"The circumstances don't make it easy to forget her," Stefan answered.
"Nor difficult to hate her," said Maritza.
"I took a kind of liking to Grigosie which somehow keeps me back from hating her," Stefan went on, speaking to Ellerey and not looking at the Princess. "I don't suppose, however, that she knows much more about starvation than I do, and dying in the open may suit her case as well as mine."
"But a woman, Stefan?"
"I've naught to do with women, Captain, and I see none in our company. I only see two good comrades before me, one lacking a bit of muscle it may be, but lacking no courage. He shall go between us, and Anton shall cover our rear. There's such pleasure in the thought of striking another blow that there's even a hope in it that we may win though."
"Stefan is right," Maritza said. "Let us make the attempt to-morrow."
"Why not to-day?" Stefan asked.
"The food is not all gone," she said; "besides, the day holds possibilities. Let us wait a day, Captain."
"If the attempt is to be made, why not make it to-night? The darkness will help us," said Ellerey.
"I prefer dying in the sunlight," said Stefan, "but so long as I die in the open the stars will serve."