"Shack," said Shushan presently, "my foot hurts dreadfully now--praised be the Lord!" Jack had no linen, but he tore his sash, poured on it all the water remaining in his flask, and wrapped it round the ankle, which was beginning to swell. "I meant that word," Shushan added smiling, "for pain is not felt until danger is past, and danger is--oh, so much worse than pain! But, Shack, the horses!" "True, we must get them; I daresay they have not gone far. Dare I leave you here while I go to look for them?" "You _must_. Our lives hang on it. God will take care of me." Jack drew her gently into a sheltered place under the rock. Then he set off at a brisk run, not letting himself think there was danger for her, since he _had_ to go, and yet intensely, cruelly anxious about her. He had a much longer chase than he anticipated, for the horses had quite disappeared from view. Still he went on, keeping the path, and uttering now and then the calls they were sure to recognise. On account of the intervening gorge, the path descended almost to the very bottom of the valley, through which there ran a little mountain stream with a narrow fringe of green, stunted herbage on each side. Instinct had led the horses to this desirable spot, where having quenched their thirst, they stood contented, cropping the few mouthfuls of short grass. Happily, in this position, the Kourds could not see them. Jack lost not a moment in leading their reluctant steps from the haunts of pleasure to the very dry and very stony path of duty. Joyfully he brought them back to where Shushan was, and met her joyful welcome. "Is the pain _very_ bad now, my Shushan?" he asked. "No," she answered, smiling. "It is only _a little very bad_, as you say in English. Is not that right? Now you shall lift me on my horse again, and we will go." In a few minutes more they were on their way. When they came near the little stream, they halted for a while, that Jack might bring water for Shushan to drink, and bathe her ankle with it. She was very weary, and suffering considerable pain, but she kept on bravely, making no complaint. "It would be very ungrateful," she thought, "when God has been so good to us." "Shushan," said Jack, as they rode along, "do you know what they call this gorge we are coming out of? They call it 'Bloody Gorge,' from the robberies and murders there have been in it. Kevork told me when we rode back together, but I did not want to tell you until we had passed it." "Yesterday the Kourds told me the same," said Shushan, "but _I_ did not want to tell _you_."