Brown had insisted upon marching at the head of the little column, and Jane had acceded to his request. Annette stayed as close to Brown as she could. Jane brought up the rear and Alexis walked with her. Tibbs plodded along behind Annette.
Either because he tired more quickly than the others, or because he wanted to get out of earshot of those whom he considered servants and beneath him, Alexis lagged.
"We shouldn't fall so far behind the others," said Jane. "We must not become separated. You will have to walk a little faster, Alexis." Her tone was just a little impatient.
"I thought it would be nice for us to be alone together, Jane," he said. "You see, you and I have nothing in common with those others; and it must be as much of a relief to you as to me to have the companionship of one of your own class."
"You will have to get over that," said Jane; "there are no class distinctions here."
"I am afraid you do not like me, dear lady."
"You have been very annoying at times, Alexis."
"I have been terribly upset," he replied, "and most of all by you."
"By me? What have I done?"
"It is not that you have done anything; it is just that you are you. Can't you understand, Jane? Haven't you noticed?"
"Noticed what?"
"From the first, you attracted me strangely. There seemed to be no hope, though, and I was desperately blue; but now I am free, Jane." He seized her hand. "Oh, Jane, can't you like me a little?"
She jerked her hand from his. "You fool!" she exclaimed.
His eyes narrowed menacingly. "You are going to regret that," he said. "I tell you I'm in love with you, madly in love. I'm desperate, and I won't stand idly by and see an illiterate aeroplane pilot get the woman I want."
"Just what do you mean by that?" The girl's eyes and voice were level and cold.
"It's too obvious to need explanation. Anyone can see that you are in love with Brown."
"Alexis, did you ever hear a man referred to as an unspeakable cad? I have; but until this minute I never knew what it meant. I never could have conceived the sort of man it describes until now. Move on now. Get away from me. Get up there with Tibbs."
Instantly his manner changed. "Oh, Jane," he pleaded, "please don't send me away. I don't know why I ever said that; I was just mad with jealousy. Can't you understand that it is because I love you so? Can't you understand and forgive me?"
She made no reply but started ahead, increasing her gait to overtake the others.
"Wait!" he exclaimed, huskily. "You've got to listen to me. I'm not going to give you up." He seized her by the arm and pulled her toward him, endeavoring to throw his arms about her. Then she struck him; and, jumping back, levelled her spear to hold him off.
For a moment they stood there facing one another in silence; and in that moment she saw something in his eyes, in the expression on his face, that made her fear him for the first time. She knew then how really dangerous he was, and it was no longer difficult for her to believe that he had murdered his wife.
"Go up there now as I told you," she said, "or I will kill you. There is no law here but the law of the jungle."
Perhaps he, too, read something in her narrowed lids and icy tone, for he did as she bid, and went on ahead of her in silence.
By mid-afternoon, Tibbs and Alexis and Annette were almost exhausted; and when the party reached a favorable spot, Jane called a halt.
The trail by which they had come had followed the mean-derings of the stream upon which they had been camped, and thus the water problem had been solved for them.
"What now, Miss?" demanded Brown. "Hadn't we better rustle some grub?"
"Yes," she replied. "I'll go out and see what I can bring in."
"I'm going to have a look-see myself," said Brown. "We can go in different directions and maybe one of us will find something."
"All right. You go on up the trail, and I'll take to the trees and follow the river. I may run across a drinking hole." She turned to the others. "And while we are gone, the rest of you can be building a boma and gathering firewood. All right, Brown, let's get going."
The three that remained in camp seemed physically unable to drag themselves to their feet, but Alexis was resourceful.
"Tibbs," he said, "go out and gather material for the boma and get some firewood."
Motivated by years of servile obedience, the Englishman rose painfully to his feet and started away.
"I'll help you, Tibbs," said Annette, and started to rise.
Alexis laid a restraining hand on her arm. "Wait," he said, "I want to talk with you."
"But we must help Tibbs."
"He can do very nicely by himself. You wait here."
"What do you want, Prince Sborov? I've got to go and help Tibbs." "Listen, my dear," said Alexis, "how would you like to have a hundred thousand francs?"
The girl shrugged. "Who would not like to have a hundred thousand francs?" she demanded.
"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.