“It shall not be!” cried the girl, with heightened color.
“Who will prevent it?”
“I!”
“What!” cried the prisoner; “you would not dare run counter to your uncle’s wishes?”
“I have resolved to do so,” said Zulima, in a low whisper.
Stolburst looked at his visitor in wild amazement. He still believed that it was she who had planned his capture. Was she only torturing him by holding out hopes which would never be fulfilled?
He believed so. Experience had taught him that the Abyssinians were cruel to a most remarkable degree.
“If you intend to help me,” said Stolburst, “cut my bonds at once.”
“No.”
“I thought you were but making sport of my misery.”