Derrick discovered for the first time that this was not a proper state of affairs.  He had tried, not over tactfully, to show her that man was, after all, the superior animal.  Averil had first stared at his efforts, and then laughed with uncontrollable mirth.

Then Derrick had set to work with splendid energy, and achieved in two years a certain amount of literary success.  Averil had praised him for this; which reward of merit had so turned his head that he had at once clumsily proposed to her.  Averil had not laughed at that.  She had rejected him instantly, with so severe a scolding that Derrick had lost his temper, and gone away to sulk.  Later, he had turned his attention again to journalistic work, hoping thereby to recover favour.

Then, and this had brought him to the previous winter, he had returned to find Averil going in for a little innocent hero-worship on her own account.  And Carlyon, his own particular friend and adviser, had happened to be the hero.

Whether Carlyon were aware of the state of affairs or not, Derrick in his wrath had not stopped to enquire.  He had simply and blindly gone direct to the attack, with the result that Averil had been deeply and irreconcilably offended, and Carlyon had so nearly kicked him for making such a fool of himself that Derrick had retired in disgust from the fray, had clamoured for and, with infinite difficulty, obtained a post as war-correspondent in the ensuing Frontier campaign, and had departed on his adventurous way, sulking hard.

Later, Carlyon had sought him out, had shaken hands with him, called him an impetuous young ass, and had enjoined him to stick to himself during the expedition in which Derrick was thus recklessly determined to take part.  They had, in fact, been entirely reconciled, avoiding by mutual consent the delicate ground of their dispute.  Carlyon was a man of considerable reputation on the Frontier, and Derrick Rose was secretly proud of the friendship that existed between them.

Now, however, the friendship had split to its very foundation.  Carlyon had failed him when life itself had been in the balance.

Impetuous as he was, Derrick was not one to forgive quickly so gross an injury as this.  He did not think, moreover, that Averil herself would continue to offer homage before so obvious a piece of clay as her idol had proved himself to be.  Derrick was beginning to apply to Carlyon the most odious of all epithets—­that of coward.

He had set his heart upon a reconciliation with Averil, and earnestly he hoped she would see the matter with his eyes.

III

DERRICK’S PARADISE

“So it was the Secret Service man who saved your life,” said Averil, with flushed cheeks.  “Really, Dick, how splendid of him!”

“Finest chap I ever saw!” declared Derrick.  “He looked about eight feet high in native dress.  I shall have to find that man some day, and tell him what I think of him.”