“Very well. Although as yet I have seen scarcely more of your face than your eyes and forehead, yet I am going to pay the price. Be ready to leave this place directly. I shall have a carriage at the door in less than ten minutes.” Then Hafsa Pasha arose and sought the old trader. CHAPTER XVI—THE SWORD IS STAINED Nadia Budthorne had wept until the fount of tears seemed dry. She had beaten with her hands against the heavy door of her prison room until her knuckles streamed blood. She had shouted and screamed until she sank exhausted to the floor. How much time had passed she knew not. When a tray of food was slipped into the room she had no knowledge of the occurrence. She first saw it on the floor near the door, but not a morsel did she touch. She lay prone and helpless and despairing when a rustling sound startled and aroused her. She rose swiftly on one hand, and then a cry of astonishment escaped her pale lips, for before her stood a beautiful girl. Behind the stranger the door was silently closing. “Who—who—are—you?” asked Nadia hoarsely. “Your friend,” was the answer, in a softly sympathetic voice. “Friend? You are a stranger.” “Still I am your friend. Let me help you.” “Your voice!” muttered Nadia. “It seems familiar, somehow, and yet—I’ve never seen you before.” The strange girl assisted Nadia to rise, and led her to a couch. She was much larger than Nadia, and seemed somewhat older. “My poor child!” she murmured. “How you have suffered!” “Oh, how I have suffered!” moaned Nadia. “But why are you here? I do not understand it. You—you are English or American. You cannot be——” “Hush! Do not speak so loud.” “No one can hear us. I have screamed until I lost my voice. These terrible walls smother all sounds.” The strange girl was looking around searchingly. Leaving Nadia, she made a quick circuit of the room, searching the walls with her eyes. She paused to try the door and then returned to the couch. “Listen,” she whispered, lifting her finger warningly. “Keep your nerve now. Do not utter a cry. I am here to save you.” Nadia showed her incredulity. “To save me?” she whispered back. “How can that be? Who are you?” “One of your best friends.” “I will not believe it! It is another trick!” “It is no trick, as far as you are concerned. It may be a trick on Hafsa Pasha.” “Then he——” “You are his captive.” “I knew it! The monster! If my brother—if Brad and Dick find this out he shall suffer!” “If you promise to do just as I direct I will save you from that man.” “How can you? You are only a woman.” “That’s what I appear to be.” “You cannot be more than nineteen.” “Younger than that,” was the reply. “Still I will save you.” “It’s impossible! They brought you here to deceive me!” “That’s correct. Old Hafsa did it himself, but he is the one deceived. To-night he paid a handsome price for me, with the idea of adding me to his harem. Oh, I must laugh! I must! Where’s my handkerchief! Let me smother the sound!”