turn in time for the picnic lunch or tea, someone must have wondered
where we were; and it is quite possible we were seen to enter the Temple
earlier in the day."

"That awful Temple!" The horror in her eyes made his heart beat
pitifully over her. "If only I had not been so foolish as to insist on
entering! You didn't know how dangerous it was to go in, but I did--at
least, I knew something of the danger--and I would go ... and then--the
uncanny silence, the sudden knowledge that we were not alone ... that
something, _someone_ malignant, hateful, was watching us--and then those
awful men who seized us ... oh!" The agony of remembrance was too much
for her, and she sank back, half-fainting, against the wall.

"Miss Ryder, don't go over it all again!" Although it seemed certain
that they had only an hour to live, Anstice could not bear to see her
suffer now. "Don't let us think of what has happened--let us try to
imagine that we are saved--as indeed we may be yet!" But he stole a
glance out of the empty window-space as he spoke, and his heart sank to
note the lightening of the Indian night's soft dusk.

"I think not." Her tone was calm, almost indifferent, but her
apprehensive eyes belied her voice. "Dr. Anstice, you have not forgotten
your promise? If ... if it comes to the worst, you--you won't let me
fall into--_their_ hands?"

And then he knew that in spite of her endeavours to be brave, to face
the impending fate heroically, she too had had her doubts throughout the
long hours of their imprisonment--doubts as to whether death would
indeed come to her with the merciful swiftness of a fanatic's bullet....

And because he shared her doubt, because he, too, had wondered whether
he alone would be shot at dawn, while she, his companion in this
horrible nightmare, were reserved for some far more ghastly fate,
because of his wonder and his doubt Anstice rejoiced in the fact that he
had it in his power to save her from the worst that could happen.

He had not given his promise-lightly; yet having given it he would
fulfil it, if the God who seemed to have deserted them in their need
should see fit to nerve him to the deed.

She was looking at him wistfully, with something of horror behind the
wistfulness; and he could not bear to keep her waiting any longer for
the assurance she craved.

"Yes," he said gently, and there was a tender note in his voice. "I will
keep my word. You shall not fall into their hands. I promise