"  I'll  come  myself,  if  I  possibly  can,"  Sallie  promised,
"  and,  if  not,  I'll  send  a  safe  friend  —  soon  after  midnight."

As  she  was  rising,  she  saw  on  her  bosom  a  little  locket
which  hung  from  a  thin  gold  chain.  She  lifted  a  hand  to
it,  and  hesitated  uncertainly.
"  It's  all  I  have  in  the  world  that's  my  own,"  said  the
Emir's  wife  in  a  pleading  whisper,  "  all  I  can  offer  you  but
my  empty  thanks.  I'd  like  to  think  to-night  that  you  will
sometimes  remember  me.  Will  you  not  keep  it,  for  my
sake?  "

"  I'll  wear  it  always  —  I'll  never  forget  you  —  and  oh!
I'm  so  sorry  that  I  must  go,"  cried  Sallie,  sorely  distressed,
and  had  to  hurry  away  without  more  words.  Captain  Dove
had  twice  called  her.  There  were  tears  in  her  eyes  as  she
ran  back  across  the  sand  to  where,  under  the  green  flag,
he  was  wrathful  ly  waiting  for  her,  and  she  scarcely  heard
his  harsh  order  to  hurry  up.
Some  of  the  Emir's  men  had  come  forward  with  a  couple
of  litters.  She  seated  herself  in  one,  although  she  would


36  THE  WHITE  BLACKBIRD

much  rather  have  walked,  and,  as  soon  as  Captain  Dove
was  ready,  they  were  carried  off,  the  Emir  shouting  a  vale-
dictory message  to  the  old  man.
"  You  keep  your  bargain  and  I'll  keep  mine,"  Captain
Dove  called  back,  and  snorted  contemptuously.
"  That  damned  fellow  talks  to  me  as  if  I  had  been  his
second  mate!  "  he  commented,  and  snorted  again.
