"And you came back to warn me?" I asked in a low voice.
"No; I waited," said she as low. "I was afraid, although you told me.... Ah, but you have never told me wrong yet! I believe you implicitly."
"Princess," I said with emotion.
"No, no," she whispered. "Not any more ... never any more."
"Alix," I whispered low, and I held her closer. She gave a little cry.
"What is it?" I asked anxiously.
For answer her head lay quiet on my shoulder, and the stars looked down upon a pale sweet face. She had fainted. Now the hand which clasped her arm felt warm and wet, and I shifted it hastily and bent down to her. It was blood. She was wounded. Tenderly I bound my handkerchief about the arm and waited in distress for her to revive. If we had only some of the mutineers' brandy! But presently she opened her eyes.
"Dearest ... dearest," she murmured faintly.
"You are wounded, darling," I said. "Oh, why did you not tell me?"
"It was the first shot," she said in a drowsy voice. "When—when I had my arm about you."