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not endure the silent reproach of your lifeless body。〃
The girl held up her hand to stop。 A smile touched her
lips。
〃Are you quite mad？〃 she asked。 〃Do you imagine that
the sentries will credit any such ridiculous tale？〃
〃You do not know them；〃 he replied。 〃Beneath their
rough exteriors； despite their calloused and criminal
natures； there exists in each a well…defined strain of
romantic emotionalismyou will find it among such as
these throughout the world。 It is romance which lures
men to lead wild lives of outlawry and crime。 The ruse
will succeednever fear。〃
Jane Clayton shrugged。 〃We can but try itand then
what？〃
〃I shall hide you in the jungle；〃 continued the
Belgian； 〃coming for you alone and with two horses in
the morning。〃
〃But how will you explain Mohammed Beyd's death？〃 she
asked。 〃It will be discovered before ever you can
escape the camp in the morning。〃
〃I shall not explain it；〃 replied Werper。 〃Mohammed
Beyd shall explain it himselfwe must leave that to
him。 Are you ready for the venture？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃But wait； I must get you a weapon and ammunition；〃
and Werper walked quickly from the tent。
Very shortly he returned with an extra revolver and
ammunition belt strapped about his waist。
〃Are you ready？〃 he asked。
〃Quite ready；〃 replied the girl。
〃Then come and throw yourself limply across my left
shoulder；〃 and Werper knelt to receive her。
〃There；〃 he said； as he rose to his feet。 〃Now； let
your arms； your legs and your head hang limply。
Remember that you are dead。〃
A moment later the man walked out into the camp； the
body of the woman across his shoulder。
A thorn boma had been thrown up about the camp； to
discourage the bolder of the hungry carnivora。 A
couple of sentries paced to and fro in the light of a
fire which they kept burning brightly。 The nearer of
these looked up in surprise as he saw Werper approaching。
〃Who are you？〃 he cried。 〃What have you there？〃
Werper raised the hood of his burnoose that the fellow
might see his face。
〃This is the body of the woman；〃 he explained。
〃Mohammed Beyd has asked me to take it into the jungle；
for he cannot bear to look upon the face of her whom he
loved； and whom necessity compelled him to slay。 He
suffers greatlyhe is inconsolable。 It was with
difficulty that I prevented him taking his own life。〃
Across the speaker's shoulder； limp and frightened； the
girl waited for the Arab's reply。 He would laugh at
this preposterous story； of that she was sure。 In an
instant he would unmask the deception that M。 Frecoult
was attempting to practice upon him； and they would
both be lost。 She tried to plan how best she might aid
her would…be rescuer in the fight which must most
certainly follow within a moment or two。
Then she heard the voice of the Arab as he replied to
M。 Frecoult。
〃Are you going alone； or do you wish me to awaken
someone to accompany you？〃 he asked； and his tone
denoted not the least surprise that Mohammed Beyd had
suddenly discovered such remarkably sensitive
characteristics。
〃I shall go alone；〃 replied Werper； and he passed on
and out through the narrow opening in the boma； by
which the sentry stood。
A moment later he had entered among the boles of the
trees with his burden； and when safely hidden from the
sentry's view lowered the girl to her feet； with a low；
〃sh…sh；〃 when she would have spoken。
Then he led her a little farther into the forest；
halted beneath a large tree with spreading branches；
buckled a cartridge belt and revolver about her waist；
and assisted her to clamber into the lower branches。
〃Tomorrow；〃 he whispered； 〃as soon as I can elude them；
I will return for you。 Be brave； Lady Greystokewe
may yet escape。〃
〃Thank you；〃 she replied in a low tone。 〃You have been
very kind； and very brave。〃
Werper did not reply； and the darkness of the night hid
the scarlet flush of shame which swept upward across
his face。 Quickly he turned and made his way back to
camp。 The sentry； from his post； saw him enter his own
tent； but he did not see him crawl under the canvas at
the rear and sneak cautiously to the tent which the
prisoner had occupied； where now lay the dead body of
Mohammed Beyd。
Raising the lower edge of the rear wall； Werper crept
within and approached the corpse。 Without an instant's
hesitation he seized the dead wrists and dragged the
body upon its back to the point where he had just
entered。 On hands and knees he backed out as he had
come in； drawing the corpse after him。 Once outside
the Belgian crept to the side of the tent and surveyed
as much of the camp as lay within his visionno one
was watching。
Returning to the body； he lifted it to his shoulder；
and risking all on a quick sally； ran swiftly across
the narrow opening which separated the prisoner's tent
from that of the dead man。 Behind the silken wall he
halted and lowered his burden to the ground； and there
he remained motionless for several minutes； listening。
Satisfied； at last； that no one had seen him； he
stooped and raised the bottom of the tent wall； backed
in and dragged the thing that had been Mohammed Beyd
after him。 To the sleeping rugs of the dead raider he
drew the corpse； then he fumbled about in the darkness
until he had found Mohammed Beyd's revolver。 With the
weapon in his hand he returned to the side of the dead
man； kneeled beside the bedding； and inserted his right
hand with the weapon beneath the rugs； piled a number
of thicknesses of the closely woven fabric over and
about the revolver with his left hand。 Then he pulled
the trigger； and at the same time he coughed。
The muffled report could not have been heard above the
sound of his cough by one directly outside the tent。
Werper was satisfied。 A grim smile touched his lips as
he withdrew the weapon from the rugs and placed it
carefully in the right hand of the dead man； fixing
three of the fingers around the grip and the index
finger inside the trigger guard。
A moment longer he tarried to rearrange the disordered
rugs； and then he left as he had entered； fastening
down the rear wall of the tent as it had been before he
had raised it。
Going to the tent of the prisoner he removed there also
the evidence that someone might have come or gone
beneath the rear wall。 Then he returned to his own
tent； entered； fastened down the canvas； and crawled
into his blankets。
The following morning he was awakened by the excited
voice of Mohammed Beyd's slave calling to him at the
entrance of his tent。
〃Quick！ Quick！〃 cried the black in a frightened tone。
〃Come！ Mohammed Beyd is dead in his tentdead by his
own hand。〃
Werper sat up quickly in his blankets at the first
alarm； a startled expression upon his countenance； but
at the last words of the black a sigh of relief escaped
his lips and a slight smile replaced the tense lines
upon his face。
〃I come；〃 he called to the slave； and drawing on his
boots； rose and went out of his tent。
Excited Arabs and blacks were running from all parts of
the camp toward the silken tent of Mohammed Beyd； and
when Werper entered he found a number of the raiders
crowded about the corpse； now cold and stiff。
Shouldering his way among them； the Belgian halted
beside the dead body of the raider。 He looked down in
silence for a moment upon the still face； then he
wheeled upon the Arabs。
〃Who has done this thing？〃 he cried。 His tone was both
menacing and accusing。 〃Who has murdered Mohammed Beyd？〃
A sudden chorus of voices arose in tumultuous protest。
〃Mohammed Beyd was not murdered；〃 they cried。 〃He died
by his own hand。 This； and Allah； are our witnesses；〃
and they pointed to a revolver in the dead man's hand。
For a time Werper pretended to b