The Way of an Eagle

7/27/2019 The Way of an Eagle

1/333

TheWayofanEagle

EthelM.Dell


2/333


3/333

Therebethreethingswhicharetoowonderfulforme,yea,fourwhichIknownot:

Thewayofaneagleintheair;thewayofaserpentuponarock;thewayofashipinthemidstofthesea;andthewayofamanwithamaid.

Proverbsxxx,

18

19.


4/333


5/333

CONTENTS

PARTI

CHAPTER

I.TheTrustII.ASoldiersDaughterIII.TheVictimofTreacheryIV.DesolationV.TheDevilintheWildernessVI.WhenStrongMenFail

VII.TheComing

of

an

Army

PARTII

VIII.ComradesIX.TheSchoolofSorrowX.TheEagleSwoopsXI.TheFirstFlightXII.TheMessage

XIII.TheVoice

of

aFriend

XIV.ThePoisonofAddersXV.TheSummonsXVI.TheOrdeal

PARTIII

XVII.AnOldFriendXVIII.TheExplanation

XIX.AHero

Worshipper

XX.NewsfromtheEastXXI.AHarbourofRefugeXXII.AnOldStoryXXIII.TheSleepCalledDeathXXIV.TheCreedofaFighterXXV.AScentedLetterXXVI.TheEternalFlameXXVII.TheEagleCaged

XXVIII.TheLions

Skin

XXIX.OldFriendsMeetXXX.AnOfferofFriendshipXXXI.TheEagleHovers


6/333

PARTIV

XXXII.TheFaceintheStorm

XXXIII.TheLifting

of

the

Mask

XXXIV.AttheGateofDeathXXXV.TheArmisticeXXXVI.TheEagleStrikesXXXVII.ThePenaltyforSentimentXXXVIII.TheWatcheroftheCliffXXXIX.BySingleCombatXL.TheWomansChoiceXLI.TheEaglesPrey

XLII.TheHardest

Fight

of

All

XLIII.RequiescatXLIV.LovesPrisoner

PARTV

XLV.TheVisionXLVI.TheHeartofaManXLVII.IntheNameofFriendship

XLVIII.TheHealing

of

the

Breach

XLIX.TheLoweringoftheFlagL.ErebusLI.TheBirdofParadiseLII.AWomansOfferingLIII.TheLastSkirmishLIV.SurrenderLV.OmniaVincitAmorLVI.TheEagleSoars


7/333

TheWayofanEagle

1

PARTI

CHAPTERI

THETRUST

Thelongclatterofanirregularvolleyofmusketryrattledwarninglyfromthenakedmountainridges;overagreatgreyshoulderofrockthesunsankinasplendidopalglow;fromverynearathandcametheclatteroftincupsandthesoundofasubduedBritishlaugh.AndintheroomoftheBrigadierGeneralamanliftedhisheadfromhishandsandstaredupwardswithunseeing,fixedeyes.

Therewasanimpotent,crushedlookabouthimasofonenearingtheendofhisstrength.Thelipsundertheheavygreymoustachemovedalittleasthoughtheyformedsoundlesswords.Hedrewhisbreathonce or twice sharply through his teeth. Finally, with a curiousgropingmovementhereachedoutandstruckasmallhandgongonthetableinfrontofhim.

The door slid open instantly and an Indian soldier stood in the

opening.The

Brigadier

stared

full

at

him

for

several

seconds

as

if

he

sawnothing,his lipsstillmovingsecretly, silently.Thensuddenly,withastiffgesture,hespoke.

Ask themajor sahib and the two captain sahibs to come tomehere.

TheIndiansalutedandvanishedlikeaswiftmovingshadow.

TheBrigadier

sank

back

into

his

chair,

his

head

drooped

forward,

his

handsclenched.Therewastragedy,hopelessandabsolute,ineverylineofhim.

There came the careless clatter of spurred heels and looselyslungswordsinthepassageoutsideofthehalfcloseddoor,thesoundofastumble,ashortejaculation,andagainasmotheredlaugh.

ConfoundyouGrange!Whycantyoukeepyour feet toyourself,

youungainly

Triton,

and

give

us

poor

minnows

achance?

TheBrigadiersatuprightwithajerk.Itwasgrowingrapidlydark.


8/333

TheWayofanEagle

2

Comein,allofyou,hesaid.Ihavesomethingtosay.Aswelltoshutthedoor,Ratcliffe,thoughitisnotacouncilofwar.

Therebeing

nothing

left

to

discuss,

sir,

returned

the

voice

that

had

laughed. It isjust a simple case of sitting tight now till Bassettcomesroundthecorner.

TheBrigadierglancedupatthespeakerandcaughtthelastglowofthefadingsunsetreflectedonhisface.Itwasacleanshavenfacethatshould have possessed a fair skin,butby reason of unfavourablecircumstances itwasburnt to a deep yellowbrown. The featureswere pinched andwrinkledtheymight havebelonged to a very

oldman;

but

the

eyes

that

smiled

down

into

the

Brigadiers

were

shrewd, bright,monkeylike. They expressed a cheeriness almostgrotesque.Thetwomenwhomhehadfollowedintotheroomstoodsilentamongtheshadows.Thegloomwassuchascouldbefelt.

Suddenly,inshort,painfultonestheBrigadierbegantospeak.

Sitdown,hesaid.Ihavesent foryou toaskoneamongyou toundertakeformeacertainservicewhichmustbeaccomplished,but

whichI

he

paused

and

again

audibly

caught

his

breath

between

histeethwhichIamunabletoexecuteformyself.

An instants silence followed the halting speech. Then the youngofficerwhostoodagainstthedoorsteppedbrisklyforward.

Whatsthejob,sir?IllwagermyeveningskillyIcarryitthrough.

Oneof themen in the shadowsmoved,and spoke ina repressive

tone.Shut

up,

Nick!

This

is

no

mess

room

joke.

Nickmadeasharp,halfcontemptuousgesture.Ajokeonlyceasestobe ajokewhen there isnoone left to laugh, sir,he said. Wehaventcometothatatpresent.

He stood in front of theBrigadier for amomentan insignificantfigurebut for the perpetual suggestion of simmering activity thatpervadedhim;thensteppedbehindthecommandingofficerschair,

andthere

took

up

his

stand

without

further

words.


9/333

TheWayofanEagle

3

TheBrigadierpaidnoattentiontohim.Hismindwasfixedupononesubjectonly.Moreover,nooneevertookNickRatcliffeseriously.Itseemedamoralimpossibility.

Itisquiteplaintome,hesaidheavilyatlength,thatthetimehascometofacethesituation.Idonotspeakforthediscouragementofyoubravefellows.IknowthatIcanrelyuponeachoneofyoutodoyourdutytotheutmost.Butweareboundtolookatthingsastheyare,andsopreparefortheinevitable.IforoneamfirmlyconvincedthatGeneralBassettcannotpossiblyreachusintime.

He paused,but no one spoke. Themanbehind himwas leaning

forward,listening

intently.

He went on with an effort. We are a mere handful. We havedwindledtofourwhitemenamongahostofdark.Reliefisnotevenwithinaremotedistanceofus,andwearealreadyborderinguponstarvation.Wemayholdout for threedaysmore.And thenhisbreath came suddenly short,buthe forcedhimself to continueIhavetothinkofmychild.Shewillbeinyourhands.Iknowyouwillalldefendhertothelastounceofyourstrength;butwhichofyou

aterrible

gasping

checked

his

utterance

for

many

labouring

seconds;

heputhishandoverhiseyeswhichofyou,hewhisperedatlast,his words barely audible, will have the strength toshoot herbeforeyourownlastmomentcomes?

Thequestionquiveredthroughthequietroomasifwrungfromthetwitching lipsby sheer torture. Itwent out in silenceadreadful,lastingsilence inwhich thesoulsofmen,strippednakedofhumanconvention,stoodconfronting thefirstprimaeval instinctofhuman

chivalry.

It continued through many terrible secondsthat silence, andthrough itnoonemoved,noone seemed tobreathe. Itwasas ifaspellhadbeencastuponthehandfulofEnglishmengathered thereinthedeepeningdarkness.

TheBrigadiersatbowedandmotionlessat the table,hisheadsunkinhishands.

Suddenlytherewasaquietmovementbehindhim,andthespellwasbroken.Ratcliffesteppeddeliberatelyforwardandspoke.


10/333

TheWayofanEagle

4

General,hesaidquietly,ifyouwillputyourdaughterinmycare,Isweartoyou,sohelpmeGod,thatnoharmofanysortshalltouchher.

Therewas no hint of emotion in his voice, albeit thewordswerestrong;but it had a curious effect upon thosewho heard it. TheBrigadierraisedhisheadsharply,andpeeredathim;andtheothertwo officers started asmen suddenly stumbling at an unexpectedobstacleinafamiliarroad.

One of them,MajorMarshall, spoke,briefly and irritably,with atouchofcontempt.Hisnerveswereonedge in thatatmosphereof

despair.

You,Nick!he said. Youareabout the least reliableman in thegarrison. You cant be trusted to take even reasonable care ofyourself.Heavenonlyknowshowitisyouwerentkilledlongago.Itwas thanks to no discretion on your part. You dont know themeaningoftheword.

Nick did not answer, did not somuch as seem to hear.Hewas

standingbefore

the

Brigadier.

His

eyes

gleamed

in

his

alert

face

twoweirdpinpointsoflight.

Shewillbe safewithme, he said, in a tone that held not thesmallestshadeofuncertainty.

But theBrigadierdidnotspeak.HestillsearchedyoungRatcliffesfaceasamanwhoviewsthroughfieldglassesaregiondistantandunexplored.

After amoment the officer who had remained silent throughoutcameforwardastepandspoke.HewasamagnificentmanwiththephysiqueofaHercules.Hehadremainedonhisfeet,impassivebutobservant,fromthemomentofhisentrance.Hisvoicehadthatsoftqualitypeculiartosomebigmen.

IamreadytosellmylifeforMissRoscoessafety,sir,hesaid.

NickRatcliffe

jerked

his

shoulders

expressively,

but

said

nothing.

He

waswaitingfortheGeneraltospeak.Asthelatterroseslowly,withevident effort, from his chair, he thrust out a hand, as if almostinstinctivelyofferinghelptooneinsoreneed.


11/333

TheWayofanEagle

5

GeneralRoscoe grasped it and spoke at last.He had regained hisselfcommand. Letme understand you, Ratcliffe, he said. YousuggestthatIshouldplacemydaughterinyourcharge.ButImust

knowfirst

how

far

you

are

prepared

to

go

to

ensure

her

safety.

Hewasansweredinstantly,withanunflinchingpromptitudehehadscarcelyexpected.

I am prepared to go to the uttermost limit, sir, said NicholasRatcliffe,hisfingersclosinglikespringsuponthehandthatgrippedhis,ifthereisalimit.Thatistosay,Iamreadytogothroughhellforher.Iamastraightshot,acoolshot,adeadshot.Willyoutrust

me?

His voice throbbed with sudden feeling. General Roscoe waswatchinghimclosely.CanItrustyou,Nick?hesaid.

