e
would be futile should she suspect you have not perished where she
entombed you. I am safe here, for the present at least, while you can
accomplish much more for all of us if she believes you dead and takes
no precautions to guard against you."

I could scarcely bear the thought of her remaining in the power of that
half-savage creature, who wielded such despotic power over her wild
tribesmen. Inspired by fear of the result I begged reconsideration,
urging her to accompany me in flight; but she was firm in refusal.

"No; urge it no longer, good friend. I know you speak from the heart,
yet it is not best. You cannot know to what depths of peril, or
disappointment, this passage may lead, while, by remaining behind, I
can help to hide your trail, and possibly open to you some way of
retreat. But hush!" She held up her hand. "It is the Queen
returning; neither of us must be discovered here."

I took a step forward, gaining undisputed possession of the uplifted
palm.

"I depart at your wish, Madame," I said brokenly; "but may the merciful
God bring us to each other again."

For a breathless instant, even while the sounds without drew nearer,
her eyes looked confidingly into mine.

"All must be as God wills," she replied gravely. "Here or hereafter,
Geoffrey Benteen, I believe it shall be. Until then, continue to prove
the same true man you have ever been, doubting not the trust of her who
now bids you speed."

There were voices lightly conversing at the entrance, and I
distinguished clearly the senseless laughter of De Noyan. Lower I bent
above the white hand reposing in my rough grasp, until my lips pressed
the soft flesh; nor was it withdrawn from the caress.

"Good-bye, Eloise," I whispered, and, sweeping aside the heavy folds of
curtain, vanished from her sight.

CHAPTER XXX

UNDERGROUND

A slight radiance found passage through the coarsely woven curtain,
proving sufficient, as my eyes became more accustomed to the gloom, to
reveal, rude steps excavated from the earth, leading down into lower
darkness. Pausing merely to assure myself that the meeting between
Naladi and Madame was outwardly courteous, while De Noyan seemed shamed
into silence by the presence of his wife, I began the descent, quickly
finding myself in an apartment, rounded in outline, not greatly
dissimilar to that other from which I had been so lately rescued.
This, however, was smaller, the floor littered with various ar