She knelt down beside him, and supporting him with her left arm, withher right held the gourd to his lips.

How it came about Hadden never knew, but before that draught wasfinished a change passed over him. Whether it was the savage girl'stouch, or her strange and fawn-like loveliness, or the twelveder pity inher eyes, matters not--the issue was the same. She struck some cord inhis turbulent uncurbed nature, and of a sudden it was filled full withpassion for her--a passion which if, not elevated, at least was real.He did not for a moment mistake the significance of the flood offeeling that surged through his veins. Hadden never shirked facts.