am I to know whether or not I
possess a soul?"

Virginia smiled.

"You are courageous and honorable and chivalrous--those are enough to
warrant the belief that you have a soul, were it not apparent from your
countenance that you are of the higher type of mankind," she said.

"I hope that you will never change your opinion of me, Virginia," said
the man; but he knew that there lay before her a severe shock, and
before him a great sorrow when they should come to where her father was
and the girl should learn the truth concerning him.

That he did not himself tell her may be forgiven him, for he had only a
life of misery to look forward to after she should know that he, too,
was equally a soulless monster with the twelve that had preceded him to
a merciful death. He would have envied them but for the anticipation
of the time that he might be alone with her before she learned the
truth.

As he pondered the future there came to him the thought that should
they never find Professor Maxon or von Horn the girl need never know
but that he was a human being. He need not lose her then, but always
be near her. The idea grew and with it the mighty temptation to lead
Virginia Maxon far into the jungle, and keep her forever from the sight
of men. And why not? Had he not saved her where others had failed?
Was she not, by all that was just and fair, his?

Did he owe any loyalty to either her father or von Horn? Already he
had saved Professor Maxon's life, so the obligation, if there was any,
lay all against the older man; and three times he had saved Virginia.
He would be very kind and good to her. She should be much happier and
a thousand times safer than with those others who were so poorly
equipped to protect her.

As he stood silently gazing out across the jungle beneath them toward
the new sun the girl watched him in a spell of admiration of his strong
and noble face, and his perfect physique. What would have been her
emotions had she guessed what thoughts were his! It was she who broke
the silence.

"Can you find the way to the long-house where my father is?" she asked.

Bulan, startled at the question, looked up from his reverie. The thing
must be faced, then, sooner than he thought. How was he to tell her of
his intention? It occurred to him to sound her first--possibly she
would make no objection to the plan.

"You are anxious to return?" he asked.

"Why, yes, of course, I am," she replied. "My father