'Very well, you can earn them—and very easily.'
'And how?' Her tone was skeptical.
'You have something that I wish. I will pay you one hundred thousand francs for it; you know what it is.'
'You mean the burned sleeve of your coat, Prince Alexis?'
'You won't let them frame me, Annette? You won't let them send me to the guillotine for something I didn't do, when everybody in this party hates me; they will all lie about me, and when they bring that piece of burned cloth into court, I shall be convicted in spite of my innocence. Give it to me. No one need ever know; you can say that you lost it, and as soon as we get back to civilization I will give you one hundred thousand francs.'
The girl shook her head. 'No, I could not do that. It may be all that will save Mr. Brown.'
'You are wasting your time on Brown,' he said, nastily. 'You think he loves you, but he doesn't. Don't be fooled.'
The girl flushed. 'I have not said that he loves me.'
'Well, you think so; and he's trying to make you think so; but if you knew what I know, you wouldn't be so anxious to save his worthless head.'
'I do not know what you mean. I do not care to talk about it any more. I will not give you the piece of cloth.'
'Well, I'll tell you what I mean, you little fool,' snapped Alexis. 'Brown's in love with Lady Greystoke, and she's in love with him. What do you suppose they've gone off into the jungle for? Why, to meet each other, of course.'
'I do not believe it,' said Annette. 'I will not listen to any more.'
She started to rise; and as she did so, he leaped to his feet and seized her.
'Give me that piece of cloth,' he demanded, in a hoarse whisper. The fingers of his right hand encircled her throat. 'Give it to me or I'll kill you, you little fool.'
Quick as a cat, and with surprising strength, she tore herself away from him and screamed.
'Help, Tibbs! Help!' she cried.
The Englishman had not gone far, and he came running back.
'If you tell on me,' cried Sborov in a low whisper, 'I'll kill you. I'll kill you as I killed her.'
Annette looked into his eyes, as Jane had, and was frightened.
'What's wrong, sir?' demanded Tibbs, as he approached them.
'It wasn't anything,' said Alexis, with a laugh. 'Annette thought she saw a snake.'
'I did see a snake,' she said.
'Well, it's all right now, Tibbs,' said Alexis; 'you can go back to your work.'
'I shall need a little help, sir,' said the Englishman. 'I cannot do it all alone.'
'I'll come with you, Tibbs,' said Annette.
Alexis followed them. He walked very close to Annette and whispered, 'Remember, if you tell them.'
'I don't fancy having a snake around the camp,' said Tibbs, 'the nasty beggers. I don't like 'em.'
'Neither do I,' said Annette, 'but I won't be afraid when Mr. Brown comes back. If a snake tries to harm me then, he will kill it.' She did not look at Tibbs as she spoke, although she seemed to be addressing him, but at Alexis.
'I think I would not tell the others about the snake,' said Sborov; 'it might frighten Lady Greystoke.'
'My word, sir, I don't believe she's afraid of anything, sir.'
'Nevertheless, see that you don't mention it,' cautioned Alexis.
'Why, here's Mr. Brown now,' cried Tibbs. 'He's running. Something must have happened.'
'What's wrong?' demanded Brown. 'I heard someone scream. Was that you, Annette?'
'Annette saw a snake,' said Alexis. 'Did you not, Annette?'
'Where is it?' asked Brown. 'Did you kill it?'
'No,' replied the girl, 'I had nothing with which to kill it; but if it frightens me again, you will kill it.'
'You bet your life I will, girlie. Where is it now?'
'It got away,' said Alexis.
Annette looked straight into his eyes. 'Next time it will not get away,' she said.
Brown's pockets were bulging with fruit which he took out and laid on the ground.
'I hope this ain't poison,' he said. 'I had a heck of a time getting it. Lady Greystoke will know whether or not we can eat it.'
'Here she comes now,' said Annette.
'What luck, Jane?' asked Alexis.
'Not so good,' she replied, 'just a little fruit. I didn't see any game.' Her eyes fell on the fruit that Brown had gathered. 'Oh, you found the same thing,' she said. 'Well, it won't taste very good, but it's safe and it's food. I thought I heard a scream a few moments ago. Did any of you hear it?'
'It was Annette,' said Brown; 'she seen a snake.'
Jane laughed. 'Oh, before Annette gets out of Africa , she'll be used to snakes.'
'Not this one,' said the girl.
A puzzled expression crossed Brown's face. He started to speak, and then evidently thinking better of it remained silent.
Not much had been accomplished toward the building of the boma and collecting the firewood; so Jane and Brown lent a hand in the work which moved much more rapidly with the aid of the hand-axe.
It was dark before the work was completed, and then they felt that they could take their ease around the fire that Jane had built.
Jane showed them how they might make the fruit that constituted their sole food supply more palatable by roasting it on the end of a stick. So hungry were they that even Sborov ate without complaining; and as they ate, a pair of eyes watched them from behind the concealing foliage of a nearby tree.
Brown had insisted that the three men assume the duty of guarding the camp; and though Jane and Annette insisted upon doing their share, the pilot was firm in respect to this matter and would not be moved.
'Two hours on and four off won't hurt nobody,' he insisted, 'and you girls are going to need all the sleep you can get if you're going to keep up with us.'
The statement made Jane smile, for she knew that she could endure more than any of them, not excepting Brown; but she appreciated the spirit that animated him; and knowing how jealous men are of their protective prerogative she bowed to his will rather than offend him.
The three men matched coins to determine the order in which they should stand guard.
'I wish you'd let me be a sentry,' said Annette.
'No, that ain't no work for a girl,' said Brown.
'Oh, please, Neal, just once,' she begged. 'Oh, please.'
'Nothing doing.'
'Oh, just one little hour. You are on from two to four, Neal. Wake me at four and let me stand guard until five. Then I will wake the prince. It will be almost morning, anyway.'
'Let her do it, if she wants to,' said Jane.
'All right,' said Brown, 'but it ain't goin' to be the regular thing.'
All were stretched out around the fire, apparently sleeping, when Tibbs woke Brown for his first tour of duty at eight o'clock.
Tibbs was so exhausted that he was asleep almost as soon as he lay down. Then Annette raised on one elbow and looked around. A moment later she came over and sat down beside Brown.
'You better get back to bed, kid,' he said.
'I just wanted to talk with you for a minute, Neal,' she said.
'What's on your mind, girlie.'
She was silent for a moment. 'Oh, nothing in particular,' she replied. 'I like to be alone with you; that is all.'
He put an arm about her and pressed her closer, and thus they sat in silence for a moment before Brown spoke again.
'You know, I've been thinking a lot about that snake business, Annette,' he said. 'It sounded sort of fishy to
