"There is more danger for me than for you," was the answer, with a little laugh. "I will tell you: Murad would be angry and fierce; he would forget that he loved me once, and brought me here to be one of his wives. He would make his men take me to the river, and force me to kneel down, when I should be krissed and thrown into the water for the crocodiles to eat." "Oh, no; it is too horrible!" whispered Helen, as her excited imagination conjured up the dreadful scene. "It is true," said the girl, simply. "He had one wife krissed like that because she ran away twice--because she ran away to the boy she loved before she was taken from her home. Murad is Sultan, and he will be obeyed. He is very cruel sometimes!" Helen shuddered as she thought that if this were true, she could not ask for help at such a price. "I should have gone away before now," said the girl, thoughtfully, as her hands played with Helen's hair; "for I have someone else who followed me here that he might be near me; but I dare not go! Murad would kill me. It would not hurt much, and I don't think I should mind; but he would kill someone else, and I could not bear that!" "Go, then," said Helen quickly. "Leave me to myself. Let me escape without your help!" "He would kill me and her all the same," said the girl, sadly; "and if I let you get out, what could you do? You would wander in the jungle till the beasts seized you, or you died. You must have a boat to escape from here; and if you could get a boat you could not row." "I would escape along the jungle-paths," whispered Helen, excitedly. "No," said the girl, "you could not do that. There is only one path through the jungle, and that goes from this house to the river. That is all. You cannot escape; why do you try?" Helen rose from her knees, and clutched the girl's arms fiercely. "I can escape, and I will!" she panted excitedly. "How dare he seize an English lady and insult her like this!" "Because he is Sultan here, and he is stronger and greater than we are," said the girl. "Murad is a mighty prince, and all the people here are his slaves and have to obey. You must obey him too." "I!" cried Helen. "Yes, you; and you will be happy, for he loves you more than all. He used to come from Sindang here, and talk to us, and praise you, and tell us that you would come and be our mistress here. He loves you very much, and you will be quite happy soon." "Happy? With him?" cried Helen, in horror. "Yes, happy. You have won his love from us, and we here are only like your slaves. It is you who take away our happiness, and I ought to hate you; but I do not, for you are so young. Do you love someone else?" "Yes--no, no!" panted Helen, excitedly. "But you love Murad?" "Oh, no, no!" cried Helen. "I am sorry--I am sorry," said the girl, thoughtfully.