“This from you?” he angrily cried.
“Yes; I can no longer bear friendship for one who has so deeply injured my people.”
“Nonsense. Haven’t I told you I did not steal the diamond?”
“Yes; but your tongue spoke that which is false. Would that I could forget I ever knew you. If you would live, return that which you stole.”
“I tell you I did not steal the eye of the idol.”
“Then you obtained it from the thief,” she retorted.
“Zulima,” said Stolburst tenderly. “I love you as I might a daughter; do not let this foolish matter break our friendship.”
“I cannot forget my faith.”
Stolburst saw that Ajeeb had, by working on the girl’s fear of the heathen god, completely won her.
“Ajeeb means to kill me?”