WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR
"That 's awfully kind of you. It 's just right. It 's awfully good of you, really. I 'll leave my kids and goats with you and Mrs. Jim, and, of course, any one in camp can show you about the milking."
"Of course," said William; and she grew pinker and pinker and statelier and more stately, as she strode back to her tent, fanning herself with the saucer.
There were shrill lamentations through the camp when the elder children saw their nurse move off without them. Faiz Ullah unbent so far as to jest with the policemen, and Scott turned purple with shame because Hawkins, already in the saddle, roared.
A child escaped from the care of Mrs. Jim, and, running like a rabbit, clung to Scott's boot, William pursuing with long, easy strides.
"I will not go—I will not go!" shrieked the child, twining his feet round Scott's ankle. "They will kill me here. I do not know these people."
"I say," said Scott, in broken Tamil, "I say, she will do you no harm. Go with her and be well fed."
"Come!" said William, panting, with a wrathful glance at Scott, who stood helpless and, as it were, hamstrung.
"Go back," said Scott quickly to William. "I 'll send the little chap over in a minute."
The tone of authority had its effect, but in a way Scott did not exactly intend. The boy loosened his grasp, and said with gravity: "I did not know the woman was thine. I will go." Then he cried to his companions, a mob of three-, four-, and five-year-olds
waiting on the success of his venture ere they stam-
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