by any of the mutineers ashore. As for the
mutineers on the ship, if there were any, I must deal with them as
chance suggested.

Legrand was doubtful as to my venture, his philosophy being summed up
in the adage, "Let well alone"; but he consented that the experiment
should be tried when I pressed it. He had, in the course of his
ramblings, discovered in the north side of the hill another cavern,
which he declared would serve us on an emergency as a second
hiding-place. It was quite possible that we might be driven from burrow
to burrow like rabbits, and so it behooved us to examine well the lines
of our retreat.

I started on my journey just as the sun went down, spreading a deep
rose colour on the western waters. I walked cautiously and
deliberately, making deviations in my slanting course across the spur,
so as to keep within the screen of the bushes. I had not gone more than
a hundred yards when I was aware that I was being followed, and I
stopped and looked back. To my amazement, I saw the Princess coming up
rapidly in my wake. She had evidently sped down the ravine, and was a
little out of breath. This had imparted some colour to her pale face--a
colour which made her radiantly beautiful.

"Princess!" I said in surprise.

"I am come after you," she said hurriedly, "because I don't want you to
go. Oh, don't go, please! I did not know you were going until you were
gone. Mr. Legrand told me so when I asked after you. But you must not
go. I know you are going because of what I said last night. But you
must not.... It is too dangerous. Oh, did you not see that band of
assassins there? They are wolves, they are ravening, fierce wolves. You
will perish."

My heart throbbed hard--harder than it had done before through all
those terrible days of anxiety. I took her hand. "Princess," I said, "I
must go." I held her hand tightly. "You see that I must go. But ah, I
will not forget your kindness!"

"They will kill you!" she burst out.

"No"; I shook my head and smiled. "God bless you! You are the most kind
and most beautiful woman in life. God bless and keep you!"

I kissed her hand and turned and went down.

She stood awhile, as if lost in thought, and when I looked back I
thought I could read upon her face trouble and fear. I would have gone
back to her if I had dared, but had I done so I must have taken her in
my arms.

I kept my face steadily towards the descent, and when I at last
summoned courage to adventu