The Adventures of Kathlyn

"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."