I was getting accustomed to her accent now, and she had the sense not to talk too fast. “Why did they capture you, then?” “They and certain others attacked the old chief’s house when I was there. He was the old man with me in the gate.” She shuddered a bit. “Then why were they going to kill you?” “They weren’t--just yet. But ... the chief Shaman ... wanted me ... and so I thought I’d better make him angry--as angry as I could--so that he would kill me quick. They say once he is angry, nothing but blood pleases him, so I thought that was my only chance.” The colour had gone from her face again, and she breathed rather quickly, so I turned on to something else. “Do you think the Shamans”--I hesitated over the word, and she repeated it--“the Shamans will attack us to-night?” “I do not think they will dare face your weapons that kill with only a noise. Moreover, I think they are afraid of the outside of the gate by night. They say there are devils there. Last night they kept me above the gate to frighten me. But _I_ thought that there were worse devils inside than out.... Also they will not know what you are. No man has ever come into the country for hundreds of years, and I think that the common people do not even believe there are men outside.” She looked at us, and then went on again: “You are certainly men, and of course I know there are other countries. But how came you across the desert, and why? And who are you?” “We came from very far away, lady. We came because we heard that there were white people like ourselves here, and we wished to see. But we will tell you all about that later on. Now you just said the old man with you was a friend of your father’s. Who is your father?” “He is chief of the Blue Sakae, as we call our clan.” “Are there several clans in the country, then?” “Yes, four; but the Shamans have overcome three of them, and seek now to overcome us, being very, very evil.” “Are your people far away from here?” I asked. “About three days’ journey--on horseback--to the east.” “Is there any way up the cliffs into your country, or any other gate like this one?” “There is no gate.” She thought a little; then continued: “Have you ropes?” “Yes; we have ropes which we brought to help us climb the cliffs if we could not enter the gate.” “Then if you can climb well--very well--I can show you a way that might be climbed. It leads to some caves near a country house we have on the edge of our country.” “Then to-morrow, lady, we will start for there and take you back to your people. At least, we will if you can show us a way up the cliffs.” I turned to Forsyth. “Well, now we know where we are, and the thing is to get hold of John. I suggest that we move east the first thing in the morning, unless he’s seen anything which makes him think we ought to go to-night.” I turned to the girl.