"Bonjour, Monsieur!"
The troop rode away, taking a different course. Gabriele's lips curved in a smile as she watched them. The officer glanced back just before riding out of sight. She was walking slowly towards the house.
Half an hour afterwards the missionary returned.
"Father," said Gabriele, "I have played the good Samaritan since you have been away."
She explained to him rapidly what had occurred.
"My daughter," he said gently, "I cannot blame you, but you acted rashly, very rashly indeed."
"What would you have done, Father?" she asked archly.
"Just what you did, my dear," he replied with twinkling eyes. "But we must be careful. The Russians look askance at our missions as it is; they only want a pretext to expel us."
"And the poor young man is all the time in the tree! He must be nearly dead with fatigue."
"But we cannot release him yet. Some of the Russians may return this way from their chase of Min-chin. I hope they will not shoot the poor fellow by mistake."