“Is that a portion of the treatment?” she asked, laughing.
“A very necessary portion—don’t you feel the improvement?”
“Yes,” she said, her eyes dancing, “I believe I do.”
“And now,” I added, standing up again, “we must get out of this. We are still too near that camp down yonder.”
“But I am such a burden!” she protested.
“A dear, delightful burden;” and I stooped to raise her. But at that instant a violent blow sounded on the door.
“Open!” cried a voice. “Open!”
There was no time to temporize; besides, I knew that to hesitate would be to double any suspicion we might awaken.
“At once!” I answered. “Be brave, my love!” I whispered, and kissed her lips. As I turned away I saw the brute in the corner spring upon the gold-piece and hide it among his rags.
“Open!” cried the voice again; and the door shook under a savage blow.