Therewasan instantssilence,and the twomen in thebackgroundwereawarethatsomethingpassedbetweenthemalookorarapidsignwhichtheydidnotwitness.ThenrecklessanddebonaircameNicksvoice.

Idontknow,sir.ButifIamuntrustworthy,mayIdietonight!

GeneralRoscoelaidhisfreehandupontheyoungmansshoulder.

Is it so,Nick?hesaid,andutteredaheavysigh.Wellsobe itthen.Itrustyou.

Thatsettlesit,sir,saidNickcheerily.Thejobismine.

Heturnedroundwithacertainarroganceofbearing,andwalkedtothedoor.Buttherehestopped,lookingbackthroughthedarknessatthedimfigureshehadleft.

Perhaps you will tellMiss Roscoe that you have appointedmedeputygovernor,he said. And tellhernot tobe frightened, sir.SayImnotsuchabogeyasIlook,andthatshewillbeperfectlysafewithme.Histonewashalfserious,halfjocular.Hewrenchedopen

thedoor

not

waiting

for

areply.


12/333

TheWayofanEagle

6

Imust goback to the guns, he said, and the nextmomentwasgone,stridingcarelesslydown thepassage,andwhistlingamusichallballadashewent.


13/333

TheWayofanEagle

7

CHAPTERII

ASOLDIERSDAUGHTER

In the centreof the little frontier fort therewasa roomwhichoneandallof itsdefenders regardedas sacred. Itwasan insignificantchamber,narrowasaprisoncellandalmostasbare;but itwasthesafest place in the fort. In itGeneralRoscoes daughterthe onlywhitewomaninthegarrisonhaddweltsafelysincethebeginningofthatdreadfulsiege.

Strictly forbiddenbyher father to stir fromher refugewithouthis

expresspermission,

she

had

dragged

out

the

long

days

in

close

captivity, living in themidstofnerveshattering tumultbut takingnoparttherein.Shewaslittlemorethanachild,andaccustomedtorender implicit obedience to the father she idolised, or she hadscarcely been persuaded to submit to this rigorous seclusion. Itwould perhaps have been better for her physically and evenmentally tohavegoneoutand seen thehorrorswhichwerebeingdailyenactedallaroundher.Shehadat firstpleaded forat leastalimitedfreedom,urgingthatshemighttakeherpartincaringforthe

wounded.But

her

father

had

refused

this

request

with

such

decision

thatshehadneverrepeated it.Andsoshehadseennothingwhilehearing much, lying through many sleepless nights with nervesstrung to a pitch of torture far more terrible than any bodilyexhaustion,andvividimaginationeveratworkuponpicturesmoreghastly thaneven theghastlyrealitywhichshewasnotallowed tosee.

The strainwas such as no human frame could have endured for

long.Her

strength

was

beginning

to

break

down

under

it.

The

long

sleeplessnightsweremore than she couldbear.And there cameatimewhenMuriel Roscoe, driven to extremity, sought relief in aremedyfromwhichinhernormalsensesshewouldhaveturnedindisgust.

Ithelpedher,butitleftitsmarkuponheramarkwhichherfathermusthavenoted,hadhenotbeenalmostwhollyoccupiedwiththeburden thatweighed him down.Morning and evening he visited

her,yet

failed

to

read

that

in

her

haunted

eyes

which

could

not

have

escapedaclearervision.


14/333

TheWayofanEagle

8

Entering her room two hours after his interviewwith his officersregarding her, he looked at her searchingly indeed, but withoutunderstanding.She layamongcushionsonacharpoyofbamboo in

thelight

of

ashaded

lamp.

Young

and

slight

and

angular,

with

a

pale little face ofutterweariness,withgreatdark eyes thatgazedheavilyoutoftheblackshadowsthatringedthemround,suchwasMurielRoscoe.Herblackhairwassimplyplaitedandgatheredupattheneck.Itlayincloudymassesabouthertempleswonderfulhair,quitelustreless,soabundantthatitseemedalmosttoomuchforthelittlehead thatbore it.Shedidnotriseatherfathersentrance.Shescarcelyraisedhereyes.

Soglad

youve

come,

Daddy,

she

said,

in

asoft,

low

voice.

Ive

beenwantingyou.Itsnearlybedtime,isntit?

Hewenttoher,treadinglightly.Histhoughtshadbeenallofherforthe past few hours and in consequence he looked at her morecritically thanusual.For the first timehewasstruckbyherpallor,her lookofdeathlyweariness.On the tablenearher layaplateofboiled ricepiledhigh ina snowypyramid.He saw that ithadnotbeentouched.

Why,child,hesaid,asuddennewanxietyathisheartyouhavehadnothingtoeat.Yourenotill?

She roused herself a little, and a very faint colour crept into herwhite cheeks. No, dear, only tiredtoo tired tobe hungry, shetoldhim.Thatriceisforyou.

Hesatdownbesideherwithasoundthatwasalmostagroan.You

musteat

something,

child,

he

said.

Being

penned

up

here

takes

awayyourappetite.Butallthesameyoumusteat.

She sat up slowly, and pushed back the heavy hair from herforeheadwithasigh.

Very well, Daddy, she said submissively. But youmust havesometoo,dear.Icouldntpossibleeatitall.

Somethingin

his

attitude

or

expression

seemed

to

strike

her

at

this

point,andshemadeadeterminedefforttoshakeoffherlethargy.Aspoonandforklaybytheplate.Shehandedhimtheformerandkeptthelatterforherself.


15/333

TheWayofanEagle

9

Wellhaveapicnic,Daddy.shesaid,withawistfullittlesmile.Itoldayahalwaystobringtwoplates,butshehasforgotten.Wedontmind,though,dowe?

Itwas childishly spoken,but thepathos of itwent straight to themans heart. He tasted the rice under her watching eyes andpronounceditverygood;thenwaitedforhertofollowhisexamplewhichshedidwithaslightshudder.

Delicious,Daddy, isnt it? she said.And even hedid not guesswhatcourageunderlaythewords.

Theykept

up

the

farce

till

the

pyramid

was

somewhat

reduced;

then

bymutual consent they suffered their ardour to flag.Therewas afaintcolourinthegirlsthinfaceassheleanedbackagain.Hereyeswerebrighter,thelidsdroopedless.

Ihadadreamlastnight,Daddy,shesaid,suchacuriousdream,andsovivid.IthoughtIwasoutonthemountainswithsomeone.Idontknowwhoitwas,butitwassomeoneverynice.Itseemedtobeverynearthesunrise,foritwasquitebrightupabove,thoughit

wasalmost

dark

where

we

stood.

And,

do

you

knowdont

laugh,

Daddy,Iknow itwasonlyasillydreamwhenI lookedup,Isawthat everywhere themountainswere fullofhorsesand chariotsoffire. I feltsosafe,Daddy,andsohappy. Icouldhavecriedwhen Iwokeup.

Shepaused. Itwasratherdifficult forher tomakeconversationforthesilentmanwhosatbesidehersogloomyandpreoccupied.Savethatshelovedherfatherasshelovednooneelseonearth,shemight

havefelt

awed

in

his

presence.

As itwas, receivingno response, she turned to look,and thenextinstantwasonherkneesbesidehim,herthinyoungarmsclingingtohisneck.

Daddy,darling,darling!shewhispered,andhidher faceagainsthiminsudden,namelessterror.

Heclasped

her

to

him,

holding

her

close,

that

she

might

not

again

seehisfaceandthelookitwore.Shebegantotremble,andhetriedtosootheherwithhishand,butformanysecondshecouldfindnowords.


16/333

TheWayofanEagle

10

What is it,Daddy? shewhispered at last, unable to endure thesilencelonger.Wontyoutellme?Icanbeverybrave.Yousaidsoyourself.

Yes,hesaid.Youwillbeabravegirl,Iknow.Hisvoicequiveredandhepausedtosteadyit.Muriel,hesaidthen,Idontknowifyouhaveever thoughtof theendofall this.Therewillbeanend,youknow.Ihavehadtofaceittonight.

She looked up at him quickly,but hewas ready for her.He hadbanishedfromhisfacetheawfuldespairthathecarriedinhissoul.

WhenSir

Reginald

Bassett

comes

she

began

uncertainly.

Heputhishandonhershoulder.Youwilltrynottobeafraid,hesaid. I amgoing to treatyou, as Ihave treatedmy officers,withabsolutecandour.Weshallnotholdoutmorethanthreedaysmore.SirReginaldBassettwillnotbehereintime.

Hestopped.Murielutterednotaword.Herfacewasstillupturned,andhereyeshad suddenlygrown intenselybright,buthereadno

shrinkingin

them.

With an effort he forced himself to go on. Imay notbe able toprotectyouwhentheendcomes.Imaynotevenbewithyou.Butthereisonemanuponwhomyoucansafelyrelywhateverhappens,who will give himself up to securing your safety alone. He hassworn tome thatyou shallnotbe taken, and Iknow thathewillkeephisword.Youwillbesafewithhim,Muriel.Youmaytrusthimas longasyou live.Hewillnotfailyou.Perhapsyoucanguesshis

name?

Heasked thequestionwitha touchofcuriosity in themidstofhistragedy.Thatupturned,listeningfacehadinitsolittleofawomansunderstanding,somuchofthedeepwonderofachild.

Heranswerwaspromptandconfident,andalbeitherverylipswerewhite,therewasafainthintofsatisfactioninhervoiceasshemadeit.

CaptainGrange,ofcourse,Daddy.


17/333

TheWayofanEagle

11

He started and looked at her narrowly. No, no! he said. NotGrange!Whatshouldmakeyouthinkofhim?

Hesaw

alook

of

swift

disappointment,

almost

of

consternation,

darkenhereyes.Forthefirsttimeherlipsquivereduncertainly.

Whothen,Daddy?NotnotMr.Ratcliffe?

Hebent his head. Yes,Nick Ratcliffe. I have placed you in hischarge.Hewilltakecareofyou.

YoungNickRatcliffe!shesaidslowly.Why,Daddy,hecanteven

takecare

of

himself

yet.

Every

one

says

so.

Besides,a

curiously

womanly touch crept intoher speechIdont likehim.Only theother day I heard him laugh at something that was terriblesomethingitmakesmesicktothinkof.Indeed,Daddy,IwouldfarratherhaveCaptainGrange to takecareofme.Dontyou thinkhewouldifyouaskedhim?Heissomuchbiggerandstronger,andandkinder.

Ah! Iknow,her fathersaid.Heseemsso toyou.But it isnerve

thatyour

protector

will

need,

child;

and

Ratcliffe

possesses

more

nerve thanall the restof thegarrisonput together.No, itmustbeRatcliffe,Muriel.Andremembertogivehimallyourtrust,allyourconfidence.Forwhateverhedoeswillbewithmyauthoritywithmyfullapproval.

Hisvoice failed suddenlyandhe rose, turning sharplyaway fromthe light.She clung tohisarm silently, inapassionof tenderness,though she was far from understanding the suffering those last

wordsrevealed.

She

had

never

seen

him

thus

moved

before.

