The Beautiful White Devil

h a state of excitement that no sort of rest was possible to me. Hour after hour I tossed and tumbled upon my couch, now hovering on the borderland of sleep, now wide awake, listening to

idges into the pocket of my shooting coat, procured a few biscuits from the dining-hut, and strolled across the open space into the forest beyond. It was a glorious morning for a hunting excursion, and before I had gone half a mile I had secured a fine deer for the camp's

rasped her real character for myself, what other people might say of her? Had I not observed her courage in moments of extreme peril? had I not witnessed her tenderness by the bedside of dying men and women? had I not noted her devotion to what

em a large herd of deer was feeding quietly. Remembering that I had been told on the previous day that the cook was short of fresh meat, I resolved to see how many I could bring to book. The only way to stalk them was, of course, to approach them upwind, and in order to do this it was necessary that I should cross a stony ridge which ran parallel with the edge of the ravine mentioned above. As there would not be a vestige of cover between us the chances were a hundred to

one so I continued my painful crawl. But the worst part of the business was still to come, for having got up to them against the wind I had now, unless I was content to chance a long shot, to

time I had first seen them, I was near enough to get a shot, and accordingly I took a cartridge from my pocket and slipped it into the breech of the rifle. As I did so my elbow overturned a large ston

aped into the air and fell on his knees. I thought I had got him, and was going to jump up and run towards him, when I saw that I was counting my chickens before they were ha

eet again and hobbled into the jungle on the other side of the plain, at the same spot where the rest of the herd had disappeared. I followed as swiftly as I could, and, when I had gained the cover, descried him lying upon the g

s done, I wiped my knife on the grass, and was preparing to rise again when I felt a heavy hand laid upon my shoulder. Knowing that there was not a soul within five m

ape headed me off, and would have caught me had I not stopped at a tree and dodged quickly round it. Then back I went in the direction I had just come, making this time for the opposite jungle. But once more he headed me off and drove me back on my tracks. My agony was intolerable, my breath was almost spent, and I had begun to give myself up for lost, when I espied a tree on the further side, with a branch close to the ground. Putting forth a new effort I made for this, dodged round it, and, once on the other side, swung myself into it with, I flatter myself, as much dexterity as the most accomplished gymnast could have shown. In that instant I seemed to live my whole life over again. All the events of my career, even those connected with my earliest childhood, flashed through my brain. But the activity of my thoughts did not detract from the quickness of my legs, and I mounted the tree as fast as I could go. No sailor could have climbed a mast in better style. Then down I crouched amid the branches. Through the leaves I could see my torment

ere I was, and be caught by my horrible pursuer, who had now hemmed me in and had got me at his mercy, meant certain death. There was one consolation, however; in those great arms-death, if it would be nothing else, would be swift. I stood on the very edge of the precipice, revolving these two fates in my mind, and every moment my assailant was coming nearer. There was no hope for it now, so I closed my eyes and waited. As I did so, I could hear the t

and his whole body quivering with rage. A second later he leapt into the air, and then a desperate battle ensued. The terrified monkey fought with all the courage he possessed, but the dog had got him firmly by the throat

ded, and crawled out of reach. The great mass above him stood for a moment bewildered, blood spurting from either side of his thro

ere, a moment before, Alie had stood. She was not there. Then a bit of white skirt caught my eye

h it to her side was only the work of an instant. In three or four minu

ld speak. "You are quite sure you are not hurt

ith them. I assured her as emphatically as I was able that, so far as I knew, I was without even

d been to terminating my own existence. From a contemplation of his ugliness I turned to the dog, who, at his mistress' command

nds than ever after this. You have saved my life to-day and I am grateful to you." Then turning to his

minutes longer on the road I should have been too late. Now we must be getting back to the camp as fast as we can g

on our return, reaching the huts in so

the dining-hut, and then I saw that it was my old friend Walworth, covered with dust and showing all the signs of hav

alworth," she said, "that

at is of the utmost importance," he answer

islands, about two degrees west of the settlement. Thence they were brought on to their destination by a swift-sailing junk, the property of the Beautiful

ething serious toward. Until the meal was finished, however, she said nothing. Then, suggesting that we should bring our cigars outside, so as to be away from any possible eavesdroppers, she intimated that she had something important to tell us. We accordingly rose and followed her into the open

ance of studying mine. You know now exactly what my life is, but at the same time I cannot keep from myself a remembrance of the fact that you are only here as a visitor; if you wish therefore to withdraw before you hear any more I will give you free permi

e, and I began to see t

I answered promptly. "I think you know

nly, and, as she said it, she took from her p

elling me to the English authorities. My correspondent, who holds a high position in the Straits Settlements, informs me that this dastardly traitor has already hinted to the authorities that it is in his power to disclose my long-sought rendezvous. He only stipulates that, seeing the nature of his communication, and the dangerous position in which he stands regar

l, and thought the more. At any rate I told myself under my breath that it would be an exceedingly bad day for the man if he ever fell into m

be hardly likely to reveal the fact that for the last five years he has acted as my agen

ving it at all," cried Walwor

?" she a

be of no avail, I

ways be in danger of him. In that case I should have to discha

a marri

he is

hat, would his death or departure be the m

im. No. He has idled away his life on the bounty I hav

at lays the golden eggs? The man must be

believes I am on the eve of being captured, and as the reward is a lar

little while and

as no business-then he cannot bring ruin upon a trusting public. I should say abduc

moments. Then she looked u

I will abduct him, and bring him here. But we must remember that he has always been most suspicious, and he will be doubly so now.

must not run such a risk. Supp

hen, smiling, she continued, "And you have evident

ime had been turning my scheme over and over in his mind; "and t

his I had mad

ur confidence," I said, turning to Alie, "I

me with a li

avour, Dr. De Norma

u. No; I am not making this offer without thought, I assure y

hatever he may have thought he kept to himself. Alie paused b

she said. "I will ask you to help me to get this traitor

one to our liking. Once this was settled, however, we returned to the camp. Orders for starting were immediately given, and, by the time lunch w

e arrived at our destination. But late though it was, no one thought o

ear of the house. In this apartment were stored the latest Admiralty charts of all the seas and harbours in the world, and it was here, as I gathered later, that the Beauti

ctions down to the harbour) to Java. In Batavia we shall meet a young English doctor named De Normanville, who will accompany me to Singapore. I shall remain with a companion in that place for a short time while I do the sights,

ly, I sh

o much with me. You are just to be a casual acquaintance whom I have picked up while travelling between Singapore and Batavia. Do you und

at. In for a penny, in for a pound. Believe me, I am throwing my lot in

we are under to you," she answered. "Now we must get to

nd when it was completed, and my bags were packed and despatched to the h

time before, and nothing remained now but

ere quite in keeping with the situation. I was saying good-bye to a place for which I had developed a sincere affection, and I was going out into the world again to do a deed which might end in cutting me off from my profession, my former ass

what looked to me like impenetrable cliffs. When we got closer to them, however, I saw that one projected further than the other, and that between the two was a long openin

hat particular point the cliffs on either side were scarcely more than eighty feet high. Here, lying flat again

n water daylight had increased to such an extent that, when we wer

side upon the bridge, "and tell me if you

ht a glass to bear upon the cliffs, I could see no break

st, "I must confes

he meaning of those great doors. On the seaward side they are paint

of-war might have patrolled that seemingly barren coast for weeks on e

," she said. "I think you will fin

d y

ppearing from our sight. There it goes beneath the

d, with a little s

she answered softly, and immediately