n all
probability he was going to a death by torture, for he was so brave that
the natives had set a great price upon him, wishing to kill him and use
his body for medicine, which they thought would make them as brave as
he was, that officer rode out far away into the mountains with only
an interpreter and a white handkerchief, till he came to the chief's
stronghold. But when the natives saw him coming, holding up his white
handkerchief, they did not fire at him as his men had fired at them,
because they were so astonished at his bravery that they thought he
must be mad or inspired. So he came straight on to the walls of the
stronghold, called to the chief and begged his pardon for what had
happened, and then rode away again unharmed. Shortly afterwards, the
chief, having captured some of the officer's volunteers, whom in the
ordinary course of affairs he would have tortured to death, sent them
back again untouched, with a message to the effect that he would show
the English officer that he was not the only man who could behave 'like
a gentleman.' I should like to know that man. Do you know who he was?"

Bottles looked uncomfortable, as well he might, for it was an incident
in his own career; but her praise and enthusiasm sent a flush of pride
into his face.

"I believe it was some fellow in the Basuto War," he said, prevaricating
with peculiar awkwardness.

"Oh, then it _is_ a true story?"

"Yes--that is, it is partially true. There was nothing heroic about it.
It was a necessary act if our honour as fair opponents was to continue
to be worth anything."

"But who was the man?" she asked, fixing her dark eyes on him
suspiciously.

"The man!" he stammered. "Oh, the man--well, in short----" and he
stopped.

"In short, _George_," she put in, for the first time calling him by his
Christian name, "that man was _you_, and I am so proud of you, George."

It was very hateful to him in a way, for he loathed that kind of
personal adulation, even from her. He was so intensely modest he had
never even reported the incident in question; it had come out in some
roundabout way. Yet he could not but feel happy that she had found him
out. It was a great deal to him to have moved her, and her sparkling
eyes and heaving bosom showed that she was somewhat moved.

He looked up and his eyes caught hers; the room was nearly dark now, but
the bright flame from the wood the servant had put on the fire played
upon her face. His eyes