* Margrave's former nurse and attendant.


The woman looked at me from her sable veil, with her steadfast,
solemn eyes, and said, in English, though with a foreign accent:
"The nurse born in Asia is but wise through her love; the pale son
of Europe is wise through his art. The nurse says, 'Forbear!' Do
you say, 'Adventure'?"

"Peace!" exclaimed Margrave, stamping his foot on the ground. "I
take no counsel from either; it is for me to resolve, for you to
obey, and for him to aid. Night is come, and we waste it; move
on."

The woman made no reply, nor did I. He took my arm and walked back
to the hut. The barbaric escort followed. When we reached the
door of the building, Margrave said a few words to the woman and to
the litter bearers. They entered the hut with us. Margrave
pointed out to the woman his coffer, to the men the fuel stowed in
the outhouse. Both were borne away and placed within the litter.
Meanwhile I took from the table, on which it was carelessly thrown,
the light hatchet that I habitually carried with me in my rambles.

"Do you think that you need that idle weapon?" said Margrave. "Do
you fear the good faith of my swarthy attendants?"

"Nay, take the hatchet yourself; its use is to sever the gold from
the quartz in which we may find it imbedded, or to clear, as this
shovel, which will also be needed, from the slight soil above it,