“He begged to come, Choseph.”
That staggered me. What had happened to the man to change him so? “What did he say?” I asked.
“I don’t know. He said little, although he was very much in earnest. On the way he said to himself several times, ‘She called me a coward. They all think I’m a coward.’”
Christopher had come up and was standing placidly by. Of a sudden Rawley recognized me as the savage who had visited Mr. Vancouver in the camp. He was composed, but had not yet discovered my real identity. A word from Beela disclosed Christopher and me to him. It broke in a crash on the young man. What reflections were belaboring him I could only guess from the shame crimsoning his face. I took his hand.
“Mr. Rawley,” I said, “I am sorry that this has happened between us.”
I interrupted something that he was trying to stammer by telling Beela how I had disposed of the guard. “They’ll soon return,” I added. “We must leave.”
“Yes, but we must find out first whether they discovered the loss of the wood. Several hours would be required to bring up fresh fuel. Don’t you think it’s very interesting, Choseph? My! how solemn you look!”
Her careless insolence tried me, for the peril was great.
“It’s a pity you never had any one to teach you to be serious,” I let fly.
“That would be the funniest thing of all,” she returned, amused. “Would you like to try it?”