“True?”
“As sure as can be.”
“You must help me, Fan. I must get away.”
“Oh, I’ll be lonely without you, Zu.”
“But they’ll kill me yet, Fan, and if I can I must get away, and if you will only help me, I will do something for you if I can. Will you help me, Fan?”
“Yes, Zu, I will.”
“Well, then, to-morrow night, when they are all asleep, come as still as you can and untie the ropes, and I will escape.”
Fan gave the required promise and then left Zula, saying that if she stayed too long they might suspect something. Crisp and his mother were seated on the ground, apart from the rest. Fan strolled near several times, but could hear nothing of their conversation. That night, as Zula lay patiently waiting, Fan entered the tent, saying in a loud voice:
“Here, Zula, Crisp told me to bring you this tea; he says it will strengthen you.”
Zula took the tea, and, lying back on her bed of straw, was soon, to all appearance, fast asleep, but though her eyes were closed and her body motionless, her brain was still at work.