Muriel stood looking down at him in consternation.  It was her chance to escape—­a chance that might never occur again—­but she had no further thought of taking it.

“What is it?” she asked him timidly, “Can I—­do anything?”

And then she suddenly saw what was the matter.  It burst upon her—­a startling revelation.  Possibly the sight of those skeleton fists helped her to enlightenment.  She turned swiftly and sped back to their camping ground.

In thirty seconds or less, she was back again and stooping over him with a piece of brown bread in her hand.

“Eat this,” she ordered, in a tone of authority.

Nick’s face was hidden again.  He seemed to be fighting with himself.  His voice came at length, muffled and indistinct.

“No, no!  Take it away!  I’ll have a drain of brandy.  And I’ve got some tobacco left.”

Muriel stooped lower.  She caught the words though they were scarcely audible.  She laid her hand upon his arm, stronger in the moment’s emergency than she had been since leaving the fort.

“You are to eat it,” she said very decidedly.  “You shall eat it.  Do you hear, Nick?  I know what is the matter with you.  You are starving.  I ought to have seen it before.”

Nick uttered a shaky laugh, and dragged himself up on to his elbows.  “I’m not starving,” he declared.  “Take it away, Muriel.  Do you think I’m going to eat your luncheon, tea, and dinner, and to-morrow’s breakfast as well?”

“You are going to eat this,” she answered.

He flashed her a glance of keen curiosity.  “Am I?” he said.

“You must,” she said, speaking with an odd vehemence which later surprised herself.  “Why should you go out of your way to tell me a lie?  Do you think I can’t see?”

Nick raised himself slowly.  Something in the situation seemed to have deprived him of his usual readiness.  But he would not take the bread, would not even look at it.

“I’m better now,” he said.  “We’ll go back.”

Muriel stood for a second irresolute, then sharply turned her back.  Nick sat and watched her in silence.  Suddenly she wheeled.  “There!” she said.  “I’ve divided it.  You will eat this at least.  It’s absurd of you to starve yourself.  You might as well have stayed in the fort to do that.”

This was unanswerable.  Nick took the bread without further protest.  He began to eat, marvelling at his own docility; and suddenly he knew that he was ravenous.

There was very little left when at length he looked up.

“Show me what you have saved for yourself,” he said.

But Muriel backed away with a short, hysterical laugh.

He started to his feet and took her rudely by the shoulder.  “Do you mean to say—­” he began, almost with violence; and then checked himself, peering at her with fierce, uncertain eyes.

She drew away from him, all her fears returning upon her in a flood; but at her movement he set her free and turned his back.