her arm about his neck, and for one
lightning moment her lips touched his cheek. The next instant she
had sprung free and was leaping downwards from rock to rock like a
startled gazelle.

At the foot of the _kopje_ only did she stop and wait. He was
close behind her, moving with lithe, elastic strides where she had
bounded.

She turned round to him boyishly. "We'll climb to the top one of
these days, partner; but I'm not in training yet. Besides,--we're
late for supper."

"I can wait," said Burke.

She linked her little finger in his, swinging it carelessly. There
was absolute confidence in her action; only her eyes avoided his.

"You're jolly decent to me," she said. "I often wonder why."

"You'll know one day," said Burke very quietly.

CHAPTER IV

THE CAPTURE

A dust-storm had been blowing practically all day, and the mining
crowds of Brennerstadt were thirsty to a man. They congregated at
every bar with the red sand thick upon them, and cursed the country
and the climate with much heartiness and variety.

Burke Ranger was one of the thirstiest when he reached the town
after his ride through the desert--a ride upon which he had flatly
refused to allow Sylvia to accompany him. He went straight to the
hotel where he had stayed for his marriage, and secured a room.
Then he went down to the dining-room, where he was instantly
greeted by an old friend, Kelly, the Irish manager of a diamond
mine in the neighbourhood.

Kelly was the friend of everyone. He knew everyone's affairs and
gossiped openly with a childlike frankness that few could resent.
Everyone declared he could never keep a secret, yet nearly everyone
confided in him. His goodness of heart was known to all, and he
was regarded as a general arbitrator among the sometimes restless
population of Brennerstadt.

His delight at seeing Burke was obvious; he hailed him with
acclamations. "I've been meaning to ride over your way for ages,"
he declared, his rubicund face shining with geniality as he wrung
his friend's hand hard. "I was up-country when you came along last
with your bride. Dark horse that you are, Burke! I should as soon
have thought of getting married myself, as of seeing you in double
harness."

Burke laughed his careless laugh. "You'll come to it yet. No fun
in growing old alone in this country."

"And what's the lady like?" pursued Kelly, keen for news as an
Irish terrier after a rat. "As fair as Eve and twic