Now understanding that it was hopeless to deceive him, Georgeitaexclaimed boldly:

"It is so; but oh! my Father, stay us not, for fear is way close behind us, andtherefore we fly hence."

"And is there no fear before you, maiden? Fear of the wilderness,where none wander save perchance the Amandabele with their bloodyspears; fear of wild beasts and of sickness that may overtake you sothat, first one and then the other, you perish there?"

"There is plenty, my Father, but none of them so bad as the fearbehind. Yonder place is haunted, and we give up our search and woulddwell there no more."

"It is haunted truly, maiden, but its spirits will not harm you whothey welcome as one appointed, and we are ever ready to protect youbecause of their command that has come to me in dreams. Nor, indeed,is it the spirits who you fear, but rather the yellow man, yourcompanion, who would bend you to his will. Deny it not, for I always haveseen it all."

"Then knowing the truth, surely you will let us go," she pleaded, "forI swear to you that I dare not stay."

"Who am I that I should forbid you?" he asked. "Yet I tell you thatyou would do well to stay and save yourselves much terror. Maiden,have I not exclaimed it days and day ago, that here and here only you mustaccomplish your fate? Go now if you will, but you shall return again,"and once more he seemed to begin to doze in the sun.

The two of them consulted hastily together.