"Naida, since we have talked so frankly, there is one more thing which I must bring out." She looked up at him. "What is it?" "The Duca." * * * * * She drew closer, her perfumed body brushing his, her great eyes caressing him. "Naida, I am afraid of the man." "And so am I!" she confessed suddenly. "It has all been too easy," Kirby said in a slow voice. "There is no doubt whatever that our possession of the cylinder of gold has had great influence on the Duca, and yet--" He paused, taking her hand. "And yet," she went on for him, "you do not believe he would have conceded what he has, unless he intends to make trouble?" Kirby nodded twice, emphatically. "Well, you have trained all of us to use the rifles." He smiled gravely at her understanding. "Yes, I have. And your skill, and that of the others, with the rifles, will always help us. Yet even so--" Closer still she drew now, and there was sadness in her eyes. "I think I see," she said in a voice which choked. "When do you think he will make a move to start trouble?" Kirby hesitated, then drew a long breath. "To-day!" "On--on the day of our union?" Naida echoed in dismay. "Can you tell where or how he will strike at us?" Kirby shook his head. "There are a hundred things he could do. Naida, I--I--Well, somehow I am afraid of the ceremony this afternoon--the wedding ceremony!" * * * * * He felt a little shiver go through her, and would have taken her in his arms, save that a gay cry rang in the garden then. "Naida, Naida!" It was her cousin, Nini, a bronze-haired youngster as elfin and Pucklike as her name. "I thought we should never find you! Do you realize this is your _wedding_ day, and that you're acting as if there was nothing to be done?" Nini darted a mocking glance at Kirby, who grinned. "Do come, Naida!" cried another girl. "Your gown is ready, and we want you to ourselves for awhile." Other girls joined them, some singing and some carrying an obligato on the sweet, flutelike instruments which Kirby had first heard as he hung in the throat of the geyser. In front of them all, Kirby laughed and kissed Naida on the forehead. But as he took leave of her thus, he whispered: "We must not let our guard relax for a second this afternoon. And I think there is a more definite precaution which I will take, besides." CHAPTER IX Some hours later, Kirby smiled with tight-lipped satisfaction at thought of that precaution which he had taken. What it was only he, Nini, Ivana, and three other girls knew, which secrecy pleased him as much as the precautionary measure itself.