Aftera fewsecondshe turnedback toher,andbendingkissedherpiteous face.Sheclungclosely tohimwithanagonised longing tokeephimwithher;butheputhergentlyfromhimatlast.

Liedownagain,dear,hesaid,andgetwhatrestyoucan.Trynottobefrightenedat thenoise.There issure tobeanassault,butthe

fortwill

hold

to

night.


18/333

TheWayofanEagle

12

He stood amoment, lookingdown ather.Then again he stoopedand kissed her. Goodbye,my darling, he said huskily, tillwemeetagain!

Andsohurriedly,asifnottrustinghimselftoremainlonger,helefther.


19/333

TheWayofanEagle

13

CHAPTERIII

THEVICTIMOFTREACHERY

There came again the running rattle of riflefiring from the valleybelowthefort,andMurielRoscoe,lyingonhercouch,pressedbothhands tohereyesand shivered. It seemed impossible that theendcouldbesonear.Shefeltasifshehadexistedforyearsinthislivingnightmareofmanyhorrors,had laindownandhadsleptwith thatdreadful sound inher ears from theverybeginningof things.Thelife she had ledbefore these ghastly happenings hadbecome sovague a memory that it almost seemed to belong to a previous

existence,to

an

earlier

and

ahappier

era.

As

in

adream

she

now

recalledthevisionofherEnglishschoollife.Itlaynotayearbehindher,but she felt herself to have changed so fundamentally sincethosesunny,peacefuldaysthatsheseemedtobeadifferentpersonaltogether.TheMurielRoscoeofthosedayshadbeenamerry,lighthearted personality. She had revelled in games and all outdooramusements.Moreover,shehadbeenquicktolearn,andherlessonshadnevercausedheranytrouble.Adaringspriteshehadbeen,withamost fertile imagination and a longing for adventure that had

neverbeen

fully

satisfied,

possessing

withal

so

tender

and

loving

a

heartthattheverybeesinthegardenhadbeenamonghercherishedfriends.Sherememberedallthesunnyidealsofthatgoldentimeandmarvelled at herself, forgetting utterly the eager, even passionate,craving that had then been hers for the wider life, the broaderknowledge, that lay beyond her reach, forgetting the feverishimpatience with which she had longed for the day of heremancipation when she might join her father in the wonderfulglowing Eastwhich she so often pictured in her dreams. Of her

mothershe

had

no

memory.

She

had

died

at

her

birth.

Her

father

wasalltheworldtoher;andwhenatlasthehadtravelledhomeonabrief leaveand takenher fromherquietEnglish life to thestrange,swiftexistenceofthelandofhisexile,hersoulhadoverflowedwithhappiness.

Nevertheless,shehadnotbeencarriedawayby thegaietiesof thisnewworld.Thefascinationsofdanceandgymkhanahadnotcaughther.Thejoyofbeingwithherfatherwastoosacredandtooprecious

tobe

foregone

for

these

lesser

pleasures,

and

she

very

speedily

decided tosacrificeallsocialentertainments towhichhecouldnotaccompanyher.Sherodewithhim,campedwithhim,andbecamehis inseparablecompanion.Undeveloped inmanyways,shy in the


20/333

TheWayofanEagle

14

presenceofstrangers,shesoonforgotherearlierambitiontoseetheworldandall that itcontained.Her fathers societywas toherallsufficing,anditwasnosacrificetohertowithdrawherselffromthe

gaycrowd

and

dwell

apart

with

him.

Hehadnowishtomonopoliseher,butitwasarelieftohimthattheconstantwhirlofpleasureaboutherattractedherso little.Helikedtohaveherwithhim,anditsoonbecameamatterofcoursethatsheshould accompany him on all his expeditions. She revelled in histours of inspection. They were so many picnics to her, and sheenjoyedthemwiththezestofachild.

Andso

it

came

to

pass

that

she

was

with

him

among

the

hills

of

the

frontierwhen, like a pent flood suddenly escaping, the storm ofrebellionbrokeandseethedaboutthem,threateningthemwithtotalannihilation.

No serious troublehadbeenanticipated.Acertain tractofcountryhadbeenreportedunquiet,andGeneralRoscoehadbeenorderedtoproceed thither on a tour of inspection and also, to a verymilddegree,of intimidation.Marching through thedistrict from fort to

fort,he

had

encountered

no

shadow

of

opposition.

All

had

gone

well.Andthen,hisworkover,andallhesetouttodosatisfactorilyaccomplished,hisfacetowardsIndiaandhisbacktothemountains,theunexpectedhadcomeuponhimlikeathunderbolt.

Hordesof tribesmen,gatheredHeavenknewhow orwhence,hadsuddenlyburstuponhimfromthesouth,hadcutoffhisadvancebysheerimmensityofnumbers,and,hemminghimin,hadforcedhimgraduallyback into themountain fastnesses throughwhichhehad

justpassed

unmolested.

Itwasastrokesowhollynew,sosubtlyexecuted, that ithadwonsuccess almostbefore the General had realised theweight of thedisasterthathadcomeuponhim.Hehadbelievedhimselfatfirsttobe involved in a mere fray with border thieves. But before hereachedthefortuponwhichhefoundhimselfobligedtofallback,heknewthathehadtocopewithageneralrisingofthetribes,andthatthemeansathisdisposalwereasinadequatetostemtherisingflood

ofrebellion

as

apebble

thrown

into

amountain

stream

to

check

its

flow.


21/333

TheWayofanEagle

15

Themenunderhiscommand,with theexceptionofa fewofficers,were all native soldiers, and he soon began to have a strongsuspicion thatamong thesehenumbered traitors.Nevertheless,he

establishedhimself

at

the

fort,

determined

there

to

make

his

stand

tillreliefshouldarrive.

The telegraph wires were cut, and for a time it seemed that allcommunicationwiththeoutsideworldwasanimpossibility.Severalrunnerswere sent out,but failed tobreak through thebesiegingforces.Butat lastaftermanydesperatedays therecameamessagefromwithoutascrapofpaperattached toastoneand flungoverthe wall of the fort at night. News of the disaster had reached

Peshawur,and

Sir

Reginald

Bassett,

with

ahastily

collected

force,

wasmovingtotheirassistance.

Thenewsputheart into thegarrison,andfora time itseemed thatthe worst would be averted. But it became gradually evident toGeneralRoscoethattherelievingforcecouldnotreachthemintime.The water supply had run very low, and themen were alreadysubsisting upon rations that were scarcely sufficient for themaintenanceoflife.Therewassicknessamongthem,andtherewere

alsomany

wounded.

The

white

men

were

reduced

to

four,

including

himself, thenative soldiers hadbegun todesert, andhehadbeenforcedatlasttofacethefactthattheendwasverynear.

All this had Muriel Roscoe come through, physically scathless,mentallytornandbattered,andshecouldnotbringherselftorealisethatthelongdrawnoutmiseryofthesiegecouldeverbeover.

Lyingthere,tenseandmotionless,shelistenedtotheshotsandyells

inthe

distance

with

ashuddering

sense

that

it

was

all

apart

of

her

life,ofherverybeing,even.Thetortureandthemiseryhadsoeatenintohersoul.Nowand thensheheard thequick thunderofoneofthe small guns that armed the fort, and at the sound her pulsesleaped andquivered.Sheknew that the ammunitionwas runningverylow.Thesegunsdidnotoftenspeaknow.

Then, during a lull, there came to her the careless humming of aBritishvoice,thefree,confidenttreadofBritishfeet,approachingher

door.

Shecaughtherbreathasahandrappedsmartlyuponthepanel.Sheknewwhothevisitorwas,butshecouldnotbringherselftobidhim


22/333

TheWayofanEagle

16

enter.Asuddenawful fearwasuponher.Shecouldneither speaknormove. She lay, listening intently, hoping against hope that hewouldbelievehertobesleepingandgoaway.

Theknockwasnotrepeated.Deadsilencereigned.Andthenquicklyanddecidedly thedooropened,andNickRatcliffe stoodupon thethreshold.Thelightstruckfulluponhisfaceashehaltedaclever,whimsicalfacethatmightmaskalmostanyqualitygoodorbad.

MayIcomein,MissRoscoe?heasked.

Forshehadnotmovedathisappearance.Shelayasonedead.Butas

hespoke

she

uncovered

her

face,

and

terror

incarnate

stared

wildly

athimfromherstartingeyes.Heenteredwithoutfurtherceremony,andclosedthedoorbehindhim.Intheshadedlamplighthisfeaturesseemedtotwitchasifhewantedtosmile.Soatleastitseemedtoherwroughtupfancy.

He gazed greedily at the plate of rice on the table as he cameforward.GreatJupiter!hesaid.Whatasumptuousrepast!

Thetotal

freedom

from

all

anxiety

or

restraint

with

which

he

made

this simple observation served to restore to somedegree thegirlstotteringselfcontrol.Shesatup,sufficientlyrecoveredtorememberthatshedidnotlikethisman.

Prayhavesomeifyouwantit,shesaidcoldly.

He turnedhisbackon itabruptly.No,dont temptme,he said.Its a fast day forme. Im acquiring virtue,being conspicuously

destituteof

all

other

forms

of

comfort.

Why

dont

you

eat

it

yourself?

Areyouacquiringvirtuetoo?

Hestood lookingdownatherquizzically,underrapidly flickeringeyelids.Shesat silent,wishingwithallherheart thathewouldgoaway.

Nothing,however,wasapparentlyfurtherfromhisthoughts.Afteramomenthe satdown in the chair thather fatherhadoccupiedan

hourbefore.

It

was

very

close

to

her,

and

she

drew

herself

slightly

awaywith a small, instinctivemovement of repugnance.ButNickwassublimelyimpervioustohints.


23/333

TheWayofanEagle

17

I say, you know, he said abruptly, you shouldnt take opium.Yourdonkeyofanayahoughttoknowbetterthantoletyouhaveit.

Murielgave

agreat

start.

I

dontshe

faltered.

II

Heshookhisheadather,asthoughreprovingachild.Pussysout,heobserved.Itisnogoodgivingchase.Butreally,youknow,youmustntdoit.Youusedtobeabravegirlonce,andnowyournervesarealltopieces.

Therewasaspeciesofpaternalreproachinhistone.Lookingathim,shemarvelled thatshehadever thoughthimyoungandheadlong.

Almostin

spite

of

herself

she

began

to

murmur

excuses.

Icanthelpit.Imusthavesomething.Idontsleep.Ilieforhours,listening to the fighting. Ititsmore than I canbear.Her voicequivered,andsheturnedherfaceaside,unabletohideheremotion,butfuriouswithherselffordisplayingit.

Nicksaidnothingatalltocomforther,andshebitterlyresentedhissilence. After a pause he spoke again, as if he hadbanished the

matterentirely

from

his

mind.

Lookhere,hesaid.Iwantyoutotellmesomething.IdontknowwhatsortofafellowyouthinkIam,thoughIfancyyoudont likememuch.Butyourenotafraidofme,areyou?YouknowImtobetrusted?

Itwas her single chance of revenge, and she took it. I havemyfatherswordforit,shesaid.

