"Cannot you guess?"
Duplicity on the part of the woman, who knew perfectly well the event to which the young man referred.
"No, I am afraid I can't."
"Miss Pethram--Kaituna, I----"
"Hush! Mr. Clendon is singing."
It was only to gain time for reflection, as she knew that a declaration of love trembled on his lips, but with feminine coquetry could not help blowing hot to his cold.
And Toby was singing a bold martial song, with a curious accompaniment like the trotting of a horse--a song which thrilled through the listeners, with its fierce exultation and savage passion.
On God and his prophet I seven times called me;
I opened the Koran--the omen appalled me;
I read it--thou wast to be bride to another;
I knew my betrayer, 'twas him I called brother,
Zulema! Zulema!
I sprang on my steed as he waited beside me,
Then rode through the desert with Allah to guide me;
Fierce blew the sirocco, its terrors were idle;
I galloped till dawn to be first at your bridal
Zulema! Zulema!
I rode to the tent-door, your father's tribe knew me;
They dreamed of the glory they'd gain if they slew me;
I dashed through the cowards--I met my betrayer,
He fell from his saddle, and I was his slayer,
Zulema! Zulema!
You ran from your dwelling--your father's spears missed me;
You sprang to my saddle with fervour to kiss me;
We broke through the press of your kinsfolk, my foemen;
I won thee, Zulema, so false was the omen;
Zulema! Zulema!
"Ah!" said Archie, with a long breath, when the fierce cry had rung out for the last time, "that is the way to win a bride."
Kaituna thought so too, although she did not make any remark, but the shrill savagery of the song had stirred her hereditary instincts profoundly, and even in the dim moonlight Archie could see the distension of her nostrils, and the flash of excitement that sparkled in her eyes. It gave him an idea, and throwing himself on his knees, he began to woo her as fiercely and as freely as ever her dusky ancestors had been wooed in the virgin recesses of New Zealand woods.