Iris listened, only half comprehending.  Her mind was filled with one thought to the exclusion of all others.  Robert had left her, had done this thing without telling her.  She forgave him, knowing he acted for the best, but he must never, never deceive her again in such a manner.  She could not bear it.

What better excuse could man desire for caressing her, yea, even squeezing her, until the sobs ceased and she protested with a weak little laugh——­

“Robert, I haven’t got much breath—­after that excitement—­but please—­leave me—­the remains!”

CHAPTER XIV

THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS

“You are a dear unreasonable little girl,” he said.  “Have you breath enough to tell me why you came down the ladder?”

“When I discovered you were gone, I became wild with fright.  Don’t you see, I imagined you were wounded and had fallen from the ledge.  What else could I do but follow, either to help you, or, if that were not possible—­”

He found her hand and pressed it to his lips.

“I humbly crave your pardon,” he said.  “That explanation is more than ample.  It was I who behaved unreasonably.  Of course I should have warned you.  Yet, sweetheart, I ran no risk.  The real danger passed a week ago.”

“How can that be?”

“I might have been blown to pieces whilst adjusting the heavy stone in front of the caps.  I assure you I was glad to leave the place that day with a whole skin.  If the stone had wobbled, or slipped, well—­it was a case of determined felo-de-se.”

“May I ask how many more wild adventures you undertook without my knowledge?”

“One other, of great magnitude.  I fell in love with you.”

“Nonsense!” she retorted.  “I knew that long before you admitted it to yourself.”

“Date, please?”

“Well, to begin at the very beginning, you thought I was nice on board the Sirdar.  Now, didn’t you?”

And they were safely embarked on a conversation of no interest to any other person in the wide world, but which provided them with the most delightful topic imaginable.

Thus the time sped until the rising moon silhouetted the cliff on the white carpet of coral-strewn sand.  The black shadow-line traveled slowly closer to the base of the cliff, and Jenks, guided also by the stars, told Iris that midnight was at hand.

They knelt on the parapet of the ledge, alert to catch any unusual sound, and watching for any indication of human movement.  But Rainbow Island was now still as the grave.  The wounded Dyaks had seemingly been removed from hut and beach; the dead lay where they had fallen.  The sea sang a lullaby to the reef, and the fresh breeze whispered among the palm fronds—­that was all.

“Perhaps they have gone!” murmured Iris.

The sailor put his arm round her neck and gently pressed her lips together.  Anything would serve as an excuse for that sort of thing, but he really did want absolute silence at that moment.  If the Mussulman kept his compact, the hour was at hand.