Page:Doughty--Mirrikh or A woman from Mars.djvu/268

 impulse and here I am, and here you can bet your bottom dollar I mean to stay.”

“Better say you followed the promptings of some selfish devil you keep around you!”

My thoughts were upon what I had seen, but of course he did not understand.

“Take it easy! Take it easy,” he called back. “If you had been civil about it I might have repented and come over again to help you with Maurice. You had better join me and stop your talk. The first you know the thing will tumble into the rift.”

I had not thought of Maurice’s condition until now.

“In heaven’s name what are you to do?” I gasped. “You can never walk across."

“Never!”

“Nor can I carry you. Oh Maurice, we are as badly off as ever.”

“Better get Walla over and leave me to my fate, George,” he answered gloomily. “There is no help for it as matters stand. Perhaps you can get help once you are across.”

“I shall never leave you,” I replied firmly. “Maurice don’t you think you might do it if you tried?”

“It is impossible.”

“But—what’s the matter?”

“Hush! hush," he whispered, raising his hand suddenly. “Merzilla is speaking. She says for you to take Walla and  leave me. She assures me that it will be all right.”

“No, no! I shall not do it.”

“But you must; Merzilla orders it.”

“You may feel it necessary to obey her—I do not.”

“George, I beseech you! For God’s sake do not refuse me!”

“Maurice, it is useless. My resolve is taken. Until I know that you are safe across the rift I shall remain where I  am.”

“Oh what can I say?" he cried. “What can I say to make you yield?”

“Come on, Wylde? Don’t be a fool! We couldn’t have carried him over anyhow. Come on, and we will go for help,” shouted the Doctor.

But I never answered him, for creeping over Maurice’s face I saw the change come again.

It was no longer Maurice who looked at me—it was the