and with her own hands
assisted him to rise.

"A fair and noble gallant," she said softly, reluctantly turning back
from him to me. "Not of hard, stern visage like yours, but with the
bearing of a gentleman, the smile of a courtier. Pish! he will not
miss her over-much, or else I read not rightly the challenge of his
eyes. But come, hunter, I bade you go in haste, nor is it well for any
one to wait my bidding twice."

"'T is no more than just we should be told the destiny of our
companions," I persisted, determined not to desert them thus. "May not
both the Puritan and the woman abide with us?"

Her eyes flashed in uncontrolled anger, her lips giving vent to a low,
cruel laugh.

"I tell you no, and understand once for all my word is law. You are
not standing before a French court to haggle over trifles, and dispute
about your rights. Bah! you have no rights; you live from day to day
merely by my whim. The red-headed man tarries where he is as long as
it remains my pleasure; while as to yon dainty creature, she shall meet
no harm. Forsooth, it will not greatly hurt her to be beyond your
sight for a space."

"Does she bide with you?"

"If I so will it, yes; if not, no. Who are you, hunter, to dare
question Naladi after she bids you cease?" she exclaimed, her cheeks
crimsoning. "Now go; go ere I am tempted to show you I possess power
to enforce my will. Another word, and you will long regret it."

She was a tigress now, her eyes burning into mine with the fierceness
of a wild animal scenting blood. It would have been sheer madness to
attempt more, with those scowling, savage faces lowering at us from
every side, their possessors only too eager to spring forward in cruel
obedience to a gesture of their Queen. A single word from her red lips
would, in spite of all superstition, cause them to rend us limb from
limb, so I bade De Noyan follow me, feeling relief when once beyond her
sight in the cool depths of the sheltering hut.

"Well, Master Benteen," remarked my comrade easily, finding a soft
bearskin upon which to rest his aching limbs, "this is an odd company
among whom you have piloted us; one not altogether appealing to my
taste in its masculine elements. Yet, damme, but you possess rare
advantage over the rest of us in holding converse with these people,
while I must remain dumb as an oyster, save for a glance of the eye.
Perhaps, now that we have time for it, you will kindly explain the
meani