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"And now," I said, as I rose, "you must return to the safety of your camp. I will go

with you until you are near enough to continue alone in safety. Then I shall try

to return to my comrades."

I will not return to the camp," she replied.

But what shall you do?" I asked.

I do not know. Only I shall never go back while Buckingham lives. I should

rather die than go back to him. Mary came to me, after they had taken you from

the camp, and told me. I found your strange weapons and followed with them. It

took me a little longer, for often I had to hide in the trees that the lions might not

get me, but I came in time, and now you are free to go back to your friends."

"And leave you here?" I exclaimed.

She nodded, but I could see through all her brave front that she was frightened at

the thought. I could not leave her, of course, but what in the world I was to do,

cumbered with the care of a young woman, and a queen at that, I was at a loss to

know. I pointed out that phase of it to her, but she only shrugged her shapely

shoulders and pointed to her knife.

It was evident that she felt entirely competent to protect herself.

As we stood there we heard the sound of voices. They were coming from the

forest through which we had passed when we had come from camp.

They are searching for me," said the girl. "Where shall we hide?"

I didn't relish hiding. But when I thought of the innumerable dangers which

surrounded us and the comparatively small amount of ammunition that I had

with me, I hesitated to provoke a battle with Buckingham and his warriors when,

by flight, I could avoid them and preserve my cartridges against emergencies

which could not be escaped.

Would they follow us there?" I asked, pointing through the archway into the

Camp of the Lions.

"Never," she replied, "for, in the first place, they would know that we would not

dare go there, and in the second they themselves would not dare."

Then we shall take refuge in the Camp of the Lions," I said.

She shuddered and drew closer to me.

You dare?" she asked.

The Lost Continent