after she made a
compress of moss and leaves, and laying it to my wound bound it there
as well as she might, the which I found very grateful and comforting.
This done she sits close beside me to hush and soothe me to sleep as I
had been a sick child. And I, lying 'twixt sleep and wake, knew I
might not rest until I told her what I had in mind.

"Damaris," says I, "this night I lied to you ... I would not have
another man in my place ... now or ... ever!" and so sank to sleep.

CHAPTER XXX

OF MY SICK HUMOURS

Next day I awoke early and my wound very painful and troublesome; this
notwithstanding, I presently got me out into the early sunshine and, to
my wonder, found the fire already lighted and no sign of my companion.
Hereupon I fell to shouting and hallooing, but getting no answer, sat
me down mighty doleful, and seeing her stool where it stood straddled
on its three legs I cursed it for its unsightliness and turned my back
on it. And now crouched in the sunlight I grew mightily sorry for
myself thus solitary and deserted, and the hurt in my shoulder all on
fire. And in a little, my self-love gave place to a fretful unease so
that I must needs shout her name again and again, listening for sound
of her voice, for some rustle to tell me she was nigh, but heard only
the faint booming of the surf. So I arose and (albeit I found my legs
mighty unwilling) came out upon the plateau, but look how and where I
might, saw only a desolation of sea and beach, whereupon, being greatly
disquieted, I set out minded to seek her. By the time I reached
Deliverance the sun was well up, its heat causing my wound to throb and
itch intolerably, and I very fretful and peevish. But as I tramped on
and no trace of her I needs must remember how I had sought her
hereabouts when I had thought her dead, whereupon a great and
unreasoning panic seized me, and I began to run. And then, all at
once, I spied her. She was sitting upon a rock, her head bowed wearily
upon her hands, and seeing how her shoulders heaved I knew she was
bitterly a-weeping. Therefore I stopped, and glancing from her
desolate figure round about upon her desolate surroundings, knew this
grim solitude for the reason of her tears. At this thought a wave of
hot anger swept over me and a rage that, like my panic, reasoned not
as, clenching my fists, I strode on. Suddenly she looked up and seeing
me, rose at once, and lifting the great turtle-shell limped wearily