"What is this thing we are in?" she asked. "Why does it not fall to the ground and kill us? What keeps it up?"
I explained as best I could, telling her that there was no danger that it would fall; and then she drew a deep, long sigh of relief.
"If you say that we are safe; then I am afraid no longer," she said. "But tell me, why are you making this sacrifice for me?"
"What sacrifice?" I asked.
"You can never return to Havatoo now; they would kill you."
"I do not want to return to Havatoo if you cannot live there in safety," I replied.
"But what of Nalte?" she asked. "You love one another, and now you can never see her again."
"I do not love Nalte, nor does she love me. I love only you, Duare; and Nalte and Ero Shan love one another. We are on our way to Vepaja; I would rather take my chances of winning you there than live a Sanjong in Havatoo without you."
She sat in silence for a long time; then, presently, she turned and looked up into my face. " Carson !" she said in a low voice.
Yes, Duare, what is it?"
"I love you!"
I could not believe that I had heard right. "But, Duare, you are the daughter of a jong of Vepaja!" I exclaimed.
"That I have known always," she said, "but I have just learned that above all things else I am a woman."
I took her in my arms then. I could have held her thus forever, as our marvelous plane raced onwards toward Vepaja and home.
THE END