sound reached her from without, save only the monotonous and endless
dashing of the torrent among its boulders. She was beginning to feel
that the sound in some fashion expressed a curse.

When she was ready at length, she stood for a second or two to gather
her strength. She still felt ill and dizzy, as though the world she knew
had suddenly fallen away from her and left her struggling in
unimaginable space, like a swimmer in deep waters. But she conquered her
weakness, and, drawing aside the tent-flap once more, she stepped forth.

The morning sun struck full upon her. It was as if the whole earth
rushed to meet her in a riot of rejoicing; but she was in some fashion
outside and beyond it all. The glow could not reach her.

With a sharp sense of revulsion, she saw the deformed man squatting
close to her, his _chuddah_-draped head lodged upon his knees. He did
not stir at her coming though she felt convinced that he was aware of
her, aware probably of everything that passed within a considerable
radius of his disreputable person. His dark face, lined and dirty,
half-covered with ragged black hair that ended in a long thin wisp like
a goat's beard on his shrunken chest, was still turned to the east as
though challenging the sun that was smiting a swift course through the
heavens as if with a flaming sword. The simile rushed through her mind
unbidden. Where would she be--what would have happened to her--by the
time that sword was sheathed?

She conquered her repulsion and approached the man. As she did so, Peter
glided silently up like a faithful watch-dog and took his place at her
right hand. It was typical of the position he was to occupy in the days
that were coming.

Within a pace or two of the huddled figure, Stella stopped. He had not
moved. It was evident that he was so rapt in meditation that her
presence at that moment was no more to him than that of an insect
crawling across his path. His eyes, red-rimmed, startlingly bright,
still challenged the coming day. His whole expression was so grimly
aloof, so sternly unsympathetic, that she hesitated to disturb him.

Humbly Peter came to her assistance. "May I be allowed to speak to him,
_mem-sahib?_" he asked.

She turned to him thankfully. "Yes, tell him what I want!"

Peter placed himself in front of the stranger. "The noble lady desires
your service," he said. "Her gracious excellency is waiting."

A quiver went through the crouching form. He seemed to a