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east to west through every tint of purple and blue and turquoise and emerald…green； down to the golden band of the afterglow。 Then the stars began to dot the purple； their tiny points of light serving only to emphasize its darkness； until the full moon swept up across the heavens； throwing its mystic silver light over all the land and adding tenfold to the empty loneliness of the veldt。 Sleep was out of the question。 He could only snuggle more closely into his blankets and wait for morning with what grace he could。 The stopping of his physical action only increased the swiftness of his swirling thoughts which chased each other round and round in circling eddies about one fixed point。 That point was Ethel。
Across the veldt at his left hand； he had watched the chain of blockhouses which lay along the country between Kroonstad and Lindley。 Their squat outlines and the shining blue of their corrugated iron roofs had caught his wandering attention； held it； pinned it to other associations with those same blockhouses and； of a sudden； had brought him to a full realization that griefs did not come singly。 He had left Johannesburg； to face a future apart from Ethel。 He was coming back to Lindley； to face a future bereft of the Captain。
It was full noon； the next day； when the camp came into view。 Leaving the convoy to follow in his wake； he headed straight for the rise where he had so often sat with Carew and gossiped of all things under the light of the sun。 Then； as the round tents lay under his eyes like rows of dots punched into relief above the surface of the plain； he sank down on the coarse； parched grass and hid his eyes in his shaking hands。 Yet even then the pitiless circle of tragic thoughts refused to stop their ceaseless round。
He roused himself at a touch on his arm。 Kruger Bobs； at a distance； was eying him with a look of chastened welcome； but Carew stood beside him； one thin； sun…tanned hand on Weldon's shoulder。
〃It's all right； old man；〃 he was saying。 〃Don't try to tell me anything about it。 Kruger Bobs saw you coming； and we rode out to meet you。 Come in and rest。 You look utterly done up。〃
Half way back to the camp； Carew spoke again； but it was only once。
〃I told the fellows you were coming； and that you would be tired。 They will keep out of your way； till you have had time to rest up a bit。 Paddy is waiting to look out for you； but you needn't worry。 He knows when to hold his tongue。 If you need anything； or if you care to talk； send him out to look for me。 Meanwhile； you need some rest。〃
CHAPTER TWENTY…ONE
〃For God's sake； Weldon； how long is this going to last？〃
Weldon raised his eyes from the seven…weeks…old Times in his hand； and looked at Carew in surprise。
〃What last？〃 he questioned blankly。
Carew sprang to his feet and began to pace up and down with impatient； nervous steps。
〃This。 Everything；〃 he said。
Weldon's smile； though it went no deeper than his lips； was half sarcastic； wholly sad。
〃Specify；〃 he advised languidly。 〃My mind can't grasp your generalities。〃
Carew took a few more turns。 Then he came back to Weldon's side。
〃It's this way； Harvey；〃 he said slowly； for the moment lapsing into the name by which he had called his friend in their childhood； 〃since you came back from Johannesburg； you've not been the same man。 What has done it？〃
Weldon's lips shut with a tightness which curled the corners downward。 Then； as he looked into the questioning eyes and anxious face of his companion； his own eyes softened； and he changed his mind in regard to keeping silence。
〃It was a hard journey；〃 he said evasively； yet with a kindly accent to the words。 〃Such days take it out of a man； Carew。 I shall brace up in time。〃
Carew shook his head。
〃That is just what you must not do。 You have braced too long； as it is。 Your wounds were nothing but scratches。 They healed up easily enough； and you say； yourself； that they don't trouble you； but you look〃
〃Well？〃 〃As if things had ended for you；〃 Carew blurted out desperately。
Slowly； wearily； Weldon lifted his eyes to his friend's face。
〃Well； they have；〃 he said； with an intonation of dreary finality。
〃Rot！〃 Carew observed profanely。 〃Look here； Weldon； you've no business to funk in this fashion。 It's not like you； either。〃
The word stung Weldon。 He scrambled to his feet and stood to attention。
〃Carew； no other man could say that to me；〃 he said slowly。
Carew maintained his ground。
〃No other man cares for you as I do； Harvey。 We've been like brothers； and I have been too proud of your record to be willing to sit by； quiet； and see you spoil the last round of the game。 There is too much at stake。〃 Weldon raised his brows。
〃What is at stake？〃 he asked coldly。
〃Your whole army record。 Your manhood。 Your〃 Carew hesitated； then he nerved himself to speak out plainly； 〃your love for Miss Dent。〃
Weldon shut his teeth and drew in his breath between them； while the dark red blood rushed across his face； and then died away； to leave in its place a grayish pallor。 He put out his hand； as if to ward off something。
〃For God's sake； don't！〃 he said huskily。
Carew watched him for an instant。 Then he stepped forward and linked his arm through that of Weldon。
〃There's nothing doing now；〃 he said quietly。 〃Let's go for a walk。 We can talk better； while we're moving； you know。〃
〃But what is the use of talking？〃 Weldon objected listlessly。
Carew looked into the heavy eyes； the overcast face of his friend。 Not once during the past three weeks since Weldon's return from Johannesburg had the cloud lifted。
〃You must talk； Weldon；〃 he said firmly。 〃If you don't talk； you'll go mad。 I've watched you； day after day； hoping you would speak of your own free will。 I have hated to urge you。 It seemed rather beastly to drive you into telling me things that are none of my business。 But they are my business； in a sense。 There's nobody in all South Africa who can go back farther with you into the past。 That alone ought to count for something。〃
Handsome still； in spite of his dark sunburn and his time…stained khaki； Carew's face was wonderfully attractive； as it looked into that of his friend。 Weldon felt the attraction； even while he was wondering why it was so powerless to move him。 He liked Carew； since the death of the Captain； no other man was linked more closely with his life。 Nevertheless； Carew's words left him cold。 All things did leave him cold of late。 It was as if； in the fierce conflagration of that one hour in the Johannesburg hospital； the fires of his nature had burned themselves out beyond the possibility of being rekindled。 His intellect told him that Carew was in the right of it； that his alternatives were speech or madness； but he faced the alternatives with an absolute indifference。 His intellect also told him that； for the past three weeks； Carew's kindness had been unremitting； that his care had served as a buffer between himself and the clumsy tactlessness of their mates； that his sympathy now was leading him to try to storm the barrier of his own reserve； but he met Carew's advances with an icy front which could be thawed neither from outside nor from within。 It