And pushing aside the thorns close by the rocks, he slipped out of the zareba. In the meantime Nell came out of the tent.
Saba rose at once and, pressing his nose close to her, claimed his usual caress. But she, extending at first her hand, withdrew it at once as if with aversion.
"Stas, what has happened?" she asked.
"Nothing. Those two horses came running up. Did their hoof-beats awaken you?"
"I was awake before then and even wanted to come out of the tent, but—"
"But what?"
"I thought that you might get angry."
"I? At you?"
And Nell raised her eyes and began to gaze at him with a peculiar look with which she had never eyed him before. Great astonishment stole over Stas' face, for in her words and gaze he plainly read fear.
"She fears me," he thought.