that this portrait had moved her deeply. Had she come to that period of
reaction in evil when there is an agonised desire to turn back towards
the good? He gave the portrait to her.

IV

Sitting in Alencon Barre's room an hour later, Shorland told him in
substance the result of his conference with Gabrielle, and begged his
consideration for Luke if the worst should happen. Alencon Barre gave
his word as a man of honour that the matter should be sacred to him.
As they sat there, a messenger came from the commandant to say that
the detachment was to start that afternoon for Bompari. Then a note
was handed to Shorland from Governor Rapont offering him a horse and a
native servant if he chose to go with the troops. This was what Shorland
had come for--news and adventure. He did not hesitate, though the shadow
of the twenty-fifth was hanging over him. He felt his helplessness in
the matter, but determined to try to be back in Noumea on that date. Not
that he expected anything definite, but because he had a feeling that
where Gabrielle was on that day he ought to be.

For two days they travelled, the friendship between them growing hourly
closer. It was the swift amalgamation of two kindred natures in the
flame of a perfect sincerity, for even with the dramatic element so
strongly developed in him, the Englishman was downright and true. His
friendship was as tenacious as his head was cool.

On the evening of the third day Shorland noticed that the strap of
his spur was frayed. He told his native servant to attend to it. Next
morning as they were starting he saw that the strap had not been mended
or replaced. His language on the occasion was pointed and confident. The
fact is, he was angry with himself for trusting anything to a servant.
He was not used to such a luxury, and he made up his mind to live for
the rest of the campaign without a servant, as he had done all his life
long.

The two friends rode side by side for miles through the jungle of fern
and palm, and then began to enter a more open but scrubby country. The
scouts could be seen half a mile ahead. Not a sign of natives had been
discovered on the march. More than once Barre had expressed his anxiety
at this. He knew it pointed to concentrated trouble ahead, and, just
as they neared the edge of the free country, he rose in his saddle
and looked around carefully. Shorland imitated his action, and, as he
resumed his seat, he felt his spur-strap break. He lea