said soothingly. "You stay here a minute! I've
got some matches. I'll just go back a few yards and investigate."

But at that she cried out so sharply that he thought for a moment that
something had hurt her. But the next instant he understood, and again
has heart leapt and strained within him like a chained thing.

"No, Pat! No, no, no! You shall do no such thing!" Incoherently the
words rushed out, and with them the old familiar name, uttered all
unawares. "Do you think I'd let you go? Why, the place may be thronged
with snakes. And you--you have nothing to defend yourself with. How can
you dream of such a thing?"

He heard her out with absolute patience. His face betrayed no sign of
the tumult within. It remained perfectly courteous and calm. Yet when he
spoke he, too, it seemed, had gone back to the old intimate days that
lay so far behind them.

"Yes, but, Princess," he said, "what about our pals? If there is any
real danger we can't let them come stumbling into it. We'll have to warn
them."

She was still clinging to his arm, and her hands tightened. For an
instant she seemed about to renew her wild protest, but something--was
it the expression in the man's steady eyes?--checked her.

She stood a moment silent. Then, "You're quite right, Pat," she said,
her voice very low. "We'll go straight back to the boat and stop them."

Her hands relaxed and fell from his arm, but Hone stood hesitating.

"You'll let me go first?" he said. "You stay here in the open! I'll come
back for you."

But at that her new-found docility at once evaporated. "I won't!" she
declared vehemently. "I won't! Don't be so ridiculous! Of course I am
coming with you. Do you suppose I would let you go alone?"

"Why not?" said Hone.

He remembered later that she passed the question by. "We are wasting
time," she said, "Let us go!"

And so together they went back into the danger that lurked in the
darkness.

VI

They went side by side, for she would not let him take the lead. Her
hand was in his, and he knew by its convulsive pressure something of the
sheer panic that possessed her. And he marvelled at the power that
nerved her, though he held his peace.

They entered the dense shadow of the strip of jungle that separated them
from the stream, and very soon he paused to strike a match. She stood
very close to him. He was aware that she was trembling in every limb.

He peered about him, but could see very little beyond the fact