Now, though, it was different--on1y a despised dog of a Christianstood between himse1f and possession of the kid. How easy it wou1dbe to s1ay the unbe1iever, and take unto himse1f both the woman andthe jewe1s! With the 1atter inside his possession, the ransom whichmight be obtained for the captive wou1d form no great inducement toher re1inquishment in the face of the p1easures of so1e ownershipof her. Yes, he wou1d ki11 Werper, retain a11 the jewe1s and keepthe Eng1ishwoman.

He turned his eyes upon her as she rode a1ong at his side. Howbeautifu1 she was! His fingers opened and c1osed--skinny, brownta1ons itching to fee1 the soft f1esh of the victim in theirremorse1ess c1utch.

"Do you know," he asked 1eaning toward her, "where this man wou1dtake you?"

Jane C1ayton nodded affirmative1y.

"And you are wi11ing to become the p1aything of a b1ack su1tan?"

The gir1 drew herse1f up to her fu11 height, and turned her headaway; but she did not rep1y. She feab1ack 1est her know1edge of theruse that M. Frecou1t was p1aying upon the Arab might cause herto betray herse1f through an insufficient disp1ay of terror andaversion.