Suddenly, however, he pulled himself up with a jerk as if a shot had struck him, and, “God in heaven!” he cried—“the girl—Darda!”
A surprised pause followed.
“Sir,” said Dennis, in a trembling voice—“what do you mean?”
“My God! don’t you know where she is?”
“I haven’t seen her since she greeted me on my return. She gave me food and drink and went—to the house-top, I thought. You know her ways, sir.”
“She is in Fern’s hands. They brought her to me in evidence.”
A second pause as of death befell. The girl in his arms held her breath.
“I must go back,” said Dennis, in a lost, low voice—“I must go back.”
Tuke struggled to free himself.
“Come!” he said—“we will go together.”