spot of blood on his temple, then laid him back and turned to Elsie.
"You have killed him!" she cried.
"No," he answered, "he is stunned. It is nothing. Shehan will look after him. Come with me out of this accursed place," he said.
He took her hand, and she let him lead her as though she had been a child.
They went through the dark passage of the cave, and then once again she stood on the plateau beside the Baròlin rock. Blake had not spoken a word, but he had watched each step with the utmost solicitude, and each time she had looked towards him she had seen, when the dimness allowed, that his eyes were upon her. He took her to a ledge of rock, and asked her if she would rest there for a few minutes.
"Do you feel able to walk as far as the Fall?" he said. "It would perhaps be safer to let Shehan lead Abatos. After that you can mount, and I know a fairly good track through the scrub."
"Yes," she said, "I am quite strong, and I shall be glad to walk."
"Then I will go back to the cave and see that all is right, and in what state Trant is. Do you mind waiting here? You will be quite safe."
"I know that. I will wait."
He left her. All that she could feel then was joy that she had again seen him, that he was near, that he had promised to take care of her. She waited for some time, and it did not seem long. She knew that it was some time because of the lengthening shadows. At last he came, but Shehan was not with him, and he himself led Abatos.
"I was obliged to leave Shehan," he explained. "Perhaps it is as well. Trant had only just become conscious. He is not really hurt, but I did not like him to be alone. I have Jack Nutty here."
Blake gave again that peculiar "Coo-ee" which Elsie
