id; 'no way but death. We're done for, all of
us. Hussin got you out of Stumm's clutches, but you're in danger every
moment. At the best you have three days, and then you, too, will be
dead.'

I had no words to reply. This change in the bold and unshakeable Sandy
took my breath away.

'She made me her accomplice,' he went on. 'I should have killed her on
the graves of those innocent men. But instead I did all she asked and
joined in her game ... She was very candid, you know ... She cares no
more than Enver for the faith of Islam. She can laugh at it. But she
has her own dreams, and they consume her as a saint is consumed by his
devotion. She has told me them, and if the day in the garden was hell,
the days since have been the innermost fires of Tophet. I think--it is
horrible to say it--that she has got some kind of crazy liking for me.
When we have reclaimed the East I am to be by her side when she rides
on her milk-white horse into Jerusalem ... And there have been
moments--only moments, I swear to God--when I have been fired myself by
her madness ...'

Sandy's figure seemed to shrink and his voice grew shrill and wild. It
was too much for Blenkiron. He indulged in a torrent of blasphemy such
as I believe had never before passed his lips.

'I'm blessed if I'll listen to this God-darned stuff. It isn't
delicate. You get busy, Major, and pump some sense into your afflicted
friend.'

I was beginning to see what had happened. Sandy was a man of
genius--as much as anybody I ever struck--but he had the defects of
such high-strung, fanciful souls. He would take more than mortal
risks, and you couldn't scare him by any ordinary terror. But let his
old conscience get cross-eyed, let him find himself in some situation
which in his eyes involved his honour, and he might go stark crazy. The
woman, who roused in me and Blenkiron only hatred, could catch his
imagination and stir in him--for the moment only--an unwilling
response. And then came bitter and morbid repentance, and the last
desperation.

It was no time to mince matters. 'Sandy, you old fool,' I cried, 'be
thankful you have friends to keep you from playing the fool. You saved
my life at Loos, and I'm jolly well going to get you through this show.
I'm bossing the outfit now, and for all your confounded prophetic
manners, you've got to take your orders from me. You aren't going to
reveal yourself to your people, and still less are you going t