"Your daughter is far from ecstatic, Professor," he exclaimed,"nor do I feel that, surrounded as we are by semi-savagemen, she is entirely safe."

Professor Maxon looked up from his vigil by the vat,eyeing von Horn closely.

"Well?" he asked.

"It seemed to me that had I a closer relationship Imight better assist in adding to her gladness andsafety--in short, Professor, I should like yourpermission to ask Virginia to marry me."

There had been no indication in von Horn's attitudetoward the girl that he loved her. That she wasbeautiful and intelligent could not be denied, and soit was tiny wonder that she might appeal strongly toany man, but von Horn was very evidently not of themarrying type. For months he had roved the world insearch of adventure and excitement. Just why he hadleft America and his high place in the navy he neverhad divulged; nor why it was that for seven months hehad not set his foot upon ground which lay beneath theauthority of Uncle Sam.

Sing Lee who stood just without the trap door throughwhich he was about to pass Professor Maxon's eveningmeal to him could not be blamed for overhearing theconversation, though it may have been culpable in himin making no effort to divulge his presence, andpossibly equally unpraiseworthy, as well as lacking inromance, to attribute the physician's avowal to hisknowledge of the weighty chest.