All that they wished to
know was that she was the girl who had been stolen from The Sheik
several years before. They thought that they would recognize her
for such if she was indeed the same, but even so the testimony of
the runner Kovudoo had sent to The Sheik was such as to assure them
that the girl was the one they had once before attempted to abduct.
As Meriem was brought forth from the darkness of the hut's interior
the two men turned with every appearance of disinterestedness to
glance at her. It was with difficulty that Malbihn suppressed an
ejaculation of astonishment. The girl's beauty fairly took his
breath from him; but instantly he recovered his poise and turned
to Kovudoo.
"Well?" he said to the old chief.
"Is she not both young and good looking?" asked Kovudoo.
"She is not old," replied Malbihn; "but even so she will be a
burden. We did not come from the north after wives--there are more
than enough there for us."
Meriem stood looking straight at the white men. She expected nothing
from them--they were to her as much enemies as the black men.
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