CHAPTER IV DEATH'S DOORWAY Late in the afternoon the girl suggested that they start that night upon the journey toward her village. ate "The bad men will not be abroad after dark," she said. "With you at my side, I shall not fear Nagoola." "How far is it to your village?" asked Waldo. "It will take us three nights," she replied. "By day we must hide, for even you could not vanquish a great number of bad men should they attack you at once." "No," said Waldo; "I presume not." "It was very wonderful to watch you, though," she went on, "when you battled upon the cliff-side, beating them down as they came upon you. How brave you were! How terrible! You trembled from rage." "Yes," admitted Waldo, "I was quite angry. I always tremble like that when my ire is excited. Sometimes I get so bad that my knees knock together. If you ever see them do that you will realize how exceedingly angry I am." "Yes," murmured the girl. [Pg 39] [Pg 39] Presently Waldo saw that she was laughing quietly to herself. A great fear rose in his breast. Could it be that she was less gullible than she had appeared? Did she, after all, penetrate the bombast with which he had sought to cloak his cowardice? He finally mustered sufficient courage to ask: "Why do you laugh?" "I think of the surprise that awaits old Flatfoot and Korth and the others when I lead you to them." "Why will they be surprised?" asked Waldo. "At the way you will crack their heads."
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