house or blow it up."

"There can be no question of our allowing you to go, in any case," said
Stephen. "Our answer is," he replied to Maieddine, "that the ladies
prefer to remain with us, and we expect to be able to protect them."

"Then all will die together, except one, who is my promised wife,"
returned the Arab. "Tell that one that by coming with me she can save
her sister, whom she once seemed to love more than herself, more than
all the world. If she stays, not only will her eyes behold the death of
the men who failed to guard her, but the death of her sister. One who
has a right to decide the lady's fate, has decided that she must die in
punishment of her obstinacy, unless she gives herself up."

"Tell Si Maieddine that before he or the marabout can come near us, we
shall be dead," Victoria said, in a low voice. "I know Saidee and I can
trust you," she went on, "to shoot us both straight through the heart
rather than they should take us. That's what you wish, too, isn't it,
Saidee?"

"Yes--yes, if I have courage or heart enough to wish anything," her
sister faltered.

But Stephen could not or would not give that message to Maieddine. "Go,"
he said, the fire of his old rage flaming again. "Go, you Arab dog!"

Forgetting the flag of truce in his fury at the insult, Maieddine lifted
his rifle and fired; then, remembering that he had sinned against a code
of honour he respected, he stood still, waiting for an answering shot,
as if he and his rival were engaged in a strange duel. But Stephen did
not shoot, and with a quick word forbade the others to fire. Then
Maieddine moved away slowly and was lost to sight behind the barricade.

As he disappeared, a candle which Victoria had placed near Nevill's
couch on the floor, flickered and dropped its wick in a pool of grease.
There was only one other left, and the lamp had been forgotten in the
kitchen: but already the early dawn was drinking the starlight. It was
three o'clock, and soon it would be day.

For some minutes there was no more firing. Stillness had fallen in the
quadrangle. There was no sound except the faint moaning of some wounded
animal that lived and suffered. Then came a pounding on the roof, not in
one, but in two or three places. It was as if men worked furiously, with
pickaxes; and somehow Stephen was sure that Maieddine, despite his
wounds, was among them. He would wish to be the first to see Victoria's
face, to save her from death, perhaps, an