At times Romney thought he was insane. There were stretches of desert miles, and hours of travel in which he knew only the waver of a brassy film before his eyes—no sand, no sky, just a slowly moving brazen curtain that was like an emanation from burning metal.... He had awakened to the rock of the camel, and day was high. Bamban was nearest, beyond him the Dugpa leader and six of his party. They were on the western trail. Vaguely to Romney’s mind came the word "Wampli." Bamban waited for him to speak. "Did the other party give her the third camel to ride?" Romney asked. "Yes. Also one driver is with their party." "Where did they go?" "I don’t know. We turned out of the camp before they left. I think they went back toward Nadiram." "Was she hurt?" "No. They treated her with every care." "Did she say anything—after I fell?" "No—only for me to take good care of you. She covered her face. After that she was calm." "Do you think they will do her harm?" "No. They are not like that." "Is it a matter of ransom?" "Not in this case. They greatly reverence the little parchment from Rajananda. They gave it to me to restore to you." "Did you tell her I was not hurt?" "I could not. I did not know what had happened. It was at the very worst, when she seemed to know the feel of fresh power." "You were with them, Bamban, when they made the plan to separate us. What brought it about?" Bamban’s whole concern seemed to be to answer in a way that would be exactly true and at the same time relieve his master’s agony. "They asked me many questions as to our work in the desert—why we had come west from Nadiram. I told them of the mission as I know it—of the waiting leaders in Peking. Then they asked me about the woman, and I said that I was not in the knowledge of your concern with her. They asked if the woman had come from Peking with you. I said no. They asked where you had found her. I told them in Nadiram. They asked what I thought of your bringing the woman with you on this mission. I said I was your servant and that I had no authority to think. They did not make their plans regarding the separation in my hearing." "Thank you, Bamban."