Page:Doughty--Mirrikh or A woman from Mars.djvu/64

 Mr. Mirrikh, turning his back squarely upon him.

“I fear so.”

“You wish to return to Angkor of course?”

“Of course.”

“Take my advice and make no such attempt,” he said hastily. “A storm of unusual violence is certainly approaching, and the best thing you can do is to get under cover as soon as you possibly can.”

“But where can we find shelter? In the wood-cutters’ village back there we shall hardly be safe.”

“I do not refer to the wood-cutters’ village,” he interrupted. “Keep directly on as you are going. About a quarter of a mile further and you will come to a hill upon which stands an old stone tower, once an observatory they say. It is a ruinous old affair, but it will afford you shelter. You had best be quick or you will be half drowned before you can make it. Good night.”

He turned to leave us, but I could not have him go so. The recollection of the bag preyed upon me. How guilty I felt. Did he know? Had he in addition to his other wonderful acquirements the power of reading men’s thoughts?

“Stay!” I exclaimed, “I feel that we have not half expressed our gratitude. If you had not happened along as you did—”

“But I did, and there’s been enough said already,” he replied. “I have been at Ballambong myself, and was on my way through the jungle to another ruin near here. Just as I heard your voices I happened to spy the man-eater. I have been tiger hunting many times in India, and have seen that trick played before. It was a fortunate thing for all of you that I happened to have this torch.”

“But will you not remain with us?” I persisted. “You stand in the same need of shelter that we do, surely,”

He shook his head, and smiled peculiarly.

“No, I do not fear the storm, I love it. What is so grand as to witness a conflict of the elements in a tropical forest? Nothing that I know of. It brings man to such a thorough realization of his own insignificance; besides I have a place of shelter in view, and shall surely reach it. Perhaps I may see you again before the storm is over. Until then, adieu!”

He bowed low, crossing his arms after the Eastern fashion, and before I could say another word, glided into the