Iris could not guess the nature of the mortal struggle raging in the sailor's soul.
"Tell me," she repeated, "what have you done?"
"Kept faith with that swaggering ruffian," he said, with an odd feeling of thankfulness that he spoke truly.
"Why? Have you made him any promise?"
"Unhappily I permitted him to come here, so I had to let him go. He recognized you instantly."
This surprised her greatly.
"Are you sure? I saw him pointing at me, but he seemed to be in such a bad temper that I imagined that he was angry with you for exchanging a prepossessing young lady for an ill-favored youth."
Jenks with difficulty suppressed a sigh. Her words for an instant had the old piquant flavor.
Keeping a close watch on the sheltering promontory, he told her all that had taken place. Iris became very downcast when she grasped the exact state of affairs. She was almost certain when the Dyaks proposed a parley that reasonable terms would result. It horrified her beyond measure to find that she was the rock on which negotiations were wrecked. Hope died within her. The bitterness of death was in her breast.
"What an unlucky influence I have had on your existence!" she exclaimed. "If it were not for me this trouble at least would be spared you. Because I am here you are condemned. Again, because I stopped you from shooting that wretched chief and his companions they are now demanding your life as a forfeit. It is all my fault. I cannot bear it."