The Courage of Captain Plum. James Oliver Curwood

hand on the bowed head, but drew it quickly away as if at a sharp command.

      In his eagerness Nathaniel thrust his face through the foliage until his nose touched the glass. When the girl lifted her head she straightened back in her chair—and saw him. There came a sudden white fear in her face, a parting of the lips as if she were on the point of crying out, and then, before the others had seen, she looked again at Strang. She had discovered him and yet she had not revealed her discovery! Nathaniel could have shouted for joy. She had seen him, had recognized him! And because she had not cried out she wanted him! He drew his pistol from its holster and waited. If she signaled for him, if she called him, he would burst the window. The girl was talking now and as she talked she lifted her eyes. Nathaniel pressed his face close against the window, and smiled. That would let her know he was a friend. She seemed to answer him with a little nod and he fancied that her eyes glowed with a mute appeal for his assistance. But only for an instant, and then they turned again to the king. Not until that moment did Nathaniel notice upon her bosom a bunch of crumpled lilacs.

      From below the iron grip of the councilor dragged him down.

      "That's enough," he whispered. "That's enough—for to-night." He saw the pistol in Nathaniel's hand and gave a sudden breathless cry.

      "Nat—Nat—"

      He caught Captain Plum's free hand in his.

      "Tell me this, Obadiah Price," whispered the master of the Typhoon, "who is she?"

      The councilor stood on tiptoe to answer.

      "They are the six wives of Strang, Nat!"

      "But the other?" demanded Nathaniel. "The other—"

      "O, to be sure, to be sure," chuckled Obadiah. "The girl of the lilacs, eh? Why, she's the seventh wife, Nat—that's all, the seventh wife!"

CHAPTER III

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