hat
he is engaged. He adds that there seems to be some extensive movement
preparing."

Ughtred tore himself away. Sara choked back a sob, and held out both
her hands. At the moment of parting they were alone.

"Good-bye, dear," she whispered. "Do your best and have faith. I am
not afraid for you or for Theos."

He kissed her and galloped away, followed by his few attendants. Her
cheerfulness was inspiring. His heart swelled with pride at the
thought of her. She had destroyed forever his lingering superstition
as to the obligations of race--she a daughter of the democracy with
the heart and courage of a queen. Ughtred had passed through his one
hour of weakness. As the engine with its one solitary carriage tore
across the plain to Solika a new and finer hopefulness was born in
him. Her words and her steadfast optimism had fired his blood. He
would fight his country's enemy so that for very shame Europe should
cry "Hold!"

CHAPTER XLIV

In his room, with heavy curtains closely drawn across the barred
windows to keep from his ears the distant mutterings of the guns,
Nicholas of Reist sat in torment. From below in the square he had
heard the people's farewell to the King as he had hastened back to the
scene of action--the echoes of the city's varying moods floated up to
him from hour to hour. And whilst all was activity, ceaseless,
restless, he alone of the men of Theos sat idle, his hands before him,
waiting for he knew not what. It was indeed torment. The blood of his
fighting forefathers was burning in his veins. To linger here in
miserable inaction whilst the war music throbbed in his ears was like
torture to him. Even Domiloff had found it best for the last few days
to leave him alone. Besides, Domiloff was busy.

In a small room at the back of the house the Russian was receiving a
visitor. Before the door were half-a-dozen soldiers, and the bolts
were closely drawn. Yet even then the conversation between the two men
was tense and nervous.

"To have ventured here yourself," Domiloff said, drawing the shade
more closely over the lamp, "seems to me, my dear Hassen, a little
like bravado. You hold the wits of this people a little too cheaply. I
am not yet strong enough to protect you. If you are recognized you
will be shot at sight."

"One runs risks always," the other answered carelessly, "and besides
it is your fault that I am here. Your inaction is unaccountable. There
has been no message from you f