ing.

'You were best away, Rhoda.'

'I will not go,' she said, 'except I be thrust out.'

None urged for that rough kindness now, having gone so far; her presence
might even turn to account, for it must lie with the Alien to spare her
distress.

The prisoner took up question.

'The League has charged you to be judges?'

'Yes.'

'To give sentence?'

'Yes.'

'To execute it?'

'Yes.'

Christian grew as white as a coward; he went on steadily nevertheless.

'You are charged to do murder.'

'To do justice.'

'Without any proof that Philip is dead.'

'Lack of proof that he is alive comes to the same as the case stands.'

No lie would now avail of Philip lost overboard. In the stress of clear
thinking for his life he felt relief that he could not be so tempted to
damn his fair cause before Heaven.

'He will return,' he muttered, 'but too late, for me too late.'

'Christian, they dare not,' gasped Rhoda; 'no, you dare not, for Philip
will return to confound you. Should he return--too late--then may God
have no mercy on your souls.'

Christian said 'Amen' to that.

The spokesman turned to Rhoda.

'You speak positively: can you bear witness in his favour?'

'I know nothing--nothing.'

'Yet have you shown singular quickness of apprehension.'

She looked piteously at Christian, galled by remorse.

'Oh me! Must I say?'

'Why not? None here will blame you. I cannot.'

So Rhoda faltered out how she too had entertained a wicked suspicion.

'What evidence then routed it?'

'His.'

'His evidence?'

'His denial.'

Her sincerity was beyond question; her simplicity commanded respect; no
ingenuity could have spoken better to his credit. Yet all was vain.

'Bare denial may not suffice for us, when furthermore without valid cause
he has refused any clear statement to satisfy a reasonable demand, and
quibbled and defied.'

'Give me a moment's grace,' pleaded Christian, 'to make sure if I can go
no further.'

He might take his time; but little he needed to gain conviction for
despair; for he saw how inevitably answer would beget question point by
point, till, again at bay, having traversed ground bristling with hostile
indications, he must stand at yet worse disadvantage.

Before his eyes, one, fingering in mere impatience, took hold of the
strung berries; at a rough twitch some scattered. Christian, exasperated,
plucked for a free hand, and a tightened grip set him struggling for one
instant wit