Not until he had completely conquered his first unwise impulse to retort angrily, did he venture again to speak.
"I hope to aid you in getting back beside the others, where you will be less exposed." "Will you take him ?" "He is dead," Hampton said, soberly, "and I can do nothing to aid him.
But there remains a chance for you to escape." "Then I won't go," she declared, positively.
Hampton's gray eyes looked for a long moment fixedly into her darker ones, while the two took mental stock of each other.

He realized the utter futility of any further argument, while she felt instinctively the cool, dominating strength of the man.

Neither was composed of that poor fibre which bends.
"Very well, my young lady," he said, easily, stretching himself out more comfortably in the rock shadow.

"Then I will remain here with you; it makes small odds." Excepting for one hasty, puzzled glance, she did not deign to look again toward him, and the man rested motionless upon his back, staring up at the sky.

Finally, curiosity overmastered the actor in him, and he turned partially upon one side, so as to bring her profile within his range of vision.