J. Allan Dunn

“ It was dark when he opened his eyes again. The air was oppressive on his lungs. The dream had turned to a nightmare of them alone on a turbulent ocean, tossed by the waves.
The nightmare was a reality. The solid earth rocked beneath them. Leila was wide awake, clinging to him in terror. He sat up in the blackness and his hand struck the upset lantern. The glass burnt him. It had only just gone out. Leila's arms were about him. ”

“ Sayers hesitated for a moment, and a shot plunged into the water beside us. Tuan Yuck stood with his rifle to his shoulder. Sayers cursed again and tore the ribbon from my throat. I hit up at him, and he struck at me——”
“—— him!” said Chalmers. “When I catch up with him I'll kill him with my bare hands.”
Leila looked at him with a little thrill of primeval ecstasy. Here was a man who had fought for her, who would kill for her. An ancient strain of savagery surged up within her, the glory of the pristine woman for the protecting male. Then civilization conquered. ”

“ He suffered himself to be fed, spoonful by spoonful, satisfied to have her minister to him. When the cup was ended, he sat up despite her remonstrance.
“I'm fine now,” he said. “I'll take some more of that if you have any. My shoulders and neck are stiff, but there's a whole lot of life in me yet.”
“Don't sit up, please,” she said, slipping her arm about him. “Oh, are you sure you are strong enough? ”