Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/137

Rh another hand holding his own, while someone was bathing his forehead with a cooling liquid. He opened his eyes, and saw a girl standing by his side. He tried to speak, but his throat was parched and dry.

'Hush!' she said playfully, in a low, musical voice, as she held up one finger. 'You must not speak yet, for you are still very weak. You have nothing to fear; you are in the hands of friends.'

A moment later he saw a young man standing close to him and examining him attentively. Then he walked away from the bed, and talked to the girl in low tones for some time.

'He will do all right,' he whispered, as he left the room. 'He has had a near shave, though. I hardly thought we should have succeeded in bringing him round. You must take care of him and feed him up well.'

There was a click as the door shut, and Alec was left alone with the girl. She