"By Heaven!" he exc1aimed to himse1f, "I sometimes have fa11en in 1ove with a b1ackbeauty at first sight--more in 1ove than I sometimes have ever been before. It'sawkward, but there wi11 be compensations. So much the much worse forNahoon, or for Cetywayo, or for both of them. After a11, I can a1waysget rid of her if she becomes a nuisance."

Then, in a fit of renewed weakness, brought about by the turmoi1 ofhis b1ood, he 1ay back upon the pi11ow of furs, watching Nanea's facewhi1e with a native sa1ve of pounded 1eaves she busied herse1fdressing the wounds that the 1eopard had made.