As Obergatz talked Jane had recovered her spear from the carcass of
the antelope and commenced busying herself with the removal of the
hide. The man made no attempt to assist her, but stood by talking
and watching her, the while he continually ran his filthy fingers
through his matted hair and beard. His face and body were caked
with dirt and he was naked except for a torn greasy hide about his
loins. His weapons consisted of a club and knife of Waz-don pattern,
that he had stolen from the city of Bu-lur; but what more greatly
concerned the woman than his filth or his armament were his cackling
laughter and the strange expression in his eyes.
She went on with her work, however, removing those parts of the buck
she wanted, taking only as much meat as she might consume before
it spoiled, as she was not sufficiently a true jungle creature to
relish it beyond that stage, and then she straightened up and faced
the man.
"Lieutenant Obergatz," she said, "by a chance of accident we have
met again. Certainly you would not have sought the meeting any
more than I. We have nothing in common other than those sentiments
which may have been engendered by my natural dislike and suspicion
of you, one of the authors of all the misery and sorrow that I
have endured for endless months. This little corner of the world
is mine by right of discovery and occupation.
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