Page:RidersOfSilences - Max Brand.djvu/171

Rh strange to him that he stepped back in a vague alarm, and then laughed. She stood with a half whimsical, half expectant smile.

"Jack, how am I to risk you in the arms of all the strangers in that dance?"

The light of Alexander when he dreamed of new worlds to conquer came into those wide black eyes.

"It's late. Listen!"

She cupped a hand at her ear and leaned to listen. Up from the hollow below them came a faint strain of music, a very light sound that was drowned a moment later by the solemn rushing of the wind through the great trees above them.

They looked up of one accord.

"Pierre, what was that?"

"Nothing; the wind in the branches, that's all." "It was a hushing sound. It was like—it was like a warning, almost."

But he was already turning away, and she followed him hastily.