His heavy brows quivered for a moment.
“Love or hate—we will prove which is stronger; come!”
Disdaining futile resistance she stepped into the car that awaited them; he took his place beside her, and they rose in air, headed for the red planet. Zarga, left below, gazed at them till they were out of sight; then, with a mocking wave of her hand toward the island she went inland.
CHAPTER XIII
FALSE TRAILS
JACK’S subjection to the power of mortification and despair did not last long. He raised himself from the ground and stared about him. The first thing he saw was Jim squatting before him.
“We was sure up ag’in a tight squeeze dat time, boss,” remarked his retainer. “Did yer hear de yell I let loose? Dat big guy in the red sweater was a comin’ head-on! But our folks had heard de alarm, an’ before I gits knocked out I seen ’em hot-footin’ up de trail. I guess dere was some scrap; but which side gits de decision is more’n I knows. But say, boss, I ain’t got much use fer dat yaller-haired kid. Looks ter me like she double-crossed yer. Ain’t dat right?”
“Jim,” said Jack, getting on his feet “what we must find out is, what became of Miriam. Did you see anything of her?”
“Not me, boss; I was takin’ de count.”
“We’re worse off than we were before,” remarked Jack. ‘I suppose I behaved like a fool; but things are puzzling here. If Argon, or somebody, would help us out!”
“Mebbe dat’s him now!” said Jim, pointing across the desert.