"Take me to the white woman," he ordered. Still staring at him in bewilderment, the two hunters led him down the stairs, through a postern door, and out on the sand. After a brief word with some older Wusun who were squatted by the tower, Garluk struck off through the ruins, waving back the throngs that came to gaze at Gray. The American noticed that there were few children. Some of the women carried water jars. They were not veiled. They wore a loose robe of clean cotton--he learned that they worked their own looms, of ancient pattern--bound by a silk girdle, and covered by a flowing _khalat_. All were barefoot. Gray was conducted to a doorway outside which a _tumani_ stood, sword in hand. After a brief conference with his guides, the guard permitted them to enter. Throughout his stay in Sungan, Gray was watched, quietly, but effectively. His heart was beating fiercely by now, and he wanted to cry out the name of the girl. He walked down into semi-darkness. A smell of musk and dried rose leaves pervaded the place. A woman rose from the floor and disappeared into the shadows. Presently Garluk drew aside a curtain. Gray entered what seemed to be a sleeping chamber and found Mary Hastings standing before him. "Captain Gray!" she cried softly, reaching out both hands. "Last night they told me you were here. Oh, I'm so glad!" He gripped the slim hands tightly, afraid to say what came into his mind at sight of the girl. She was thinner and there were circles under the fine eyes that fastened on him eagerly. He could see her clearly by the glow from a crimson lamp that hung overhead. The room was comfortably fitted with rugs and cushions. A jar of water and some dates stood near them. "How did you get here?" she echoed. "Where is Sir Lionel?" A shadow passed over her expressive face. "I saw the attack on the caravan. Did he----" "Sir Lionel made his way back to me," said Gray, his voice gruff and tense. "He was the only survivor of the caravan." "Then he is dead," she responded slowly. "Or he would have come with you." She bit her lip, bending her head, so that Gray should not see the tears in her eyes. "Oh, I have feared it. The Buddhist priests said that their guards would find and kill him. An old man of the Wusun who speaks Turki repeated it to me." Gray was glad that Mary was prepared, in a measure, for the death of her uncle. He had found the sight of her distress hard to bear. He turned away. "Yes. Sir Lionel died--bravely." She released his hands, and fumbled with a torn, little square of linen that had once been a handkerchief. "Oh!" Fearing that she would break down and weep, Gray would have left the room, but she checked him with a gesture. She looked up quietly, although the tears were still glistening on her eyelids. "Please, Captain Gray! I've been so--lonely. You won't go away, just for a while?"