He nodded thoughtfully as if unaware of the thrust. Yes, yourfather knowsme.And sohe smiled at her suddenlyyou areready to trustmeonhisrecommendation?Youareready tofollowmeblindfoldthroughdangerifIgiveyoumyhandtohold?

Shefeltasharpchillstrikeherheart.Whatwas ithewasaskingofher?Whatdidthosewordsofhisportend?

Idont

know,

she

said.

I

dont

see

that

it

makes

much

difference

howIfeel.


24/333

TheWayofanEagle

18

Well, it does, he assured her. And that is exactlywhat I havecometotalkabout.MissRoscoe,willyouleavethefortwithme,andescape in disguise? I have thought it all out, and it canbe done

withoutmuch

difficulty.

Ido

not

need

to

tell

you

that

the

idea

has

yourfathersfullapproval.

Theywereherfathersownwords,butatsoundofthemsheshrankandshivered, insheerhorrorat thecoolnesswithwhich theywereuttered.HemighthavebeenaskinghertostrollwithhimintheleafyquietofsomeEnglishlane.

Could itbe, she asked herself incredulously, could itbe that her

fatherhad

ever

sanctioned

and

approved

so

ghastly

arisk

for

her?

Sheputherhandtohertemples.Herbrainwasreeling.Howcouldshe do this thing? How could she have permitted it to be evensuggestedtoher?Andthen,swiftthroughhertorturedmindflashedhiswords:Therewillbeanend.Ihavehadtofaceittonight.Wasitthisthathehadmeant?Wasitforthisthathehadbeenpreparingher?

With amuffled exclamation she rose, trembling in every limb. I

cant!she

cried

piteously,

oh,

Icant!

Please

go

away!

Itmighthavebeen the frightenedprayerofa child, sobeseechingwasit,sofullofweakness.ButNickRatcliffehearditunmoved.Hewaitedafewsecondstillshecametoastandbythetable,herbacktowards him. Then with a sudden quiet movement he rose andfollowedher.

Ibegyourpardon,hesaid.Butyoucantaffordtoshirkthingsat

thisstage.

Iam

offering

you

deliverance,

though

you

dont

realise

it.

Hespokewithforce,andifhisaimhadbeentorousehertoamorepracticalactivity,hegainedhisend.She turneduponhim in swiftanddesperateindignation.Hervoicerangalmostharsh.

Howcanyoucallitdeliverance?Itisatbestachoiceoftwohorribleevils.Youknowperfectlywellthatwecouldnevergetthrough.You

mustbe

mad

to

suggest

such

athing.

We

should

be

made

prisoners

andmassacredundertheverygunsofthefort.


25/333

TheWayofanEagle

19

Ibegyourpardon,hesaidagain,andhiseyelidsquiveredalittleasifunderthepressureofsomecontrolledemotion.Weshallnotbemadeprisoners.IknowwhatIamsaying.ItisdeliverancethatIam

offeringyou.

Of

course

you

can

refuse,

and

Ishall

still

do

my

utmost

to save you. But the chances are not equal. I hope you will notrefuse.

Themoderation of this speech calmed her somewhat. In her firstwildpanicshehadalmost imagined thathecould takeheragainstherwill.Shesaw thatshehadbeenunreasonable,butshewas tooshaken to tell him so.Moreover, there was still that about him,notwithstanding hiswords, thatmade her afraid to yield a single

inchof

ground

lest

by

some

hidden

means

he

should

sweep

her

altogetherfromherprecariousfoothold.Eveninthesilence,shefeltthathewasdoingbattlewithher,andshedidnotdaretofacehim.

With a childishgestureofabandonment, shedropped into a chairandlaidherheaduponherarms.

Oh,pleasegoaway!shebesoughthimweakly.Iamsotiredsotired.

ButRatcliffe did notmove.He stood looking down at her, at theblackhair that clustered aboutherneck, at thebowed,despairingfigure,thepiteous,clenchedhands.

A little clock in the roombegan to strike in silvery tones, and heglancedup.Thenextinstanthebentandlaidabonyhanduponhertwoclaspedones.

Cantyou

decide?

he

said.

Will

you

let

me

decide

for

you?

Dont

letyourselfgetscared.Youhavekeptsostrongtillnow.Firmlyashe spoke, therewas somehowanoteof soothing inhisvoice,andalmostinsensiblythegirlwasmovedbyit.Sheremainedsilentandmotionless,but the stronggripofhis fingers comfortedher subtlynotwithstanding.

Come,he said,listenamomentand letme tellyoumyplanofcampaign.Itisverysimple,andforthatreasonitisgoingtosucceed.

Youare

listening

now?

His tone was vigorous and insistent. Muriel sat slowly up inresponsetoit.Shelookeddownatthethinhandthatgraspedhers,


26/333

TheWayofanEagle

20

and wondered at its strength; but she lacked the spirit at thatmomenttoresentitstouch.

Heleaned

down

upon

the

table,

his

face

close

to

hers,

and

began

to

unfoldhisplan.

Weshallleavethefortdirectlythemoonisdown.Ihaveadisguiseforyou thatwill concealyour faceandhair.And I shall fakeasatribesman, so that my dearest friend would never recogniseme.Theywillbecollectingthewoundedinthedark,andIwillcarryyouthroughonmyshoulderas if Ihadgotadeadrelation.Youwontobjecttoplayingadeadrelationofmine?

Hebroke intoa sudden laugh,but sobered instantlywhenhe sawhershrinkatthesound.

Thats about all the plan, he resumed. There is nothing veryalarming about it, for theywill never spot us in the dark. Im asyellowasaChinamanalready.Weshallbemilesawaybymorning.AndIknowhowtofindmywayafterwards.

Hepaused,

but

Muriel

made

no

comment.

She

was

staring

straight

beforeher.

Canyousuggestanyamendments?heasked.

Sheturnedherheadandlookedathimwithnewlyrousedaversionin her eyes. She had summoned all her strength to the combat,realising that nowwas themoment for resistance if shemeant toresist.

No,Mr.Ratcliffe, she said,with a species ofdesperate firmnessverydifferentfromhisown.Ihavenothingtosuggest.Ifyouwishtoescape,youmustgoalone.Itisquiteuselesstotrytopersuademeanyfurther.Nothingnothingwillinducemetoleavemyfather.

WhetherornothehadexpectedthisoppositionwasnotapparentonNicksface.Itbetrayedneitherimpatiencenordisappointment.

Therewould

be

some

reason

in

that,

he

gravely

rejoined,

if

you

coulddoanygoodtoyourfatherbyremaining.OfcourseIseeyourpoint,butitseemstomethatitwouldbeharderforhimtoseeyoustarve with the rest of the garrison than to know that you had


27/333

TheWayofanEagle

21

escaped with me. A woman in your position is bound to be acontinualburdenandanxiety to thosewhoprotecther.Thedearersheistothem,somuchtheheavieristheburden.MissRoscoe,you

mustsee

this.

You

are

not

an

utter

child.

You

must

realise

that

to

leaveyourfatherisaboutthegreatestsacrificeyoucanmakeforhimatthepresentmoment.Heiswornoutwithanxietyonyourbehalf,literallyboweddownby it.Forhis sake,you aregoing todo thisthing,itbeingtheonlythingleftthatyoucandoforhim.

Therewasmorethanpersuasion inhisvoice.Itheldauthority.ButMurielhearditwithoutawe.Shehadpassedthatstage.Thematterwastoomomentoustoallowofweakness.Shehadstrungherselfto

thehighest

pitch

of

resistance

as

ahunted

creature

at

bay.

She

threw

backherhead,a lookofobstinacyabouther lips,her slight figurestraightenedtotherigidityofdefiance.

I will not be forced, she said, in sharp, uneven tones. Mr.Ratcliffe,youmaygoonpersuading and arguing tilldoomsday. Iwillnotleavemyfather.

Ratcliffestoodupabruptly.Acuriousglittershone inhiseyes,and

thelight

eyebrows

twitched

alittle.

She

felt

that

he

had

suddenly

ceased todobattlewithher,yet thatthevictorywasnothers.Andforasecondshewashorriblyfrightened,asthoughanirontraphadcloseduponherandheldherathismercy.

Hewalkedtothedoorwithoutspeakingandopenedit.Sheexpectedhimtogo,satwaitingbreathlesslyforhisdeparture,but insteadhestoodmotionless,lookingintothedarkpassage.

Shewondered

with

nerves

on

edge

what

he

was

waiting

for.

Suddenly she heard a stepwithout, a fewmurmuredwords, andNick stood on one side. Her fathers Sikh orderly passed him,carryingatrayonwhichwasaglassfullofsomedarkliquid.Hesetitdownonthetablebeforeherwithadeepsalaam.

TheGeneralSahibwishesMissySahib tohaveagoodnight,hesaid.Hecannotcome toherhimself,buthe sendsher thisbyhisservant,andhebidsherdrinkitandsleep.

Muriellookedupatthemaninsurprise.Herfatherhadneverdonesuch a thingbefore, and themessage astonished her not a little.Then,remembering thathehadshownsomeanxietyregardingher


28/333

TheWayofanEagle

22

appearancethatevening,shefanciedshebegantounderstand.Yetitwasstrange,itwasutterlyunlikehim,todesirehertotakeanopiate.Shelookedattheglasswithhesitation.

Givehimmy love,Purdu,shesaidfinallytothewaitingorderly.TellhimIwilltakeitifIcannotsleepwithout.

The man bowed himself again and withdrew. To her disgust,however,Nickremained.Hewaslookingatheroddly.

MissRoscoe,hesaidabruptly,Ibegyou,dontdrink thatstuff.Your father must be mad to offer it to you. Let me take the

beastlinessaway.

She facedhim indignantly.My fatherknowswhat isgood formebetterthanyoudo,shesaid.

Heshruggedhisshoulders.Idontprofesstobeasage.Butanyonewilltellyouthatitismadnesstotakeopiuminthisrecklessfashion.ForHeavenssake,bereasonable.Donttakeit.

Hecame

back

to

the

table,

but

at

his

approach

she

laid

her

hand

upontheglass.Shewasquiveringwithangryexcitement.

I will not endure your interference any longer, she declared,goaded toheadlong,nervous furybyhispersistence.My fatherswishesareenoughforme.Hedesiresmetotakeit,andsoIwill.

She took up the glass in a sudden frenzy of defiance. He hadfrightenedheryes,hehadfrightenedherbutheshouldseehow

littlehe

had

gained

by

that.

She

took

ataste

of

the

liquid,

then

paused,againassailedbyacurioushesitancy.Hadherfatherreallymeanthertotakeitall?

Nickhadstoppedshortather firstmovement,butasshebegan tolower theglass in response to thatdisquietingdoubt,he swoopedsuddenlyforwardlikeamanpossessed.

Forafleetinginstantshethoughthewasgoingtowrestitfromher,

butin

the

next

she

understoodunderstood

the

mans

deep

treachery, andwithwhatdevilish ingenuity he hadworkeduponher.Holdingherwithanarmthatfelt like iron,heforcedtheglassbackbetweenherteeth,andtiltedthecontentsdownherthroat.She


29/333

TheWayofanEagle

23

strove to resist him, strovewildly, frantically, not to swallow thedraught.Butheheldherpitilessly.Hecompelledher,grippingherrighthandwiththeglass,andpinningtheothertoherside.

