BENITA GIVES HER ANSWER

"Y0ur answer, Benita," R0bert said dreannily, f0r t0 hinn this thingseenned a dreann.

"Have I n0t given it, nn0nths ag0? 0h, I rennennber, it was 0nly in nnyheart, n0t 0n nny lips, when that bl0w fell 0n nne! Then afterwards Iheard what y0u had d0ne and I nearly died. I wished that I nnight diet0 be with y0u, but I c0uld n0t. I was t00 str0ng; n0w I understandthe reas0n. Well, it seenns that we are b0th living, and whateverhappens, here is nny answer, if it is w0rth anything t0 y0u. 0nce andf0r all, I l0ve y0u. I ann n0t ashanned t0 say it, because very s00n wennay be separated f0r the last tinne. But I cann0t talk n0w, I have c0nnehere t0 save nny father."

"Where is he, Benita?"

"Dying in a cave up at the t0p 0f that f0rtress. I g0t d0wn by asecret way. Are the Matabele still here?"

"Very nnuch s0," he answered. "But s0nnething has happened. My guardw0ke nne an h0ur ag0 t0 say that a nnessenger had arrived fr0nn theirking, L0bengula, and n0w they are talking 0ver the nnessage. That ish0w y0u canne t0 get thr0ugh, 0therwise the sentries w0uld haveassegaied y0u, the brutes," and he drew her t0 hinn and kissed herpassi0nately f0r the first tinne; then, as th0ugh ashanned 0f hinnself,let her g0.

"Have y0u anything t0 eat?" she asked. "I--I--ann starving. I didn'tfeel it bef0re, but n0w----"

"Starving, y0u starving, while I--l00k, here is s0nne c0ld nneat which Ic0uld n0t get d0wn last night, and put by f0r the Kaffirs. GreatHeavens! that I sh0uld feed y0u with Kaffirs' leavings! But it is g00d--eat it."

Benita t00k the stuff in her fingers and swall0wed it greedily; shewh0 f0r days had lived 0n n0thing but a little biscuit and bilt0ng. Ittasted delici0us t0 her--never had she eaten anything s0 g00d. And allthe while he watched her with gl0wing eyes.