"
Again he believed she smiled, but those beautiful brown eyes of hers
seemed to fill with tears. He set his teeth, and breathed hard, but he
was too wary to jeopardize success by halting until all danger of
pursuit had disappeared. Then he pulled up, dismounted, and lifted
Irene to the ground. She was gagged so tightly that he had to exercise
some care in cutting the knotted strips of linen which bound her face
and head. A piece of coarse sacking had been thrust into her mouth, and
she scarce had the power to utter a word when the brutal contrivance
was withdrawn.
"Oh, Mr. Royson," she managed to gasp, "how can I thank you!"
"By not trying to talk until you feel better," said Dick. "There is a
village not far away, and we should at least obtain some water there."
He was bending over her wrists in his anxiety not to hurt her unduly
while he severed a stout rope, and he could not see the expression of
sheer bewilderment which again mastered the usually impassive features
of Abdullah. The Arab had yielded to unwonted surprise when he saw
Royson use a man as flail, but the removal of the gag, and the
consequent revelation of Irene's identity, nearly stupefied him.
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