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forbears。
As I stood talking with the girl I presently recollected that she still was
bound； and with a word of apology； I drew my knife and cut the rawhide
thongs which confined her wrists at her back。
She thanked me； and with such a sweet smile that I should have been
amply repaid by it for a much more arduous service。
〃And now；〃 I said； 〃let me accompany you to your home and see you
safely again under the protection of your friends。〃
〃No；〃 she said； with a hint of alarm in her voice； 〃you must not come
with meBuckingham will kill you。〃
Buckingham。 The name was famous in ancient English history。 Its
survival； with many other illustrious names； is one of the strongest
arguments in refutal of Professor Cortoran's theory； yet it opens no new
doors to the past； and； on the whole； rather adds to than dissipates the
mystery。
〃And who is Buckingham；〃 I asked； 〃and why should he wish to kill
me？〃
〃He would think that you had stolen me；〃 she replied； 〃and as he
wishes me for himself； he will kill any other whom he thinks desires me。
He killed Wettin a few days ago。 My mother told me once that Wettin
was my father。 He was king。 Now Buckingham is king。〃
Here； evidently； were a people slightly superior to those of the Isle of
Wight。 These must have at least the rudiments of civilized government
since they recognized one among them as ruler； with the title； king。 Also；
they retained the word father。 The girl's pronunciation； while far from
identical with ours； was much closer than the tortured dialect of the
Eastenders of the Isle of Wight。 The longer I talked with her the more
hopeful I became of finding here； among her people； some records； or
traditions； which might assist in clearing up the historic enigma of the past
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two centuries。 I asked her if we were far from the city of London； but
she did not know what I meant。 When I tried to explain； describing
mighty buildings of stone and brick； broad avenues； parks； palaces； and
countless people； she but shook her head sadly。
〃There is no such place near by；〃 she said。 〃Only the Camp of the
Lions has places of stone where the beasts lair； but there are no people in
the Camp of the Lions。 Who would dare go there！〃 And she shuddered。
〃The Camp of the Lions；〃 I repeated。 〃And where is that； and what？〃
〃It is there；〃 she said； pointing up the river toward the west。 〃I have
seen it from a great distance； but I have never been there。 We are much
afraid of the lions； for this is their country； and they are angry that man has
come to live here。
〃Far away there；〃 and she pointed toward the south…west； 〃is the land
of tigers； which is even worse than this； the land of the lions； for the tigers
are more numerous than the lions and hungrier for human flesh。 There
were tigers here long ago； but both the lions and the men set upon them
and drove them off。〃
〃Where did these savage beasts come from？〃 I asked。
〃Oh；〃 she replied； 〃they have been here always。 It is their country。〃
〃Do they not kill and eat your people？〃 I asked。
〃Often； when we meet them by accident； and we are too few to slay
them； or when one goes too close to their camp。 But seldom do they hunt
us； for they find what food they need among the deer and wild cattle； and；
too； we make them gifts； for are we not intruders in their country？ Really
we live upon good terms with them； though I should not care to meet one
were there not many spears in my party。〃
〃I should like to visit this Camp of the Lions；〃 I said。
〃Oh； no； you must not！〃 cried the girl。 〃That would be terrible。
They would eat you。〃 For a moment； then； she seemed lost in thought；
but presently she turned upon me with： 〃You must go now； for any minute
Buckingham may come in search of me。 Long since should they have
learned that I am gone from the campthey watch over me very closely
and they will set out after me。 Go！ I shall wait here until they come in
search of me。〃
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〃No；〃 I told her。 〃I'll not leave you alone in a land infested by lions
and other wild beasts。 If you won't let me go as far as your camp with
you； then I'll wait here until they come in search of you。〃
〃Please go！〃 she begged。 〃You have saved me； and I would save you；
but nothing will save you if Buckingham gets his hands on you。 He is a
bad man。 He wishes to have me for his woman so that he may be king。
He would kill anyone who befriended me； for fear that I might become
another's。〃
〃Didn't you say that Buckingham is already the king？〃 I asked。
〃He is。 He took my mother for his woman after he had killed Wettin。
But my mother will die soonshe is very oldand then the man to whom I
belong will become king。〃
Finally； after much questioning； I got the thing through my head。 It
appears that the line of descent is through the women。 A man is merely
head of his wife's familythat is all。 If she chances to be the oldest
female member of the 〃royal〃 house； he is king。 Very naively the girl
explained that there was seldom any doubt as to whom a child's mother
was。
This accounted for the girl's importance in the community and for
Buckingham's anxiety to claim her； though she told me that she did not
wish to become his woman； for he was a bad man and would make a bad
king。 But he was powerful； and there was no other man who dared
dispute his wishes。
〃Why not come with me；〃 I suggested； 〃if you do not wish to become
Buckingham's？〃
〃Where would you take me？〃 she asked。
Where； indeed！ I had not thought of that。 But before I could reply
to her question she shook her head and said； 〃No； I cannot leave my
people。 I must stay and do my best； even if Buckingham gets me； but
you must go at once。 Do not wait until it is too late。 The lions have had
no offering for a long time； and Buckingham would seize upon the