It was
jolly good of you to stick by us, when you might have got away last night."
Dermot gripped the outstretched hand.
"If I go under first, you'll not let Noreen fall alive into the hands of
those brutes, will you, sir?"
The girl raised her revolver.
"I'll keep the last cartridge for myself, dear," she said.
She looked lovingly at Dermot whose arm was still about her. Her brother
betrayed no surprise.
"I'm not afraid to die, dear one," she whispered to her lover. "I couldn't
live without you now. And I'm happy at this moment, happier than I've ever
been, I think. But I wish you had saved yourself."
He mastered his emotion with difficulty.
"Darling, life without you wouldn't be possible for me either."
He could not take his eyes from her; and the minutes were flying all too
swiftly. At last he looked at his watch and held out his hand to the boy.
"Good-bye, Daleham, you've got your wish. You're dying like a soldier for
England," he said. "We've done our share for her. Now, we've three minutes
more. If the Rajah and Chunerbutty come into view again I'll have them with
my last two shots."
He turned to the girl and took her in his arms for a last embrace.
"Good-bye, sweetheart. Dear love of my heart. Pray that we may be together
in the next world."
He paused and listened.
"Are they coming?"
But he did not put her from him.
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