if you are seen."

Well aware of the fact and now in the hands of destiny, the princess
and I lay down as bidden in the prow, and the man covered us lightly
over with one of those fine meshed seines used by these people to catch
the little fish I had breakfasted on more than once.

Materially I could have enjoyed the half-hour which followed, since
such rest after exertion was welcome, the sun warm, the lapping of sea
on shingle infinitely soothing, and, above all, Heru was in my arms!
How sweet and childlike she was! I could feel her little heart beating
through her scanty clothing, while every now and then she turned her
gazelle eyes to mine with a trust and admiration infinitely alluring.
Yes! as far as that went I could have lain there with that slip of
maiden royalty for ever, but the fascination of the moment was marred
by the thought of our danger. What was to prevent these new friends
giving us away? They knew we had no money to recompense them for the
risk they were running. They were poor, and a splendid reward, wealth
itself to them, would doubtless be theirs if they betrayed us even by a
look. Yet somehow I trusted them as I have trusted the poor before
with the happiest results, and telling myself this and comforting Heru,
I listened and waited.

Minute by minute went by. It seemed an age since the fisherman had
gone, but presently the sound of voices interrupted the sea's murmur.
Cautiously stealing a glance through a chink imagine my feelings on
perceiving half a dozen of Ar-hap's soldiers coming down the beach
straight towards us! Then my heart was bitter within me, and I tasted
of defeat, even with Heru in my arms. Luckily even in that moment of
agony I kept still, and another peep showed the men were now wandering
about rather aimlessly. Perhaps after all they did not know of our
nearness? Then they took to horseplay, as idle soldiers will even in
Mars, pelting each other with bits of wood and dead fish, and thereon I
breathed again.

Nearer they came and nearer, my heart beating fast as they strolled
amongst the boats until they were actually "larking" round the one next
to ours. A minute or two of this, and another footstep crunched on the
pebbles, a quick, nervous one, which my instinct told me was that of
our returning friend.

"Hullo old sprat-catcher! Going for a sail?" called out a soldier, and
I knew that the group were all round our boat, Heru trembling so
violently in my brea