“I advised him to go out hunting, Mea, and afterwards to leave this place.”
“I know. You struck him, did you not? A strange thing for you to do, Rupert.”
“I am ashamed to say I did,” he answered. “That man is a low fellow and a slanderer, Mea.”
“I know that also, but whom did he slander this time, the lady yonder, or me? Nay, I will not ask, but I say to you, Rupert, beware of a low fellow and a slanderer whom you have struck and who wished to draw his pistol on you.”
“I can look after myself, I think,” he replied, with a laugh.
“Yes, Rupert, you can face a lion or an elephant, but you hold your head too high to see a snake. Of what is this servant sick? I heard that they had strange illness up there.”
“I don’t know; Nile fever, I suppose. Will tell you when I have seen him.”
“You should eat before you visit a fever case; have you done so?”
“No; I am not afraid of fevers, and I can’t breakfast so early,” and he made as though he would go on.
“One moment,” she said, laying her hand upon his bridle. “Why did you not come to visit me last evening? As our hours together perhaps may be few, I miss you.”