in the act of robbing her and since then she had not left him out of range of her rifle. She finished by saying, "How soon will you be ready to leave?"
It was Naomi who asked, "Leave? Why are we leaving?"
"You can't stay here unless you want to die."
The return of the Englishwoman had an amazing effect upon Naomi. The terror seemed to have left her, giving way to a sudden, resentful stubbornness, tinged by hatred.
"God means us to stick to our post," she said. "He will care for us."
Lady Millicent laughed. It was a short, vicious, ugly sound. "You can trust to God if you like. I intend to leave within an hour. I shan't argue it with you, but I mean to take Ali, and without him you'll be lost."
"But why?" Philip asked suddenly. "Is it necessary?"
She gave him a look of utter scorn. "Do you know anything about this country? Do you know what's happened?"
"No," said Philip, meek as a lamb, "I don't."
"Well, they've come down for blood—from the North, and they aren't afraid of any white man and they never heard of God. Besides, before night the fire will be here."
She turned suddenly and poured out a torrent of guttural sounds on the miserable Arab, who turned and entered Swanson's hut.
"If he tries to escape," she told Philip, "just shoot him, and remember I know what I'm talking about . . . I've lived among 'em."
