atever.

With sudden impulse she turned and bestowed her full confidence upon
him, the paint-smeared face and mumbling beard notwithstanding.

"You must help me," she said imperiously. "You have done so much. You
must do more. Tell me how I am to get back to Kundaghat."

He made a deferential gesture.

"The _mem-sahib_ cannot depart before the major _sahib_ returns," he
said. "Let her therefore be faint once more, and let him minister to
her. Let her hear his story, and judge if her servant has spoken truly.
Then let the gracious lady go with him into the shade of the pine trees
on the hill. When she is there let her discover that she has left behind
her some treasure that she values--such as the golden bangle that is on
the _mem-sahib's_ wrist. Let her show distress, and Fletcher _sahib_
shall come back to seek it. Then let her listen for the scream of a jay,
and rise up and follow it. It will lead her by a safe and speedy way to
Kundaghat. It will be easy for the _mem-sahib_ to say afterwards that
she began to wander and lost her way, till at last she met an aged man
who guided her."

Yes, quite easy. She assimilated this subtle suggestion, for the first
time in her life welcoming craft. Of the extreme risk of the undertaking
she was too agitated to think. To get away was her one all-possessing
desire.

While she thus desperately reviewed the situation, the snake-charmer
began, with much grunting and mowing, to gather himself together for
departure. She watched him, feeling that she would have gladly detained
him had that been possible. Slowly, with palsied movements, he at length
arose and took up his basket, doubled himself up before her with an
almost ludicrous excess of deference, and finally hobbled away.

VI

There fell a step upon the parched earth, and with a start Beryl turned
her head. She had seated herself again, but it was impossible to feign
limpness with every pulse at the gallop. She looked up at Fletcher with
a desperate smile.

He wore a knotted handkerchief on his head to protect it from the sun,
and in his hat, which he balanced with great care in both hands, he
carried water.

"I am glad to see you looking better," he said as he reached her. "I am
afraid there isn't much more than a cupful left. I had to go nearly half
a mile to get it, and it has been running out steadily all the way
back."

He knelt down before her, deep concern on his sunburnt face.
Reluctantly, out of sh