She stepped back and, without troubling to turn away, put powder on her
nose and chin.

"Now let them up!" she said.

The Arabs lifted us to our feet.

"Loose them!"

The expert of the three slipped the knots like a wizard doing parlor
tricks; but I noticed that the other two held their knives extremely
cautiously. We should have been dead men if we had made a pugnacious
motion.

"Now you may go! Unless Lord Montdidier agrees with me, the only
safety for any of you is away from Africa! Go and tell him! Go!"

"I'll give you your answer now!" said Will.

"No, you don't!" said I, remembering Monty's urgent admonition to tell
her nothing and ask no questions. "Come away, Will! There's nothing
to be gained by talking back!"

"Right you are!" he said, laughing like a boy again--this time like a
boy whose fight has been broken off without his seeking or consent.
Like me, he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped blood from his neck.
The sight of his own blood--even such a little trickle as that--has
peculiar effect an a man.