The poor girl's eyes were closed, her cheek as white as marble. She had fainted at the moment when the natives were at the point of flinging her to her destruction.
Seemingly unaware of this circumstance, her preserver, crouching down without again looking at her, listened intently, probably for the steps of his pursuers.
These steps, drawing nearer, finally went past.
The fugitive had served the natives a trick. Unseen by them, owing to an intruding point of rock, when he crawled into the small cave, they had passed him, believing he had gone on, far ahead.
He waited full a quarter of an hour, then, emerging, continued on.
At a place where two narrow paths diverged, he came upon Brand, crouching in the angle of a rock.
Here the light was indistinct.
"Who are you who have saved this girl?" inquired the captain, coming forward.
"Don't question me," answered the other, "but help me with this girl."
Brand started as suddenly. Then, recovering his self-possession, although trembling in every limb, he complied with the request.