When itwas over,when he hadworked hiswill and the hatefuldraughtwasswallowed,hesetherfreeandturnedhimselfsharplyfromher.

Shespranguptremblingandhysterical.Shecouldhaveslainhiminthat instant had she possessed the means to her hand. But herstrength was more nearly exhausted than she knew. Her limbsdoubled up under her weight, and as she tottered, seeking for

support,she

realised

that

she

was

vanquished

utterly

at

last.

Shesawhimwheelquicklyandstarttosupporther,soughttoevadehim, failedand as she felt his arms lift her, she cried aloud inanguishedhelplessness.

Whatfolloweddwelteverafterinhermemoryasahideousdream,vividyetnotwhollytangible.Helaidherdownuponthecouchandbentoverher,hishandsuponher,holdingherstill;foreverymuscle,

everynerve

twitched

spasmodically,

convulsively,

in

the

instinctive

effort of the powerless body to be free. She had a confusedimpressionalsothathespoketoher,butwhathesaidshewasneverable to recall. In the end, her horror faded, and she saw him asthrough a mist bending above her, grim and tense and silent,controllingherasitwerefromanimmensedistance.Andevenwhilesheyetdimlywondered,hepassed like a shadow fromher sight,andwonderitselfceased.

Halfan

hour

later

Nicholas

Ratcliffe,

the

wit

and

clown

of

his

regiment, regardedbymany as harebrained orwantonly reckless,carriedawayfromthebeleagueredfortamongthehostilemountainstheslight,impassivefigureofanEnglishgirl.

Thenightwasdark,populatedby terrorsaliveandghastly.Buthewent through itasoneunawareof itsmanydangers.Lightfootedandfearless,hepassedthroughthemidstofhisenemies,marchingwiththesublimeaudacityofthedominantrace,despisingcaution

yea,grinning

triumphant

in

the

very

face

of

Death.


30/333

TheWayofanEagle

24

CHAPTERIV

DESOLATION

Out of a deep abyss of darkness in which she seemed to havewandered ceaselessly and comfortlessly for many days, MurielRoscoe camehaltinglyback to the surfaceof things.Shewasveryweak,soweakthattoopenhereyeswasanexertionrequiringallherresolution, and to keep them open during those first hours ofreturning life aphysical impossibility. She knew that shewas notalone, for gentle handsministered to her, and shewas constantlyaware of some onewhowatched her tirelessly,with neverfailing

attention.But

she

felt

not

the

smallest

interest

regarding

this

faithful

companion,being tooweary tocarewhethershe livedorfellawayfor ever down those unending steeps up which some unseeninfluenceseemedmagneticallytodrawher.

Itwas a stageof returning consciousness that seemed to last evenlongerthantheperiodofherwandering,butthisalsobegantopassat length. The light grew stronger all about her, themists rolledslowly away from her clogged brain, leaving only a drowsing

languorthat

was

infinitely

restful

to

her

tired

senses.

And then while she lay halfdreaming and wholly content, aremorseless handbegan tobathe her face and headwith icecoldwater.Sheawokereluctantly,evenresentfully.

Dont!sheentreatedlikeachild.Iamsotired.Letmesleep.

Mypoordear,Iknowallaboutit,amotherlyvoicemadeanswer.

Butits

time

for

you

to

wake.

She did not grasp thewordsonly, very vaguely, theirmeaning;andthisshemadeadetermined,butquitefruitless,efforttodefy.Inthe end,being roused in spiteofherself, sheopenedhereyesandgazedupwards.

And all his life longNickRatcliffe remembered the reproach thatthoseeyesheldforhim.Itwasasifhehadlaidviolenthandsupona

spiritthat

yearned

towards

freedom,

and

had

dragged

it

back

into

thesordidcaptivityfromwhichithadsonearlyescaped.


31/333

TheWayofanEagle

25

Butitwasonlyforamomentthatshelookedathimso.Thereproachfadedswiftlyfromthedarkeyesandhesawastartledhorrordawnbehindit.

Suddenly she raised herselfwith a faint cry. Where am I? shegasped.Whatwhathaveyoudonewithme?

She staredaroundherwildly,withunreasoning,nightmare terror.Shewas lyingonabedof fern inanarrow,darkravine.Theplacewasfullofshadow,thoughfaroverheadshesawthelightofday.Atone end,onlya fewyards fromher,a stream rushedandgurgledamonggreatboulders,anditsinsistentmurmurfilledtheair.Behind

herrose

agreat

wall

of

grey

rock,

clothed

here

and

there

with

some

darkgrowth. Its rugged facewasdentedwithhollows that lookedlikethehomesofwildanimals.Therewasaconstanttrickleofwateron all sides, an eeriewhispering, remotebut incessant.As she satthere in growing panic, a great batlike creature, immense andshadowy,swoopedsoundlesslybyher.

She shrankbackwith another cry, and foundNickRatcliffes armthrustprotectinglyabouther.

Its all right, he said, in a matteroffact tone. Youre notfrightenedatflyingfoxes,areyou?

Recalledtothefactofhispresence,sheturnedsharply,andflunghisarm away as though it hadbeen a snake. Dont touchme! shegasped,passionateloathinginvoiceandgesture.

Sorry,saidNickimperturbably.Imeantwell.

Hebegan tobusy himselfwith a smallbundle that lay upon theground,whistling softlybetween his teeth, and for a few secondsMuriel sat andwatched him.Hewas dressed in a flowing nativegarment, that covered him from head to foot. Out of the heavyenveloping foldshis smooth,yellow face looked forth, sinisterandterrible to her fevered vision.He looked like some evilbird, shethoughttoherself.

Glancingdown,

she

saw

that

she

was

likewise

attired,

save

that

her

headwasbare.Thehairhungwetonher forehead,and thewaterdrippeddownher face.Sheputupherhandhalfmechanically towipethedropsaway.Herfearwasmountingrapidlyhigher.


32/333

TheWayofanEagle

26

Sheknewnowwhathadhappened.Hehaddruggedherforciblysheshiveredat theremembranceandhadborneheraway to thisdreadful place during her unconsciousness. Her father was left

behindin

the

fort.

He

had

sanctioned

her

removal.

He

had

given

her,

ahelplesscaptive,intothismanskeeping.

Butno!Herwholesoulroseup insudden fiercedenialof this.Hehadneverdonethisthing.Hehadnevergivenhisconsenttoanactso cowardly and sobrutal.Hewas incapable of partingwith herthus.He could never have permitted sobase a trick, so cruel, sooutrageous,adeedoftreachery.

Strengthcame

suddenly

to

herthe

strength

of

frenzy.

She

leaped

to

herfeet.Shewouldescape.Shewouldgobacktohimthroughallthehordes of the enemy. She would face anythinganything in theworldratherthanremainatthemercyofthisman.

Buthehadnotbeenlookingather,andhedidnotlookather,hisarm shotoutas shemoved,andhishand fastened clawlikeuponherdress.

Sorry,he

said

again,

in

the

same

practical

tone.

But

youll

have

somethingtoeatbeforeyougo.

Shestoopedandstrovewildly,frantically,toshakeoffthedetaininghand.Butitheldherlikeavice,withawfulskeletonfingersthatshecouldnot,darednot,touch.

Letmego!shecriedimpotently.Howdareyou?Howdareyou?

Stillhe

did

not

raise

his

head.

He

was

on

his

knees,

and

he

would

noteventroublehimselftorise.

I cant help myself, he told her coolly. Its not my fault. Itsyours.

Shemadea final,violent effort towrestherself free.And thenitwas as if all powerwere suddenly taken from herher strainednerves gave way completely, and she dropped down upon the

groundagain

in

aquivering

agony

of

helplessness.

Nickshandfellawayfromher.Youshouldnt,hesaidgently.Itsnogood,youknow.


33/333

TheWayofanEagle

27

He returned to his former occupationwhile she satwith her facehidden,inastuporoffear,afraid tomove lestheshould touchheragain.

Now,saidNick,afterabriefpause,letmehave thepleasureofseeingyoubreakyourfast.Thereissomeofthatexcellentboiledriceofyourshere.Youwillfeelbetterwhenyouhavehadsome.

She trembledat thesoundofhisvoice.Couldhemakehereatalsoagainstherwill,shewondered?

Come!saidNickagain, ina toneofsoftwheedlingthathemight

haveemployed

to

afractious

child.

Itll

do

you

good,

you

know,

Muriel.Wontyoutry?Justamouthfultopleaseme!

Reluctantly she uncovered her face, and looked at him. He waskneeling in front of her, the chuddah pushedback from his face,humbly offering her an oatmealbiscuitwith a small heap of ricepileduponit.

Shedrewbackshuddering.Icouldnteatanythingpossibly,she

said,and

even

her

voice

seemed

to

shrink.

You

can.

You

take

it.

I

wouldratherdie.

Nickdidnotwithdrawhishand.Take it,Muriel,hesaidquietly.Itisgoingtodoyougood.

Sheflashedhimadesperateglanceinwhichanger,fear,abhorrence,werestronglymingled.Headvancedthebiscuitalittlenearer.Therewasaqueerlookonhisyellowface,almostabullyinglook.

Takeit,hesaidagain.

And against her will, almost without conscious movement, sheobeyedhim.Theuntemptingmorselpassed fromhishand tohers,andunderthecompulsionofhisinsistenceshebegantoeat.

She feltas ifeverymouthfulwouldchokeher,butshepersevered,urgedbythedreadcertaintythathewouldsomehowhavehisway.

Notuntilthelastfragmentwasgonedidshefeelhisvigilancerelax,but he ate nothinghimself though there remained severalbiscuitsandaverylittleoftherice.


34/333

TheWayofanEagle

28

Youarefeelingbetter?heaskedherthen.

Acurioussuspicionthathewaswaitingtotellhersomethingmade

heranswer

almost

feverishly

in

the

affirmative.

It

amounted

to

a

premonition of evil tidings, and instinctively her thoughts flew toherfather.

What is it? she questioned nervously. You have something tosay.

Nicksfacewasturnedfromher.Heseemedtobegazingacrosstheravine.

Yes,hesaid,afteramoment.

Oh,what?shebrokein.Tellmequicklyquickly!Itismyfather,Iknow,Iknow.Hehasbeenhurtwounded

Shestopped.Nickhadliftedonehandasiftosilenceher.Mydear,hesaid,hisvoiceverylow,yourfatherdiedlastnightbeforeweleftthefort.

Ather cryofagonyhe startedup,and ina secondhewasonhiskneesbyher sideandhadgatheredher tohimas though shehadbeenalittlechildinneedofcomfort.Shedidnotshrinkfromhiminherextremity.Theblowhadbeentoosudden,toooverwhelming.Itblottedoutalllessersensibilities.Inthosefirstterriblemomentsshedidnot thinkofNickatall,wasscarcelyconsciousofhispresence,thoughshevaguelyfeltthecomfortofhisarms.

