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path, stretched her arms across; her black eyes opened wide, her lips parted as if in an uncertain attempt to speak--but no sound came out to break the significant silence of their meeting. Lingard stopped and looked at her with stern curiosity. After a while he said composedly-- "Let me pass. I came here to talk to a man. Does he hide? Has he sent you?" She made a step nearer, her arms fell by her side, then she put them straight out nearly touching Lingard's breast. "He knows not fear," she said, speaking low, with a forward throw of her head, in a voice trembling but distinct. "It is my own fear that has sent me here. He sleeps." "He has slept long enough," said Lingard, in measured tones. "I am come--and now is the time of his waking. Go and tell him this--or else my own voice will call him up. A voice he knows well." He put her hands down firmly and again made as if to pass by her. "Do not!" she exclaimed, and fell at his feet as if she had been cut down by a scythe. The unexpected suddenness of her movement startled Lingard, who stepped back. "What's this?" he exclaimed in a wondering whisper--then added in a tone of sharp command: "Stand up!" She rose at once and stood looking at him, timorous and fearless; yet with a fire of recklessness burning in her eyes that made clear her resolve to pursue her purpose even to the death. Lingard went on in a severe voice-- "Go out of my path. You are Omar's daughter, and you ought to know that when men meet in daylight women must be silent and abide their fate." "Women!" she retorted, with subdued vehemence. "Yes, I am a woman! Your eyes see that, O Rajah Laut, but can you see my life? I also have heard--O man of many fights--I also have heard the voice of fire-arms; I also have felt the rain of young twigs and of leaves cut up by bullets fall down about my head; I also know how to look in silence at angry faces and at strong hands raised high grasping sharp steel. I also saw men fall dead around me without a cry of fear and of mourning; and I have watched the sleep