"He has not come yet."
The lips of the little girl at once began to quiver.
"He may yet return," said Stas. "You remember that on the desert sometimes he was not seen for two days, and afterwards he always overtook us."
"You said that you would go and search for him."
"I cannot."
"Why, Stas?"
"I cannot leave you in the ravine alone with Mea."
"And Kali?"
"Kali is not here."
Stas was silent, not knowing whether to tell her the whole truth; but as the matter could not be concealed he thought it best to divulge it at once.