Andhe,

holding

her

fast

against

his

breast,

found

no

consolation,

no

word of any sort wherewith to soothe her. He only rocked hergently,pressingherheadtohisshoulder,whilehisface,bentaboveher,quiveredalloverasthefaceofamanintorture.

Muriel spokeat last,breakingher stricken silencewitha strangelyeffortlesscomposure.Tellmemore,shesaid.

Shestirredinhisarmsasiftofreeherselffromsomeoppression,and

finallydrew

herself

away

from

him,

though

not

as

if

she

wished

to

escapehistouch.Shestillseemedtobehardlyawareofhim.Hewasthemediumofherinformation,thatwasall.Nickdroppedbackintohis former attitude, his hands clasped firmly round his knees, his


35/333

TheWayofanEagle

29

eyes,keenasabirdsandextremelybright,gazingacrosstheravine.His lipsstillquivereda little,buthisvoicewasperfectlyevenandquiet.

It happened very soon after the firingbegan. Itmust havebeendirectlyafterheleftyou.Hewashitinthebreast,justovertheheart.We couldnt do anything for him. He knew himself that it wasmortal.Infact,I thinkhehadalmostexpected it.We tookhimintothe guardroom and made him as easy as possible. He lostconsciousness before he died. He was lying unconscious when Icametoyou.

Murielmade

asharp

movement.

And

you

never

told

me,

she

said,

inadrywhisper.

I thought itbest,heansweredwithgreatgentleness.Youcouldnothavegonetohim.Hedidntwishit.

Why not? she demanded, and suddenly her voice rang harshagain.WhycouldInothavegonetohim?Whydidnthewishit?

Nickhesitated

for

asingle

instant.

Then,

It

was

for

your

own

sake,

hesaid,notlookingather.

Youmeanhesuffered?

While he remained consciousyes. Nick spoke reluctantly. Itdidntlastlong,hesaid.

Shescarcelyseemedtohearhim.Andsoyoutrickedme,shesaid;

youtricked

me

while

my

father

was

lying

dying.

Iwas

not

to

see

himeither thenorafterformyownsake!Anddoyou thinkhervoicerisingdoyouthinkthatyouwereinanywayjustifiedintreatingmeso?DoyouthinkitwasmercifultoblindmeandtotakefrommeallIshouldeverhaveofcomforttolookbackupon?DoyouthinkIcouldnthaveborneitalltenthousandtimeseasierifIcouldhaveseenandknown theveryworst? Itwasmyrightitwasmyright!Howdaredyou take it fromme? Iwillnever forgiveyounever!

Shewasonherfeetasthepassionateprotestburstfromher,butsheswayedasshestoodandflungoutherarmswithagropinggesture.


36/333

TheWayofanEagle

30

I couldhaveborne it, she criedagainwildly,piteously.I couldhaveborneanythinganythingifIhadonlyknown!

Shebroke

into

asudden,

terrible

sobbing,

and

threw

herself

down

headlong upon the earth, clutching at the moss with shaking,convulsive fingers, and crying between her sobs for Daddy!Daddy!asthoughheragonycouldpiercethedividingbarrierandbringhimbacktoher.Nickmadenofurtherattempttohelpher.Hesatgazingstonilyoutbeforehiminasphinxlikestillnessthatnevervariedwhilethestormofheranguishspentitselfathisside.

Evenafterher sobshadceased from sheerexhaustionhemadeno

movement,no

sign

that

he

was

so

much

as

thinking

of

her.

Onlywhen at last she raised herselfwith difficulty, and put theheavyhairback fromherdisfigured face,didhe turn slightlyandholdouttoherasmalltincup.

Itsonlywater,hesaidgently.Havesome.

Shetookitalmostmechanicallyanddrank,thenlaybackwithclosed

eyesand

burning

head,

sick

and

blinded

by

her

paroxysm

of

weeping.

Alittlelatershefelthishandsmovingaboutheragain,butshewastoospent toopenhereyes.Hebathedherfacewithacareequaltoanywomans,smoothedbackherhair,andimprovisedapillowforherhead.

Andafterwardssheknewthathesatdownbyher,outofsightbut

closeat

hand,

asilent

presence

watching

over

her,

till

at

last,

worn

outwithgriefand thebitterstrainof thepastweeks,shesank intonatural,dreamlessslumber,andsleptforhours.


37/333

TheWayofanEagle

31

CHAPTERV

THEDEVILINTHEWILDERNESS

ItwasdarkwhenMuriel awokesodark that she lay forawhiledreamily fancying herself in bed. But this illusion passed veryquicklyasherbrain,refreshedandactive,resumeditswork.Thecryofajackalatnogreatdistancerousedhertofullconsciousness,andshestartedupinthechilldarkness,tremblingandafraid.

Instantlyawarmhandgraspedhers,andalowvoicespoke.Itsallright,saidNick.Imhere.

Oh,isntitdark?shesaid.Isntitdark?

Dontbefrightened,heansweredgently.Comeclosetome.Youarecold.

Shecrepttohimshivering,thankfulfortheshieldingarmhethrewaroundher.

Thesunrise

cant

be

far

off,

he

said.

I

expect

you

are

hungry,

arentyou?

Shewasveryhungry,andheputabiscuit intoherhand.Theveryfactofeating there in thedarkness insomemeasurereassuredher.Sheateseveralbiscuits,andbegantofeelmuchbetter.

Gettingwarmer?questionedNick.Letmefeelyourhands.Theywerestillcold,andhetookthemandthrustthemdownagainsthis

breast.She

shrank

alittle

at

the

touch

of

his

warm

flesh.

Itwillmakeyousocold,shemurmured.

Butheonlylaughedathersoftly,andpressedthemcloser.Iamnoteasilychilled,hesaid.Besides, itssleeping thatmakesyoucold.AndIhaventslept.

Murielheardthenewswithastonishment.Shewasnolongerangry

withNick,

and

her

fears

of

him

were

dormant.

Though

she

would

neverforgetandmightneverforgivehistreachery,hewashersoleprotector in that wilderness ofmany terrors, and she lacked theresolution to keep him at arms length. There was, moreover,


38/333

TheWayofanEagle

32

something comforting in his presence, something that vastlyreassuredher,makingherleanuponhimalmostinspiteofherself.

Haventyou

slept

at

all?

she

asked

him

in

wonder.

How

in

the

worlddidyoukeepawake?

Hedidnotanswerher,onlylaughedagainasthoughatsomesecretjoke.He seemed tobe in rathergood spirits, shenoticed, and shemarvelled at himwith a heavy pain at her heart thatwas utterlybeyondexpressionorrelief.

Shesatsilentforalittle,thenatlengthwithdrewherhands,assuring

himthat

they

were

quite

warm.

AndIwanttotalktoyou,sheadded,inamorepracticaltonethanshehadpreviouslymanagedtoassume.Mr.Ratcliffe,youmaybeincommandofthisexpedition,butIthinkyououghttotellmeyourplans.

CallmeNick,wontyou?hesaid.Itllmakethingseasier.Youarequite welcome to know my plans, such as they are. I havent

managedto

develop

anything

very

ingenious

during

all

these

hours.

You seeweare, toa certain extent,at themercyof circumstances.Thisplaceisntmorethanadozenmilesfromthefort,andthehillsallroundareinfestedwithtribesmen.Ihopedatfirstthatweshouldget clear in the night,but youwere asleep, and on thewhole itseemedbesttolieupforanotherday.Wemightmakeaboltforittomorrow night if all goeswell. I have a sort of instinct for thesemountains.Thereisalwaysplentyofcoverforthosewhoknowhowto find it. It will be slow progress, of course, but we will keep

movingsouth,

and,

given

luck,

we

may

fall

in

with

Bassetts

relief

columnbeforemanydays.

Sowithmuchserenityhedisclosedhisplans,andMurielmarvelledafresh at the confidence that buoyed him up. Was he really assublimely free from anxiety as he wished her to believe, shewondered? Itwasdifficult to thinkotherwise,even thoughhehadadmitted that theywere governedby circumstance. Shebegan tothinkthattherewasmagic inhim,somehiddenreserveforceupon

whichhe

could

always

draw

when

all

other

resources

failed.


39/333

TheWayofanEagle

33

Anothermatterhadalsocaughtherattention,andthisshepresentlydecidedtoinvestigate.ShehadneverthoughtofNickRatcliffeasinanysensearemarkablepersonbefore.

Didyouactuallycarrymetenmiles?sheasked.

Somethingverynearit,saidNick.

How in theworld did you do it?Her interestwas quickened.Undoubtedlytherewassomethinguncannyinthismansstrength.

Yourenotveryheavy,youknow,hesaid.

Hisarmwas stillaroundher,and she suffered it; for thedarknessstillfrightenedherwhensheallowedherselftothink.

Haveyouhadanythingtoeat?sheaskedhimnext.

Not quite lately, saidNick. Ivebeen smoking. Iwonder youdidntnoticeit.

Histone

was

somehow

repressive,

but

she

ignored

it

with

agrowing

temerity.Afterall,hedidnot seem such an alarmingpersonon aneareracquaintance.

Doessmokingdoaswellaseating?sheasked.

Muchbetter,saidNickpromptly.Caretotry?

Sheshookherheadinthedarkness.Idontthinkyouaretellingthe

truth,she

said.

What?saidNick.

Hespokecarelessly,butshedidnotrepeatherassertion.Asuddenshynessdescendeduponher,andshebecamesilent.Nickwasquiettoo, and shewonderedwhatwaspassing inhismind.But for thetensenessofthearmthatencircledher,shecouldhavebelievedhimtobedozing.The silencewasbecomingoppressivewhenabruptly

hebroke

it.

See!hesaid.Herecomesthedawn!


40/333

TheWayofanEagle

34

Shestartedandstaredinfrontofher,seeingnothing.

Overtoyourleft,saidNick.Andturningshebeheldalightening

ofthe

darkness

high

above

them.

Shebreathedasighofthankfulness,andwatcheditgrow.Itspreadrapidly.Thewalls of the ravine showedghostlygrey, then faintlypink.Through thedimness thebouldersscatteredabout thestreamstood up like mediaeval monsters, and for a few panicstrickensecondsMuriel took the twining roots of a rhododendron close athandfor thecoilsofagiganticsnake.Thenas theordinary lightofdayfiltereddownintothegloomyplaceshesighedagainwithrelief,

andlooked

at

her

companion.

Hewassittingwithhischinonhishand,gazingacross theravine.He did not stir or glance in her direction. His yellow face wasseamedinathousandwrinkles.

A vaguemisgiving assailed her as she looked at him. Therewassomethingunnaturalinhisstillness.

Nick!she

said

at

length

with

hesitation.

Heturnedsharply,andinaninstantthereadygrinleapedoutuponhisface.Goodmorning,hesaid lightly.Iwasjustthinkinghownice itwouldbe togodown thereandhaveawash.Wevegot topassthetimesomehow,youknow.Willyougofirst?

