"I might bring all the arguments and platitudes of the 'worldly-wise' to bear on you," he said, "but I forbear; and I know they will not weigh with you. Moreover, it is undeniable that the circumstances are unusual and unlooked-for. But they do not justify you in forgetting what you owe to a kingly host and--I may add--to others; to us, your friends, for instance. You know, also, that our position here is critical; there is trouble brewing in the land. If the king should have reason to believe that one of us has abused his confidence in one matter, he may lose his trust in all, as touching other, and far more weighty matters--matters that may affect even his own personal security; to say nothing of our own lives, and those of many of his subjects. Therefore----" Leonard sprang up and looked at him imploringly. "For pity's sake say no more," he said, "or I shall begin to hate myself. I understand--only too well. Trust me--if you will; if you feel you can; if you have not lost confidence. You shall not have further reason for complaint." Monella took Leonard's hand in his and pressed it affectionately. "'Tis well, my son," he said. "I have full confidence, and will trust you. And you, on your side, must trust me. I may have opportunity to sound the king, and, if it so happen, you may count on me to say and do all that my friendship for you may dictate--and that will not be a little." Leonard wrung the other's hand and tried to thank him, but a burst of emotion overcame him, and he turned away. When he again looked round he was alone. CHAPTER XVII. THE FIGHT ON THE HILLSIDE. It had become the custom of the two young men to go every morning, when the atmosphere was clear, to a height at one end of the valley, from which a view could be obtained over the whole country surrounding that end of Roraima. The spot was a level table of rock under a picturesque group of fir-trees--for on the upper cliffs fir-trees were numerous--and from it, looking in the direction farthest from the mountain, the view was grand in the extreme; while, on the other side of them was the great valley or basin in which lay the lake and the city of Manoa.