Stumbling about the room, Roy again made frenzied efforts to find the door, but struck against something and fell to the ground. He tore at his eyes, then, calling loudly upon his Creator, and in sheer desperation, shouted with the full force of his lungs. Hearing the voice of a man he verily believed dead, Broom dropped the girl and staggered back as if shot. Then with a white, scared face, he dashed away, as if pursued by some ghostly visitant.
He had scarcely disappeared before Sahanderry and David returned. Sahanderry’s great trepidation at hearing of the adventure plainly told Roy that he could not be depended upon to protect Kasba, for, although he was unable to see Sahanderry’s terror, the Indian’s tremulous voice betrayed him.
With the quick decision of an ever-resourceful mind, Roy ordered his companions to prepare for a hasty flight, so that when Broom returned—for Roy felt that he would return—he might find the girl far beyond his reach.
So a few things were gathered quickly together and packed upon a dog-sled and soon Fort Future was deserted.
For the first few days the party travelled incessantly, only pausing for the scantiest of meals and an occasional short sleep; but when they arrived at the spot described at the beginning of this chapter, Roy, who rode on the sled, discovered that Kasba was suffering greatly from the hardships of the long and severe trip; despite her heroic efforts to appear thoroughly alert and quite rested after each short nap, she was unable to hide her weariness of voice and movement from his quick ear, and at the risk of being overtaken he had ordered a few days’ halt.
On the morning of which we write, Sahanderry and David had left the camp early to go some distance on a hunting expedition, for the food supply was getting low. Kasba had wandered into the bush and Roy was left alone with his bitterness of spirit. To have run away from Broom, to have deserted his post, was gall to his soul. With an ejaculation he flung more wood on the fire.
Just then a slight girlish figure crept cautiously to where he sat and stealthily reached for the revolver. Grasping the barrel, she was drawing it gently toward her when a hand descended heavily upon hers and held it in a vice-like grip.
“Who is that?” demanded Roy, turning his sightless eyes upon her.
The girl stifled a scream. Roy’s sudden action had surprised and greatly startled her. “It is Kasba,” she said, almost crying with vexation.
“And why do you steal into camp in this manner?” asked Roy sternly. The girl’s peculiar behavior had made him apprehensive of danger.