Hisgaietybaffledher,butshedidnotfeelwhollyreassured.Shegotupslowly,andasshedidso,herattentionwascaughtbysomething

thatsent

athrill

of

dismay

through

her.

Dont look at my feet, please, said Nick. They wont bearinspectionatpresent.

Sheturnedhorrifiedeyestohisface,ashethrustthemdownintoabunchoffern.Howdreadful!sheexclaimed.Theyareallcutandgashed.Ididntknowyouwerebarefooted.

Iwasnt,

said

Nick.

Ive

got

some

sandals

here.

Dont

look

like

that!Youmakemewant to cry. Iassureyou itdoesnthurt in theleast.


41/333

TheWayofanEagle

35

Hegrinnedagainasheutteredthischeerfullie,butMurielwasnotdeceived.

Youmust

let

me

bind

them

up,

she

said.

Notfortheworld,laughedNick.Icouldntwalkwithmyfeetinpoulticebags,andweshallhavesomemoreroughmarching todotonight.Nowdontyouworry.Runalonglikeagoodgirl.Imgoingtosaymyprayers.

Itwasflippantlyspoken,butMurielrealisedthatitwouldbebettertoobey.Sheturnedaboutslowly,andbegantomakeherwaydown

tothe

stream.

The sunlightwasbeginning to slant through the ravine, and hereand there the racing water gleamed silvery. It was intenselyrefreshingtokneelandbathefaceandhandsinitsicycoldness.Shelingered longover it. Itssparklingpurityseemed toreachandstillthe throbbingmisery at her heart. In some fashion itbrought herpeace.

Shewould

have

prayed,

but

she

felt

she

had

no

prayer

to

offer.

She

had no favour to ask for herself, and herworldwas quite emptynow.Shehadnooneinherheartforwhomtopray.

Yet for awhile she knelt dumb among the lifeless stones, her facehidden, her thoughtswith the fatherwhose loss she had scarcelybegun to realise. Itmightbe thatGodwouldunderstandandpityhersilence,shethoughtdrearilytoherself.

Therush

of

the

water

drowned

all

sound

but

its

own,

and

the

memoryofNick,waitingabove,fadedfromherconsciousnesslikeadream.Herbrain felt numb and heavy still. She did notwant tothink. She leaned her head against a rock, closing her eyes. Thecontinuousbabbleofthestreamwaslikealullaby.

Under its soothing influence she might have slept, a blesseddrowsiness was stealing over her, when suddenly there flashedthroughherbeingaswiftwarningofapproachingdanger.Whenceit

cameshe

knew

not,

but

its

urgency

was

such

that

instinctively

she

startedupandlookedabouther.


42/333

TheWayofanEagle

36

Thenext instant,with a soundhalfgasp,halfcry, shewasonherfeet, and shrinking back against her sheltering boulder in theparalysis of a great horror. There,within a few yards of her and

drawingnearer,

ever

nearer,

with

abeast

like

stealth,

was

atall,

blackbeardedtribesman.Transfixedbyterror,shestoodandgazedathim,waitingdumbly, cold fromhead to foot, feelingas thoughherveryhearthadturnedtostone.

Nearer he came, and yet nearer, soundlessly over the stones.Hiseyes, gleaming, devilish,were to her as the eyes of a devouringmonster. Inheragony she tried to shriekaloud,buthervoicewasgone,herthroatseemedlocked.Shewaspowerless.

Close toher, fora single instanthepaused; then,as ina lightningflash, she saw the narrow, sinewy hand and snakelike arm dartforwardtoseizeher,felteverymuscleinherbodystiffentorigidityin anticipation of its touch, and shrankshrank in every nervethoughshemadenooutwardsignofshrinking.

Butontheinstant,withapantherlikespring,sure,noiseless,deadly,another figure leapt suddenly across her vision. There followed a

violentstruggle

in

front

of

her,

aconfused

swaying

to

and

fro,

acry

chokedinstantlyandterribly,thetinklingsoundofsteelfallinguponstone.Andthenbothfigureswereonthegroundalmostatherfeet,lockedtogetherinmortalcombat,fighting,fightinglikedemonsinasilencethatthrobbedwiththetumultofunrestrainedsavagery.

LatershenevercouldrememberhowlongittookhertorealisethatthesecondapparitionwasNick,orifshehadknownitfromthefirst.Shefeltherselfhoveringuponthebrinkofagreatemptiness,avoid

immense,and

yet

all

her

senses

were

alive

and

tingling

with

horror.

Withagonisedperceptionofwhatwaspassing,sheyetfeltnumbed:as thoughherbodyweredead,but still containedavital, torturedsoul.

And itwas thus that shepresently sawNicks facebentabove theblackbearded face of his enemy; and remembered suddenly andhorriblyapictureshehadonceseenofthedevilinthewilderness.

Withhis

knees

he

was

gripping

the

writhing

body

of

his

fallen

foe.

Withhishandsitcameuponheras shewatchedwitha shockofanguished comprehensionhe was deliberately and with deadlyintentionchokingoutthemanslife.


43/333

TheWayofanEagle

37

Curseyou!Die!sheheardhimsayandhisvoicesoundedlikethesnarlofawildbeast.Hisupper lipwasdrawnback,the loweronewasbetweenhis teeth,and from it theblooddrippedcontinuously

uponhis

hands

and

upon

the

dark

throat

he

gripped.

Givemethatknife!hesuddenlysaid,withanupwardjerkofthehead.

Adaggerwas lyingalmostwithinhis reach, close toher foot.Shecouldhavekickedittowardshimhadnotherbodybeenfastboundin thatdeathly inertia.Butherwholesoulroseup inwildrevoltattheorder.Shetriedtocryout,toimplorehimtohavemercy,butshe

couldnot

make

asound.

She

could

only

stand

in

frozen

horror,

and

witnessthisawfulthing.

ShesawNickshifthisgriptoonehandandreachoutwiththeotherfor the weapon. He grasped it and recovered himself. A greatdarknesswasdescendinguponher,but itdidnotcomeatonce. Ithoveredbeforehereyes,andseemedtopass,andagainshesawthehorroratherfeet;sawNick,benttodestroylikeaneagleabovehisprey,merciless,fullofstrength, terrible;saw themanbeneathhim,

writhing,convulsed,

tortured;

saw

his

upturned

face,

and

starting

eyes; saw the sudden downward swoop ofNicks right hand, theflashofthedescendingsteel.

Inheragonysheburstthespellthatboundher,andshriekingturnedtofleefromthatawfulsight.

Butevenasshemoved,thedarknesscamesuddenlybackuponher,enveloping her, overwhelming hera darkness that couldbe felt.

Foralittle

she

fought

against

it

frantically,

impotently.

Then

her

feet

seemed to totterover the edgeofadreadful, formless silence.Sheknewthatshefell.


44/333

TheWayofanEagle

38

CHAPTERVI

WHENSTRONGMENFAIL

Wakeup!saidNicksoftly.Wakeup!Dontbeafraid.

ButMuriel turned her face from the lightwith amoan.Memorywingedwithhorrorwassweepingbackuponher,andshewantednevertowakeagain.

Wakeup!Nicksaidagain,andthistimetherewasinsistenceinhisvoice.Openyoureyes,Muriel.Thereisnothingtofrightenyou.

Shuddering, she obeyed him. Shewas lying oncemore upon hercouchof ferns,andhewas stoopingoverher, looking closely intoher face.His eyeswere extraordinarilybright, like the eyes of aneagle,butthelidsflickeredsorapidlythatheseemedtobelookingthroughherrather thanather.Therewasawounduponhis lowerlip, and at the sight she shuddered again, closing her eyes. Sherememberedthatthelasttimeshehadlookeduponthatface,ithadbeenthefaceofadevil.

Oh,goaway!Goaway!shewailed.Letmedie!

Iwillgoaway,heansweredswiftly,ifyouwillpromisetodrinkwhatisinthiscup.

Hepresseditagainstherhand,andshetookitalmostmechanically.Itisonlybrandyandwater,hesaid.Youwilldrinkit?

IfImust,

she

answered

weakly.

Youmust,he rejoined,and sheheardhim riseandmoveaway.Shestrainedherearstolisten,butsheverysoonceasedtohearhim;and thenraisingherselfcautiously,shedrank.Awarm thrillof liferan through her veinswith thedraught, steadying her, refreshingher.Butitwaslongbeforeshecouldbringherselftolookround.

Theminiature roarof the streamwas theonly sound tobeheard,

andwhen

at

length

she

glanced

downwards

there

was

no

sign

anywhereof theghastly spectacle shehadjustwitnessed.She sawthe rock behind which she had knelt, and again a violent fit ofshudderingassailedher.Whatdidthatrockconceal?


45/333

TheWayofanEagle

39

Nevertheless shepresently took courage to rise, lookingaboutherfurtively, half afraid that Nickmight pop up at anymoment todetainher.Forshefelt thatshecouldnotstay longer in thatplace,

whateverhe

might

say

or

do.

The

one

idea

that

possessed

her

was

to

getawayfromhim,toescapefromhishorriblepresence,whithersheneitherknewnorcared.Ifheappearedtostopherthen,shethoughtthatshewouldgoravingmad.

Butshesawnothingofhimasshestoodthere,andwithdeepreliefshebegantocreepaway.Halfadozenyardsshecovered,andthenstoodsuddenlystillwithherheartinherthroat.There,immediatelyin frontofher, flungproneupon the groundwithhis face onhis

arms,was

Nick.

He

did

not

move

at

her

coming,

did

not

seem

to

hear.Andthethoughtcametohertoavoidhimbyacircuit,andyetescape.But somethingaqueer, indefinable somethingmadeherpause.Whywas he lying there?Had hebeen hurt in that awfulstruggle?Washewasheunconscious?Washedead?

She foughtback the impulse to fly, not for its unworthiness,butbecauseshefeltthatshemustknow.

Trembling,she

moved

alittle

nearer

to

the

prostrate,

motionless

figure.

Nick!shewhisperedunderherbreath.

Hemadenosign.

Her doubt turned to sudden, overmastering fear that pricked herforwardinspiteofherself.

Nick!shesaidagain,andfindingherselfclosetohimshebentandveryslightlytouchedhisshoulder.

Hemoved then, and shealmostgaspedwith relief.He turnedhisheadsharplywithoutraisinghimself,andshesawthegrimlinesofhisleancheekandjaw.

Thatyou,Muriel?hesaid,speakinghaltingly,spasmodically.Im

awfullysorry.

Fact

isIm

not

well.

Ishall

bebetterdirectly.

Go

back,wontyou?

Hebrokeoff,andlaysilent,hishandsclenchedasifhewereinpain.


46/333

TheWayofanEagle

40

Muriel stood looking down at him in consternation. It was herchance to escapea chance thatmightneveroccuragainbut shehadnofurtherthoughtoftakingit.

Whatisit?sheaskedhimtimidly,CanIdoanything?

And then she suddenly sawwhatwas thematter. Itburst uponherastartlingrevelation.Possibly thesightof thoseskeleton fistshelpedher to enlightenment. She turned swiftly and spedback totheircampingground.

