explain, to her father, who, in the depths of an armchair and the
_Sporting News_, had no more idea of what she was talking about than
the man in the moon. "I seem to be standing outside myself looking at
myself. A sort of something seems to come right down, shutting the
danger right away from me. I know I'm in it and have to get out of it,
but though I pulled Arabia for all I knew, and swam for all I was worth
to reach Rock Point, and bluffed that poor devil out of taking Mumsie's
bracelet, I kind of did it mechanically, not with any intention of
putting things right, for I knew I was not going to die that time,
because I'm sure that I shall _know_ when I've got to die . . .
understand, Dads?"

To which Dads had replied:

"Quite so, my dear, quite so! Personally I don't see how it could be
otherwise. I agree with every word you say!" patting his red setter's
head, which in the firelight he fondly believed to be his daughter's.




CHAPTER XII

And so it was now as she sat under the African moon, whilst little
rings and puffs of smoke helped to irritate the insects ensconced in
the leaves of the creeper. She seemed to be standing on the other side
of a wall, watching the outcome of the tossing of a silver coin.

"I've had a perfectly awful day," she announced with a ripple of
genuine amusement in her voice as she proceeded quite unconcernedly to