d a curious
thrill went through her; it was as if his look pierced her. "The
impossible often happens here," he said briefly.

She expressed a sharp tremor that caught her unawares. "What does
that mean?" she asked, striving to speak lightly.

He replied with his eyes lowered again to his task. "It means
among other things that you can't get back to Ritzen until the
floods go down. Ritter Spruit is a foaming torrent by this time."

"Good heavens!" she exclaimed. "But isn't there--isn't there a
bridge anywhere?"

"Forty miles away," said Burke Ranger laconically.

"Good--heavens!" she gasped again.

He finished his bandaging and stood up. "Now I am going to carry
you to bed," he said, "and Mary Ann shall wait on you. You won't
be frightened?"

She smiled in answer. "You've taken my breath away, but I shall
get it again directly. I don't think I want to go to bed yet.
Mayn't I stay here for a little?"

He looked down at her. "You've got some pluck, haven't you?" he
said.

She flushed. "I hope so--a little."

He touched her shoulder unexpectedly, with a hint of awkwardness.
"I'm afraid I can only offer you--rough hospitality. It's the best
I can do. My guests have all been of the male species till now.
But you will put up with it? You won't be scared anyhow?"

She reached up an impulsive hand and put it into his. "No, I
shan't be scared at all. You make me feel quite safe. I'm
only--more grateful than I can say."

His fingers closed upon hers. "You've nothing to be grateful for.
Let me take you to the guestroom and Mary Ann shall bring you
supper. You'll be more comfortable there. Your baggage is there
already."

She clung to his hand for an instant, caught by an odd feeling of
forlornness. "I will do whatever you wish. But--but--you will let
me see Guy in the morning?"

He stooped to lift her. For a moment his eyes looked straight into
hers. Then: "Wait till the morning comes!" he said quietly.

There was finality in his tone, and she knew that it was no moment
for discussion. With a short sigh she yielded to the inevitable,
and suffered him to carry her away.

CHAPTER X

THE DREAM

She had no further communication with Burke that night. The old
Kaffir woman helped her, brought her a meal on a tray, and waited
upon her until dismissed.

Sylvia had no desire to detain her. She longed for solitude. The
thought of Guy tormented her perpetually. She ached and
yea