“Oh.  I see!” he growled, and he too reddened.

“I can’t help it, can I?” she demanded piteously.  “It is not unlike a riding-habit, is it?”

Then his ready wit helped him.

“An excellent compromise,” he cried.  “A process of evolution, in fact.  Now, do you know, Miss Deane, that would never have occurred to me.”

And during the remainder of the day he did not once look at her feet.  Indeed, he had far more serious matters to distract his thoughts, for Iris, feverishly anxious to be busy, suddenly suggested that it would be a good thing were she able to use a rifle if a fight at close quarters became necessary.

The recoil of the Lee-Metford is so slight that any woman can manipulate the weapon with effect, provided she is not called upon to fire from a standing position, in which case the weight is liable to cause bad aiming.  Though it came rather late in the day, Jenks caught at the idea.  He accustomed her in the first instance to the use of blank cartridges.  Then, when fairly proficient in holding and sighting—­a child can learn how to refill the clip and eject each empty shell—­she fired ten rounds of service ammunition.  The target was a white circle on a rock at eighty yards, and those of the ten shots that missed the absolute mark would have made an enemy at the same distance extremely uncomfortable.

Iris was much pleased with her proficiency.  “Now,” she cried, “instead of being a hindrance to you I may be some help.  In any case, the Dyaks will think there are two men to face, and they have good reason to fear one of us.”

Then a new light dawned upon Jenks.

“Why did you not think of it before?” he demanded.  “Don’t you see, Miss Deane, the possibility suggested by your words?  I am sorry to be compelled to speak plainly, but I feel sure that if those scoundrels do attack us in force it will be more to secure you than to avenge the loss of their fellow tribesmen.  First and foremost, the sea-going Dyaks are pirates and marauders.  They prowl about the coast looking not so much for a fight as for loot and women.  Now, if they return, and apparently find two well-armed men awaiting them, with no prospect of plunder, there is a chance they may abandon the enterprise.”

Iris did not flinch from the topic.  She well knew its grave importance.

“In other words,” she said, “I must be seen by them dressed only in male clothing?”

“Yes, as a last resource, that is.  I have some hope that they may not discover our whereabouts owing to the precautions we have adopted.  Perched up there on the ledge we will be profoundly uncomfortable, but that will be nothing if it secures our safety.”

She did not reply at once.  Then she said musingly—­“Forty-four days!  Surely there has been ample time to scour the China Sea from end to end in search of us?  My father would never abandon hope until he had the most positive knowledge that the Sirdar was lost with all on board.”