"We cannot stay here," spoke Rolla, with what energy her condition would permit. "We could not—hold on. Nor can we return now; They would surely find us!"
But Cunora's courage, which had never faltered in the face of familiar dangers, was not equal to the unknown. She wailed: "Rolla! A little way back—a hollow in the rock! 'Tis big enough to shelter me! I would— rather stay there than—go on!"
"Ye would rather die there, alone!"
Cunora hid her face. "Let me have half the food! I can go back to the pool—for water! And maybe," hopefully—"maybe They will give up the search in time."
"Aye," from Rolla, bitterly. "And in time Dulnop will die, if we do nothing for him—and for Corrus!"
Cunora fell to sobbing again. "I cannot help it! I am—afraid!"
Rolla scarcely heard. An enormous idea had just occurred to her. She had told the girl to think of Dulnop and Corrus; but was it not equally true that they should think of all the other humans, their fellow slaves, each of whom had suffered nearly as much? Was not the fire equally precious to them all?
She started to explain this to the girl, then abruptly gave it up. It was no use; Cunora's mind was not strong enough to take the step. Rolla fairly gasped as she realized, as no Sanusian had realized before, that she had been given the responsibility of rescuing A WHOLE RACE.
Fire she must have! And since she could not, dared not, seek it here, she must try the other side of the world. And she would have to do it— alone!
"So be it!" she said loudly in a strange voice. "Ye stay here and wait,
Cunora! I go on!"