nd it
to-night. And it was while I was returning, and searching for a way to
pass inside the palisade without entering by the gate, that I first saw
the storm working up, and I knew that if it delayed its coming long
enough I might be able to save you. As it happened, circumstances could
scarcely have arranged themselves more favourably; and the result is
that I have now the happiness to have you here with me in safety. Now,
Dick, we must push on as fast as we can, travelling all through the
night, and concealing ourselves and resting during the day; for if we
are to escape it must be by stratagem, and not by strength, or speed."

"Yes," said I; "I can quite understand that if they should take it into
their heads to pursue us--as you seem to think they will--we should have
small chance of running away from one of your big canoes, manned by
forty or fifty paddlers. But where do you propose to take me, Ama?"

"Where do you wish to go, Dick?" demanded my companion, answering one
question with another.

"Why," replied I, "of course I am anxious to get down to the coast
again, and aboard a ship. But I am puzzled to know what is to become of
you when we part."

"_Must_ we part, Dick?" murmured Ama softly. "Cannot I always remain
with you?"

"Quite impossible, my dear girl," answered I hastily, beginning at last
to have some faint suspicion of what was in this savage beauty's
unsophisticated mind. "I owe a duty to my King; and that duty
imperatively demands that I shall return at once to the ship in which I
am serving him--and where, Ama, I may mention, no place could possibly
be found for you. But I do not forget that you have saved my life, Ama;
and therefore, come what will, I will not leave you until you have
formed some definite plan for your own safety and happiness. What did
you think of doing when the time comes for us to part?"

The girl was silent so long that I was obliged to repeat my question
before I could get an answer, and when at length she replied, I feared I
could detect tears in her voice, and could have execrated myself for a
stony-hearted wretch.

"I have never looked so far forward as that," she answered in quavering
tones; "but we need not think of that yet, Dick. When the time comes I
have no doubt that I shall know what to do. And now, we really _must_
cease talking, and push on as fast as we can, or we shall not reach our
place of concealment before the dawn comes to reveal our whe