Part 23 (2/2)

For hours, rifle in hand, they watched the promontory, on which a head and shoulders or gesticulating arms appeared at frequent intervals and from which on several occasions also the threat of a levelled rifle forced them to hide themselves. Then, as soon as the darkness was dense enough, they set off again, convinced that Rolleston's trail would continue to ascend the Somme.

They travelled quickly, never doubting that the two Indians and the vagabonds would pursue them. Indeed, they heard their voices across the water and saw fleeting glimmers of light on the same bank as themselves.

”They know,” said Dolores, ”that Rolleston went in this direction and that we, who are looking for him, are bound to keep to it.”

After two hours' progress, during which they groped their way, guided from time to time by the vague s.h.i.+mmering of the river, they reached a sort of isolated chaos into which Simon wearily cast the light of his electric torch. It consisted of enormous blocks of hewn stone, sunk in some lighter, marble, as far as he could see, and partly awash.

”I think we might stop here,” said Simon, ”at all events till daybreak.”

”Yes,” Dolores said, ”at daybreak you go on again.”

He was surprised by this reply:

”But you too, I suppose, Dolores?”

”Of course; but wouldn't it be better for us to separate? Soon Rolleston's trail will leave the river and Forsetta is sure to catch you up, unless I draw him off on another trail.”

Simon did not quite understand the girl's plan:

”Then what will you do, Dolores?” he asked.

”I shall go my own way and I shall certainly draw them after me, since it's I they want.”

”But in that case you'll fall into the hands of Forsetta and Mazzani, who means to avenge his brother's death. . . .”

”I shall give them the slip.”

”And all the brutes swarming in these parts: will you give them the slip too?”

”We're not discussing my affairs, but yours: you have to catch Rolleston. I am hampering your efforts. So let us separate.”

”Not at all!” protested Simon. ”We have no right to separate; and you may be sure that I shan't leave you.”

Dolores' offer aroused Simon's curiosity. What was the girl's motive?

Why did she propose to sacrifice herself? In the silence and the darkness, he thought of her for a long while and of their extraordinary adventure. Starting in pursuit of the woman whom he loved, here he was bound by events to another woman, who was herself pursued; and of this other woman, whose safety depended on his and whose fate was closely linked with his own, he knew nothing but the grace of her figure and the beauty of her face. He had saved her life and he scarcely knew her name. He was protecting her and defending her; and her whole soul remained concealed from him.

He felt that she was creeping closer to him. Then he heard these words, which she uttered in a low and hesitating voice:

”It's to save me from Forsetta, isn't it, that you refuse my offer?”

”Of course,” he said. ”He's terribly dangerous.”

She replied, in a still lower voice and in the tone of one making a confession:

”You must not let the threat of a Forsetta influence your conduct.

. . . What happens to me is of no great account. . . . Without knowing much about my life, you can imagine the sort of girl I was: a little cigarette-seller hanging about the streets of Mexico; later, a dancer in the saloons at Los Angeles. . . .”

<script>