now are away
in the jungle trying to bring back the foolish boys to the village and
the Mission. I am alone here, except for Mrs. Goring. I am nervous now."

"Why are you staying, then?" demanded Rolfe, staring rudely into her
dusky eyes.

"Because I have--I--I have resigned from the Mission, Mr. Rolfe. I am
waiting for Mr. Leyden's return. He has offered me a passage to Java and
suggested that I go on board to wait until the _Padang_ sails. But I
can't rest easily there. There is something in the crew that makes me
shudder. I never met men of their kind before."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, I can't offer you accommodations on our ship. She's
on the bottom of the river just now--put there by Mr. Leyden's orders,
no doubt. I haven't got any men to spare, either, nor no time, Miss.
Tell me quick what you want me to do."

Jerry Rolfe slung a water canteen over his shoulder, handed pistol
cartridges to Bill Blunt from his own pocket store, and looked around
impatiently for the guide.

"I don't know what to do," cried the girl. She was not hysterical in the
least; she seemed quite capable of revealing a wide streak of calm,
helpful courage, if only her doubts might be set at rest. She went on
hurriedly: "I cannot move hand or foot except between the Mission and
here. Everywhere I go I hear, but cannot see, whispering men who follow
me like my shadow. Why, Mr. Rolfe, I feel like a prisoner! Won't you let
me come with you?"

"That's impossible," grunted the mate and met Bill Blunt's horrified
eye. "Why, lady, d' ye know where we're going and what for?"

"I understand you are going to try to find your captain, of course. But
I won't be a burden to you. I'll do just what you tell me, and I may be
able to help, if--if--well, you may have wounds or anything, you know.
Won't you let me come?--Oh, do take me, Mr. Rolfe. I cannot stay here
alone!"

The mate bawled loudly for the tardy guide, as much to conceal his
uneasiness as to bring the man, for the gateman was even then chattering
voluble instructions to a lithe, breech-clouted native who had just come
in. There was nothing he desired less at that moment than to have a
woman in the party; yet his stout heart reproached him for designing to
leave the girl to her fears. His uncertainty was dispelled for him by
the appearance of Mrs. Goring, as fresh and dainty as she had appeared
that first day on the dock. She advanced with a smile of greeting, and
Miss Sheldon met her eye with