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unsullied； the royal blood from the days when Grabritin was a mighty
country。〃
The old queen's words had a noticeable effect upon the mob of curious
savages which surrounded me。 The moment they discovered that the old
queen was friendly to me and that I had rescued her daughter they
commenced to accord me a more friendly interest； and I heard many
words spoken in my behalf； and demands were made that I not be harmed。
But now Buckingham interfered。 He had no intention of being
robbed of his prey。 Blustering and storming； he ordered the people back
to their huts； at the same time directing two of his warriors to confine me
in a dugout in one of the trenches close to his own shelter。
Here they threw me upon the ground； binding my ankles together and
trussing them up to my wrists behind。 There they left me； lying upon my
stomacha most uncomfortable and strained position； to which was added
the pain where the cords cut into my flesh。
Just a few days ago my mind had been filled with the anticipation of
the friendly welcome I should find among the cultured Englishmen of
London。 Today I should be sitting in the place of honor at the banquet
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board of one of London's most exclusive clubs； feted and lionized。
The actuality！ Here I lay； bound hand and foot； doubtless almost
upon the very site of a part of ancient London； yet all about me was a
primeval wilderness； and I was a captive of half…naked wild men。
I wondered what had become of Delcarte and Taylor and Snider。
Would they search for me？ They could never find me； I feared； yet if
they did； what could they accomplish against this horde of savage
warriors？
Would that I could warn them。 I thought of the girl doubtless she
could get word to them； but how was I to communicate with her？ Would
she come to see me before I was killed？ It seemed incredible that she
should not make some slight attempt to befriend me； yet； as I recalled； she
had made no effort to speak with me after we had reached the village。
She had hastened to her mother the moment she had been liberated。
Though she had returned with the old queen； she had not spoken to me；
even then。 I began to have my doubts。
Finally； I came to the conclusion that I was absolutely friendless
except for the old queen。 For some unaccountable reason my rage
against the girl for her ingratitude rose to colossal proportions。
For a long time I waited for some one to come to my prison whom I
might ask to bear word to the queen； but I seemed to have been forgotten。
The strained position in which I lay became unbearable。 I wriggled and
twisted until I managed to turn myself partially upon my side； where I lay
half facing the entrance to the dugout。
Presently my attention was attracted by the shadow of something
moving in the trench without； and a moment later the figure of a child
appeared； creeping upon all fours； as； wide…eyed； and prompted by
childish curiosity； a little girl crawled to the entrance of my hut and peered
cautiously and fearfully in。
I did not speak at first for fear of frightening the little one away。 But
when I was satisfied that her eyes had become sufficiently accustomed to
the subdued light of the interior； I smiled。
Instantly the expression of fear faded from her eyes to be replaced
with an answering smile。
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〃Who are you； little girl？〃 I asked。
〃My name is Mary；〃 she replied。 〃I am Victory's sister。〃
〃And who is Victory？〃
〃You do not know who Victory is？〃 she asked； in astonishment。
I shook my head in negation。
〃You saved her from the elephant country people； and yet you say you
do not know her！〃 she exclaimed。
〃Oh； so she is Victory； and you are her sister！ I have not heard her
name before。 That is why I did not know whom you meant；〃 I explained。
Here was just the messenger for me。 Fate was becoming more kind。
〃Will you do something for me； Mary？〃 I asked。
〃If I can。〃
〃Go to your mother； the queen； and ask her to come to me；〃 I said。 〃I
have a favor to ask。〃
She said that she would； and with a parting smile she left me。
For what seemed many hours I awaited her return； chafing with
impatience。 The afternoon wore on and night came； and yet no one came
near me。 My captors brought me neither food nor water。 I was
suffering considerable pain where the rawhide thongs cut into my swollen
flesh。 I thought that they had either forgotten me； or that it was their
intention to leave me here to die of starvation。
Once I heard a great uproar in the village。 Men were shouting
women were screaming and moaning。 After a time this subsided； and
again there was a long interval of silence。
Half the night must have been spent when I heard a sound in the trench
near the hut。 It resembled muffled sobs。 Presently a figure appeared；
silhouetted against the lesser darkness beyond the doorway。 It crept
inside the hut。
〃Are you here？〃 whispered a childlike voice。
It was Mary！ She had returned。 The thongs no longer hurt me。
The pangs of hunger and thirst disappeared。 I realized that it had been
loneliness from which I suffered most。
〃Mary！〃 I exclaimed。 〃You are a good girl。 You have come back；
after all。 I had commenced to think that you would not。 Did you give
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my message to the queen？ Will she come？ Where is she？〃
The child's sobs increased； and she flung herself upon the dirt floor of
the hut； apparently overcome by grief。
〃What is it？〃 I asked。 〃Why do you cry？〃
〃The queen； my mother； will not come to you；〃 she said； between sobs。
〃She is dead。