"But this is the twentieth century after all," he said; "and we're under a civilized Government. They would never dare shoot me in cold blood!"
"Not kill you, perhaps," she said; "but bring you down, helpless!" Tears threatened here; and Garth was silenced.
Opening the shutter in Natalie's room, they could still command a view of the other camp. Grylls and Mabyn were visible; and at intervals the two women appeared. Xavier was missing.
"He will be watching us," Natalie said.
As if to give point to her words, a rifle suddenly barked its hoarse note, close outside. Garth sprang to the loophole in Natalie's room; and was in time to see the poor, stupid, faithful old horse, tethered outside, sink to his knees, and collapse on the grass.
He leaped up, turning an ominous, wrathful face.
"Oh! The damned cowards!" he muttered.
Natalie flew into the adjoining room, and flung herself in front of the door. "You must not go out!" she cried. "What would I do, if you were hurt?"
She was unanswerable, and he turned from the door, sickened with balked wrath, and flung himself face down on his blankets until he could command himself.