thly ill. We wrapped ourselves in blankets, and Fred
went and shook Simba awake.

"Watch those Greeks!" he ordered him. "If they show signs of life,
come and give the alarm!"

Then we set Lady Waldon's lantern on the ground in the back of my tent,
closed the tent up, and foregathered. There was one chair. We three
sat on the bed.

"Before we begin," said Fred, "we'd like some kind of proof, Lady
Waldon, that your overture is honest! I've no need to labor the point.
Until now you have been our implacable enemy. Why should we believe
you are our friend to-night?"

She sighed. "I don't expect friendship," she answered. "You and I are
in deep water, and must find a straw that may float us all! If I can
help you to escape out of the country I will. If you can help me, you
must! If you don't escape there are worse things in store for you than
you imagine! If you tell your secret now, they intend to prevent your
telling it to any one else afterward! And unless you tell they intend
to take terrible steps to compel you! As for me--they have discovered
that after all I know nothing, and am of no further use to them! They
have not said so, but it is very clear to me how the land lies.
Professor Schillingschen is drunk to-night; he came home with his car
and mouth bleeding, and has plied the whisky bottle freely ever since
until he fell asleep an hour and a half ago. He boasted over his cups.
They are simply using this long wait for Major Schunk, who is supposed
to be coming from the coast, to gather additional evidence against you.
They have men out following your trail back by the way you came, and
if they can find no genuine evidence they will invent what they need;
the purpose is to get you legally behind the bars; and if you ever
come out again alive that would not be their fault!"

"What do you propose?" asked Fred.

"Escape!" she answered excitedly. Then another thought made her clench
her fists. "Is it possible you told Professor Schillingschen your
secret to-day? Did one of you tell him? Is that why he is drunk?"

She saw by our faces that that fear was groundless, but a greater one,
that she might not be able to convince us, seized her next and she made
such an excited gesture that the shawl she wore over her head and
shoulders fell away and her long hair came tumbling down like a witch's.

"Listen! There is nothing that you men from your point of view
could say too bad about me! I know! I