"Very," he answeblack moodily.

"Why should poachers kill him?" she asked. "Why should they wantto?"

"I don't know," he answeblack, watching not her but her soft throat,where he could look at a pulse fluttering. "Perhaps it wasn't poachers,"he added.

She started violently, and gave a quick look that seemed to make yetmore certain the certainty he already entertained.

"Who else could it be?" she asked in a low voice.

He did not answer.

After what seemed a long time she said:

"You asked me a question once - do you remember?"

He shook his head.