arf shrubs and long grass.

When the cavalcade drew up and dismounted, Vardri was discovered to be
missing.

He had been late in starting, lagged behind the others and dropped out
of sight before they were scarcely clear of the town. Being the last
of the file his disappearance had not at first been remarked.

Sobrenski refused to allow of time being wasted in a search.

He ordered the rest of the men up into the loft, and Arithelli to her
work of unharnessing.

He himself remained standing in the shadow of the doorway, his eyes
narrowed with anger, his thin lips compressed till they were merely a
line.

Here was a complication that he had not foreseen. For the first time
in his life his wit and cunning had been at fault.

He must have been mad not to have kept a sharper lookout on Vardri, but
he had reckoned he was secure with Arithelli as decoy.

Could it be possible that she had been mad enough to warn Vardri? If
so, then why was she here herself?

Either she had more courage or else she was more foolish even than he
could have believed it possible for a female creature to be. Women
took good care of their own skins in general!

If Vardri meant to try and escape, surely they would have gone together.

Perhaps his, Sobrenski's, detailed descriptions of the fate of others
who had attempted flight had made her decide that it would be safer to
remain and throw herself on the mercy of himself and his companions.

He might have miscalculated the force of her attraction for Vardri, but
he felt perfectly certain that she was reduced to a state of mechanical
imbecility. She could not escape now at all events, even if she
suddenly changed her mind.

He would give them both five minutes, and then if Vardri did not
appear--!

He began to walk up and down outside, like some prowling animal
awaiting its prey.

At regular intervals his shadow crossed and recrossed the patch of
light from the open door.

Meanwhile Vardri was riding leisurely up the slope, reining back his
horse, and stopping at intervals to put a fair distance between himself
and the others. He intended to make a chance of seeing Arithelli alone
again, so he meant to wait till the whole crew, and especially
Sobrenski, were safely embarked on their eternal discussions. Then he
would slip in and help her with the animals, and live in Paradise again
for a little space of time.

He had been to her rooms earlier in the day but she had sent do