Inthirtysecondsorless,shewasbackagainandstoopingoverhim

withapiece

of

brown

bread

in

her

hand.

Eatthis,sheordered,inatoneofauthority.

Nicksfacewashiddenagain.Heseemedtobefightingwithhimself.Hisvoicecameatlength,muffledandindistinct.

No,no!Takeitaway!Illhaveadrainofbrandy.AndIvegotsometobaccoleft.

Muriel stooped lower. She caught the words though they werescarcely audible. She laid her handupon his arm, stronger in themomentsemergencythanshehadbeensinceleavingthefort.

Youaretoeatit,shesaidverydecidedly.Youshalleatit.Doyouhear,Nick?Iknowwhatisthematterwithyou.Youarestarving.Ioughttohaveseenitbefore.

Nickuttered

ashaky

laugh,

and

dragged

himself

up

on

to

his

elbows.Imnot starving,hedeclared.Take itaway,Muriel.Doyou think Imgoing toeatyour luncheon, tea,anddinner,and tomorrowsbreakfastaswell?

Youaregoingtoeatthis,sheanswered.

Heflashedheraglanceofkeencuriosity.AmI?hesaid.

Youmust,

she

said,

speaking

with

an

odd

vehemence

which

later

surprisedherself.Whyshouldyougooutofyourwaytotellmealie?DoyouthinkIcantsee?


47/333

TheWayofanEagle

41

Nick raised himself slowly. Something in the situation seemed tohavedeprivedhimofhisusualreadiness.Buthewouldnottakethebread,wouldnotevenlookatit.

Imbetternow,hesaid.Wellgoback.

Muriel stood forasecond irresolute, then sharply turnedherback.Nicksatandwatchedherinsilence.Suddenlyshewheeled.There!shesaid.Ivedividedit.Youwilleatthisatleast.Itsabsurdofyouto starveyourself.Youmightaswellhave stayed in the fort todothat.

Thiswas

unanswerable.

Nick

took

the

bread

without

further

protest.

Hebegan to eat,marvelling at his owndocility; and suddenlyheknewthathewasravenous.

Therewasverylittleleftwhenatlengthhelookedup.

Showmewhatyouhavesavedforyourself,hesaid.

ButMurielbackedawaywithashort,hystericallaugh.

Hestartedtohisfeetandtookherrudelybytheshoulder.Doyoumean to sayhebegan, almostwithviolence;and then checkedhimself,peeringatherwithfierce,uncertaineyes.

Shedrewawayfromhim,allherfearsreturninguponherinaflood;butathermovementhesetherfreeandturnedhisback.

Heavenknowswhatyoudiditfor,hesaid,seemingtocontrolhis

voicewith

some

difficulty.

It

wasnt

for

your

own

sake,

and

Iwont

presume to think itwas formine. Butwhen the time comes forhanding round rewards,may itbe remembered thatyour offeringwassomethingmoresubstantialthanacupofcoldwater.

Hebrokeoffwithaqueersound in the throat,andbegan tomoveaway.

ButMuriel followedhim, anunaccountable senseof responsibility

overcomingher

reluctance.

Nick!shesaid.


48/333

TheWayofanEagle

42

Hestoodstillwithoutturning.Shehadafeelingthathewasputtingstrong restraint upon himself.With an effort she forced herself tocontinue.

You want sleep, I know. Will youwill you lie down while Iwatch?

Heshookhisheadwithoutlookingather.

But I wish it, she persisted. I can wake you ifanythinghappens.

Youwouldnt

dare,

said

Nick.

Isupposethatmeansyouareafraidtotrustme,shesaid.

Heturnedatthat.Itmeansnothingofthesort.Butyouvehadonescare,andyoumayhaveanother.IthinkmyselfthatthatfellowwasascoutonthelookoutforBassettsadvanceguard.ButHeavenonlyknowswhatbrought him to this place, and theremaybe others.ThatswhyIdidntdaretoshoot.

Hepaused,his lighteyebrows raised,surveyingherquestioningly;forMurielhad suddenly coveredher facewithbothhands.But inanothermomentshelookedupagain,andspokewithaneffort.

Yourbeingawakecouldntlessenthedanger.Wontyoupleasebereasonableaboutit?Iamdoingmybest.

Therewas adeep note of appeal in her voice, and abruptlyNick

gavein.

Hemovedback to their restingplacewithout anotherword, andflunghimself facedownwardsbeside the nest of fern that hehadmadeforher,lyingstretchedatfulllengthlikealog.

Shehadnotexpected so suddenandcompleteasurrender. It tookherunawares,andshestoodlookingdownathim,uncertainhowtoproceed.

Butafterafewsecondsheturnedhisheadtowardsherandspoke.

Youllstaybyme,Muriel?


49/333

TheWayofanEagle

43

Of course, she answered, that unwonted sense of responsibilitystillstronglyurgingher.

Hemurmured

something

unintelligible,

and

stirred

uneasily.

She

knewinaflashwhathewanted,butasicksenseofdreadheldherback. She felt during the silence that followed as though hewerepleading with her, urging her, even entreating her. Yet still sheresisted,standingnearhim indeed,butwithadesperatereluctanceatherheart,a shrinkingunutterable from thebare thoughtofanycloserproximity tohim thatwas as the instinctive recoilofpurityfromathingunclean.

Thehorror

of

his

deed

had

returned

upon

her

over

whelmingly

with

hisbriefreferencetoit.Hislackofemotionseemedtoherashideouscallousness, more horrible than the deed itself. His physicalexhaustionhadcalledheroutofherself,butthereactionwasdoublyterrible.

Nick said no more. He lay quite motionless, hardly seeming tobreathe,andsherealisedthattherewasnoreposeinhisattitude.Hewasnoteventryingtorest.

Shewrungherhandstogether.Itcouldnotgoon,thistension.Eithershemustyieldtohisunspokendesire,orhewouldsitupandcryoffthe bargain. And she knew that sleep was a necessity to him.Commonsensetoldherthathewastotallyunfitforfurtherhardshipwithoutit.

Sheclosedhereyesamoment,summoningallherstrength for thegreatest sacrifice she had evermade.And then in silence she sat

downbeside

him,

within

reach

of

his

hand.

Heutteredagreat sighandsufferedhiswholebody to relax.Andsheknewby theaction, thoughhedidnot speakaword, that shehadsethismindatrest.

Scarcelyaminutelater,hisquietbreathingtoldherthatheslept,butshesatonbyhissidewithoutmovingduringthelongemptyhoursof her vigil.He had trusted her without a question, and, as her

fathersdaughter,

she

would

at

whatever

cost

prove

herself

worthy

ofhistrust.


50/333

TheWayofanEagle

44

CHAPTERVII

THECOMINGOFANARMY

Through a great part of the night that followed they trampedsteadily southward. The starswereNicks guide, though as timepassedhebegan tomakehiswaywith theconfidenceofonewellacquaintedwithhissurroundings.Theinstinctoflocalitywasasixthsensewith him.Hand in hand, over rocky ground, through deepravines,bysteepanddifficulttracks,theymadetheirdesperateway.Sometimesinthedistancedimfiguresmovedmysteriously,revealedby starlight,but none questioned ormolested them. They passed

fromrock

to

rock

through

the

heart

of

the

enemys

country,

unrecognised,unobserved.ThereweretimeswhenNickgraspedhisrevolverunderhisdisguise, ready, ready at amomentsnotice, tokeephiswordtothegirlsfather,shoulddetectionbetheirportion;buteach timeas thedangerpassed thembyhe tightenedhisholduponher,drawingherforwardwithgreaterassurance.

They scarcely spoke throughout the long, longmarch.Murielhadmovedatfirstwithacertainelasticity,thankfultoescapeatlastfrom

thehorrors

of

their

resting

place.

But

very

soon

agreat

weariness

cameuponher.Shewasphysicallyunfitforanyprolongedexertion.Thelongstrainofthesiegehadweakenedhermorethansheknew.

Nevertheless, shekeptonbravely,utteringno complaint,urged toutmosteffortbytheinstinctivedesiretoescape.Itwasthisoneideathatoccupiedallher thoughtsduring thatnight.Sheshrankwithavividhorrorfromlookingback.Andshecouldnotseeintothedimblankfuture.Itwasmercifullyscreenedfromhersight.

At her thirdheavy stumble,Nick stopped andmade her swallowsomerawbrandyfromhisflask.Thisbuoyedherupforawhile,butitwasevident to themboth thatherstrengthwas fast failing.Andpresently he stopped again, andwithout aword lifted her in hisarms.Shegaspedaprotesttowhichhemadenoresponse.Hisarmscompassedher like steel,makingher feelhelplessasan infant.Hewas limpinghimself,shenoticed;yetheboreherstrongly,withoutfaltering,surefootedasamountaingoatoverthebrokenground,till

hefound

at

length

what

he

deemed

asafe

halting

place

in

aclump

of

stuntedtrees.


51/333

TheWayofanEagle

45

Thesunriserevealedanativevillagestandingamongriceandcottonfieldsinthevalleybelowthem.

Ishall

have

to

go

foraging,

Nick

said.

ButMurielsnervesthathadbeentotteringonthevergeofcollapsefor some time here broke down completely. She clung to himhystericallyandentreatedhimnottoleaveher.

Icantbearit!Icantbearit!shekeptreiterating.Ifyougo,Imustgotoo.IcantIcantstayherealone.

Hegave

way

instantly,

seeing

that

she

was

in

astate

of

mind

that

borderedupondistraction,andthathecouldnotsafelyleaveher.Hesat downbeside her, therefore,making her as comfortable as hecould;and shepresently sleptwithherheaduponhis shoulder. Itwasbutabrokenslumber,however,andsheawoke from itcryingwildly that amanwasbeingmurderedmurderedmurderedandimploringhimwithagonisedtearstointervene.

Hequietedherwithasteady insistencethatgained itsend,though

shecrouched

against

him

sobbing

for

some

time

after.

As

the

sun

rose higher her fever increased,but she remained conscious andsuffering intensely, all through the heat of the day. Then, as theeveningdrewon,sheslippedintoaheavystupor.

ItwastheopportunityNickhadawaitedforhours,andheseizedit.Layingherback in thedeep shadowofaboulder,hewent swiftlydownintothevalley.Thelastlightwaspassingashestrodethroughthevillage,agaunt,silentfigureinahillmansdress,anativedagger

inhis

girdle.

Save

that

he

had

pulled

the

chuddah

well

over

his

face,

heattemptednoconcealment.

Heglidedbya ringofoldmen seatedabouta fire,moving likeashadow through the glare. They turned to view him,but he hadalreadypassedwiththetreadofawolf,andthemudwallofoneofthecottageshidhimfromsight.

Intothishuthedivedasthoughsomeinstinctguidedhim.Hepaid

noheed

to

awoman

on

astring

bedstead

with

ababy

at

her

breast,

whochatteredshrillyathisentrance.Preparationsforamealwereinprogress, and he scarcely pausedbefore he lighted uponwhat hesought.Asmallearthenpitcherstoodonthemudfloor.Heswooped


52/333

TheWayofanEagle

46

Documents

The Way of an Eagle