do--' here I
thought she paled a little, but her voice was as firm as ever--'if they
do, I want you to promise me one promise.'

I suppose the look in my face assured her that there was nothing she
could ask of me that I would not obey, for she went on without waiting
for me to speak:

'I have the right to ask you because of some words you once said to me,
words which I remember. If the worst comes you must kill me. Hush'--for
I gave a groan as she spoke.

'That must be. I have heard enough to know that I must not live if our
enemies triumph. If I were alone I should kill myself; if you were not
here I should have to ask Lancelot, but you are here and I would rather
it happened by your hand.'

It was strange to stand on that quiet shore by that quiet sea and look
into that beautiful face and listen to that beautiful voice and hear it
utter such words. But my heart thrilled with a wild pride at her prayer.

'I will do your bidding,' I said, and she answered 'I thank you.' We
might have been talking of nothing in particular so even were our voices
and so simple was our speech. I pressed her hand and let it go. Then,
swiftly, she came a litt