For a while? He would have remained at her side until dragged away, if she wished it so. He saw that she had changed. Some of the life and vivacity had been driven from her delicate face, leaving a wistful tenderness. He himself showed little sign of the hardships of the last two days, except a firmer set to the wide mouth, and deeper lines about the eyes. He was unshaven, as he had been for some time, and the clothing on his rugged figure was rather more than usually the worse for wear. The girl noticed a new light in his eyes--somber, even dogged. There was something savage in the determination of the hard face, born--although she did not know it--of his knowledge that the life and safety of Mary Hastings was now his undivided responsibility. CHAPTER XX THE TALISMAN "Poor Uncle Lionel," she said sadly, "he never knew that--the Wusun were here, as he had thought they would be." "He will have full credit for his achievement when you and I get back home, out of Sungan, Miss Hastings." She looked at him, dumbly grateful. Gone was all the petulance, the spirit of mockery now. But her native heritage of resolution had not forsaken her. "Thank you for that, Captain Gray. I--I was foolish in disregarding your warning. I was unjust--because I wanted Uncle Singh to be first in Sungan." She sighed, then tried to smile. "Will you sit down? On a cushion. Perhaps you haven't breakfasted yet. I have only light refreshments to offer----" A fresh miracle was taking place before Gray's eyes. He did not know the courage of the English girls whose men protectors live always in the unsettled places that are the outskirts of civilization. His nearness to the girl stirred him. Her pluck acted as a spur to his own spirits. In spite of himself, his gaze wandered hungrily to the straying, bronze hair, and the fresh, troubled face. Unconsciously, she reached up and deftly adjusted a vagrant bit of hair. He wanted to pat her on the back and tell her she was splendid. But he feared his own awkwardness. Mary Hastings seemed to him to be a fragile, precious charge that had come into his life. He drew a quick breath. "I am hungry," he lied. She busied herself at once, setting out dates and some cakes. While he ate, she barely nibbled at the food. "Now," he began cheerfully, having planned what he was to say, "I'm indebted to you for breakfast. And I'm going to question you." He realized that he must take her mind from the death of her uncle. "How have our new allies, the Wusun, been treating you, Miss Hastings?" "Very nicely, really. But not the priests. They took all my belongings except a little gold cross under my jacket. You see, the priests came with the--the lepers who attacked us." Gray nodded. "And the Buddhists seized me, not the poor, sick men. They carried me off after gagging me so I couldn't call out." "Wu Fang's orders."