“He can be saved!  He must be saved!  I’ll do it somehow—­somehow!”

“You may try,” Burke said, as he suffered her to release herself.  “You won’t succeed.”

She forced a difficult smile with quivering lips.  “You don’t know me.  Where there’s a will, there’s a way.  And I shall find it somehow.”

He looked grim for an instant, then smiled an answering smile.  “Don’t perish in the attempt!” he said.  “That do-or-die look of yours is rather ominous.  Don’t forget you’re my partner!  I can’t spare you, you know.”

She uttered a shaky laugh.  “Of course you can’t.  Blue Hill Farm would go to pieces without me, wouldn’t it?  I’ve often thought I’m quite indispensable.”

“You are to me,” said Burke briefly; and ere the quick colour had sprung to her face, he also had gone his way.

CHAPTER VIII

THE INTERRUPTION

Sylvia meant to ride round to Guy’s hut in search of him that evening, but when the time came something held her back.

Burke’s words, “You’ll drive him away,” recurred to her again and again, and with them came a dread of intruding that finally prevailed against her original intention.  He must not think for a moment that she desired to spy upon him, even though that dreadful craving in his eyes haunted her perpetually, urging her to action.  It seemed inevitable that for a time at least he must fight his devil alone, and with all her strength she prayed that he might overcome.

In the end she rode out with Burke, covering a considerable distance, and returning tired in body but refreshed in mind.

They had supper together as usual, but when it was over he surprised her by taking up his hat again.

“You are going out?” she said.

“I’m going to have a smoke with Guy,” he said.  “You have a game of Patience, and then go to bed!”

She looked at him uncertainly.  “I’ll come with you,” she said.

He was filling his pipe preparatory to departure.  “You do as I say!” he said.

She tried to laugh though she saw his face was grim.  “You’re getting rather despotic, partner.  I shall have to nip that in the bud.  I’m not going to stay at home and play Patience all by myself.  There!”

He raised his eyes abruptly from his task, and suddenly her heart was beating fast and hard.  “All right,” he said.  “We’ll stay at home together.”

His tone was brief, but it thrilled her.  She was afraid to speak for a moment or two lest he should see her strange agitation.  Then, as he still looked at her, “Oh no, partner,” she said lightly.  “That wouldn’t be the same thing at all.  I am much too fond of my own company to object to solitude.  I only thought I would like to come, too.  I love the veldt at night.”

“Do you?” he said.  “I wonder what has taught you to do that.”