"Not worthy your thought, but I will ask you to call the others at once, and have them load everything into the boat without delay.

I will await you here, as I find myself weak from loss of blood." She stood gazing intently at me, as if she read my most secret thoughts; and no doubt my face was sufficiently white to alarm her, yet I smiled back into her eyes, and she turned away, running lightly up the bank.

Nor was she long away, or noisy in her mission, scarcely a minute having elapsed before the three came trooping down to the water-side, their hands laden with camp utensils, De Noyan wide awake enough, and filled with intense interest in my adventures, but the Puritan yet cock-eyed from sleep, stumbling as he walked like a man in a dream.
"Take the oars, both of you," I said quietly, totally ignoring the question in the eyes of the Chevalier.

"I have tasted a sword point, and am weakened from loss of blood.

Pull up the stream, and be swift and quiet about it." "Hast thou been smitten of the Philistine, friend Benteen ?" loudly questioned Cairnes, stumbling noisily across the seats.
"Time enough to tell my story when we are beyond danger," I returned tartly, annoyed by his awkwardness.