"That will be about all for the present," said Bruce, wiping his
forehead. "Now if we can make that village we shall be all right.
Bala Khan's men will not leave with the camels till they learn whether
we are dead or alive. It will be a hard trek, Miss Kathlyn. Ten miles
over sand is worse than fifty over turf. I don't think we'll see any
more of those ruffians."
"Kathlyn," she said.
"Well--Kathlyn!"
"Or, better still, at home they call me Kit."
They smiled into each other's eyes, and no words were needed. Thus
quickly youth discards its burdens!
That he did not take her into his arms at once proved the caliber of
the man. And Kathlyn respected him none the less for his control. She
knew now; and she was certain that her eyes had told him as frankly as
any words would have done; and she fell into his stride, strangely
embarrassed and not a little frightened. The firm grasp of his hand as
here and there he steadied her sent a thrill of exquisite pleasure
through her.
Love! She laughed softly; and he stopped and eyed her in astonishment.
"What is it?"
"Nothing," she answered.
But she went on with the thought which had provoked her laughter.
Love! Danger all about, unseen, hidden; misery in the foreground, and
perhaps death beyond; her father back in chains, to face she knew not
what horrors, and yet she could pause by the wayside and think of love!
"There was something," he insisted. "That wasn't happy laughter. What
caused it?"
"Some day I will tell you--if we live."
"Live?" Then he laughed.
And she was not slow to recognize the Homeric quality of his laughter.
"Kit, I am going to get you and your father out of all this, if but for
one thing."
"And what is that?" curious in her turn.
"I'll tell you later." And there the matter stood.
The journey to the village proved frightfully exhausting. The two were
in a sorry plight when they reached the well.
The camel men were overjoyed at the sight of them. For hours they had
waited in dread, contemplating flight which would take them anywhere
but to Bala Khan, who rewarded cowardice in one fashion only. For, but
for their cowardly inactivity, their charges might by now be safe in
the seaport toward which they had been journeying. So they brought
food for the two and begged that they would not be accused of cowardice
to Bala Khan.
"Poor devils!" said Bruce. "Had they shown the least resistance those
brigand chaps would have killed them off like rats." He beckoned to
the head man. "Take us back to Bala Khan in the morning, and we
promise that no harm shall befall you. Now, find us a place to sleep."