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in a minute more you shall be dead；〃 and with that he
rushed viciously upon the Belgian； his knife raised
high above his head。
Werper was still dragging futilely at his weapon。 The
Arab was almost upon him。 In desperation the European
waited until Mohammed Beyd was all but against him；
then he threw himself to one side to the floor of the
tent； leaving a leg extended in the path of the Arab。
The trick succeeded。 Mohammed Beyd； carried on by the
momentum of his charge； stumbled over the projecting
obstacle and crashed to the ground。 Instantly he was
up again and wheeling to renew the battle； but Werper
was on foot ahead of him； and now his revolver；
loosened from its holster； flashed in his hand。
The Arab dove headfirst to grapple with him； there was
a sharp report； a lurid gleam of flame in the darkness；
and Mohammed Beyd rolled over and over upon the floor
to come to a final rest beside the bed of the woman he
had sought to dishonor。
Almost immediately following the report came the sound
of excited voices in the camp without。 Men were
calling back and forth to one another asking the
meaning of the shot。 Werper could hear them running
hither and thither； investigating。
Jane Clayton had risen to her feet as the Arab died；
and now she came forward with outstretched hands toward
Werper。
〃How can I ever thank you； my friend？〃 she asked。
〃And to think that only today I had almost believed the
infamous story which this beast told me of your perfidy
and of your past。 Forgive me； M。 Frecoult。 I might
have known that a white man and a gentleman could be
naught else than the protector of a woman of his own
race amid the dangers of this savage land。〃
Werper's hands dropped limply at his sides。 He stood
looking at the girl； but he could find no words to
reply to her。 Her innocent arraignment of his true
purposes was unanswerable。
Outside； the Arabs were searching for the author of
the disturbing shot。 The two sentries who had been
relieved and sent to their blankets by Mohammed Beyd
were the first to suggest going to the tent of the
prisoner。 It occurred to them that possibly the woman
had successfully defended herself against their leader。
Werper heard the men approaching。 To be apprehended as
the slayer of Mohammed Beyd would be equivalent to a
sentence of immediate death。 The fierce and brutal
raiders would tear to pieces a Christian who had dared
spill the blood of their leader。 He must find some
excuse to delay the finding of Mohammed Beyd's dead
body。
Returning his revolver to its holster； he walked
quickly to the entrance of the tent。 Parting the flaps
he stepped out and confronted the men； who were rapidly
approaching。 Somehow he found within him the necessary
bravado to force a smile to his lips； as he held up his
hand to bar their farther progress。
〃The woman resisted；〃 he said； 〃and Mohammed Beyd was
forced to shoot her。 She is not deadonly slightly
wounded。 You may go back to your blankets。 Mohammed
Beyd and I will look after the prisoner；〃 then he
turned and re…entered the tent； and the raiders；
satisfied by this explanation； gladly returned to their
broken slumbers。
As he again faced Jane Clayton； Werper found himself
animated by quite different intentions than those which
had lured him from his blankets but a few minutes
before。 The excitement of his encounter with Mohammed
Beyd； as well as the dangers which he now faced at the
hands of the raiders when morning must inevitably
reveal the truth of what had occurred in the tent of
the prisoner that night； had naturally cooled the hot
passion which had dominated him when he entered the
tent。
But another and stronger force was exerting itself in
the girl's favor。 However low a man may sink； honor
and chivalry； has he ever possessed them； are never
entirely eradicated from his character； and though
Albert Werper had long since ceased to evidence the
slightest claim to either the one or the other； the
spontaneous acknowledgment of them which the girl's
speech had presumed had reawakened them both within
him。
For the first time he realized the almost hopeless and
frightful position of the fair captive； and the depths
of ignominy to which he had sunk； that had made it
possible for him； a well…born； European gentleman； to
have entertained even for a moment the part that he had
taken in the ruin of her home； happiness； and herself。
Too much of baseness already lay at the threshold of
his conscience for him ever to hope entirely to redeem
himself； but in the first； sudden burst of contrition
the man conceived an honest intention to undo； in so
far as lay within his power； the evil that his criminal
avarice had brought upon this sweet and unoffending
woman。
As he stood apparently listening to the retreating
footstepsJane Clayton approached him。
〃What are we to do now？〃 she asked。 〃Morning will
bring discovery of this；〃 and she pointed to the still
body of Mohammed Beyd。 〃They will kill you when they
find him。〃
For a time Werper did not reply； then he turned
suddenly toward the woman。
〃I have a plan；〃 he cried。 〃It will require nerve and
courage on your part； but you have already shown that
you possess both。 Can you endure still more？〃
〃I can endure anything；〃 she replied with a brave
smile； 〃that may offer us even a slight chance for
escape。〃
〃You must simulate death；〃 he explained； 〃while I carry
you from the camp。 I will explain to the sentries that
Mohammed Beyd has ordered me to take your body into the
jungle。 This seemingly unnecessary act I shall explain
upon the grounds that Mohammed Beyd had conceived a
violent passion for you and that he so regretted the
act by which he had become your slayer that he could
not endure the silent reproach of your lifeless body。〃
The girl held up her hand to stop。 A smile touched her
lips。
〃Are you quite mad？〃 she asked。 〃Do you imagine that
the sentries will credit any such ridiculous tale？〃
〃You do not know them；〃 he replied。 〃Beneath their
rough exteriors； despite their calloused and criminal
natures； there exists in each a well…defined strain of
romantic emotionalismyou will find it among such as
these throughout the world。 It is romance which lures
men to lead wild lives of outlawry and crime。 The ruse
will succeednever fear。〃
Jane Clayton shrugged。 〃We can but try itand then
what？〃
〃I shall hide you in the jungle；〃 continued the
Belgian； 〃coming for you alone and with two horses in
the morning。〃
〃But how will you explain Mohammed Beyd's death？〃 she
asked。 〃It will be discovered before ever you can
escape the camp in the morning。〃
〃I shall not explain it；〃 replied Werper。 〃Mohammed
Beyd shall explain it himselfwe must leave that to
him。 Are you ready for the venture？〃
〃Yes。〃