"We were expecting him every minute," he said, "but we couldn't wait. The danger was too pressing. Here, man--it's all right. Look up." Captain Stafford's heavy eyelids had wavered. The Colonel shifted him into a higher position, his head still resting against Lois' knee. When the dying eyes opened they fell straight on the sweet dark face bent over him in loving pity. "Lois!" he whispered faintly. "Lois--my--kiss me!" Lois looked up at her husband. He nodded without meeting her eyes. Her lips rested on the chilly forehead. "Dear John!" "Lois--you--tell the Rajah----" He struggled fiercely for breath and his raised hand pointed piteously at Travers. "Tell him--not--his own"--The words died into a choked silence. "Brandy--here! He's trying to say something. What is it, man?" Stafford turned with a last effort, his lips parted. A second time he pointed with a desperate insistency at Travers--then with a sudden quick-drawn sigh he sank back, his face against Lois' shoulder. Colonel Carmichael, who knew death too well, rose heavily to his feet. "It's all over," he said. "We can do nothing more for him, and we must leave him. Come, Lois." His stern command roused her from her stupor of half-incredulous sorrow. Gently she laid the lifeless head upon the cushions which Beatrice had brought, and crossed the hands over the quiet breast. This time she fought in vain against the blinding tears. They fell on the face of the dead man, and, moved by an irresistible impulse, she bent once more and kissed him. "God bless you, John!" Then she rose and faced her husband. "I can not help it," she said. "He is dead." Travers said nothing. He was clinging to the verandah, and his face was grey. Outside the noise and confusion had increased. They could hear yells and imprecations, and a stone whizzed through the trees, falling a few feet short of where the little party stood. Colonel Carmichael shook Travers by the arm. "Don't stand there like that!" he said, his voice rough with contempt. "It can't be helped, and I dare say we shan't any of us be much better off by to-morrow. I have a patrol outside waiting to take the ladies over to my bungalow. Mrs. Cary and Mrs. Berry are already there. There isn't a moment to be lost. Rouse yourself and look to Lois. I will escort Miss Cary." He turned to Beatrice with a stiff bow. "The enemy must at least find us united." "The enemy!" exclaimed Beatrice sharply. "The Rajah is our enemy," was the bitter answer. "You and Travers best know why." The two women exchanged one brief glance. Lois crossed the intervening space and took her husband's arm. "Archibald," she said, slowly and emphatically, "if this trouble has anything to do with the mine, it would be well to let the Rajah know that we also take our share. There must be no suspicion that--that we have not acted honorably or have shirked our responsibilities." He stared at her with dull, listless eyes.