“Yes.”

“You are willing to risk—­”

“My life—­my men—­my ship!”

Nathaniel spoke like one to whom there had been suddenly opened the portals to a great joy.  He sprang to his feet and stood before Neil, his whole being throbbing with the emotions which had been awakened within him.

“Good God, why don’t you tell me what her peril is?” he cried, no longer restraining himself.  “Why are you going to kill Strang?  Has he—­has he—­” His face flamed with the question which he dared not finish.

“No—­not that!” interrupted Neil.  “He has never laid a hand on Marion.  She hates him as she hates the snakes in this swamp.  And yet—­next Sunday she is to become his seventh wife!”

Nathaniel started as if he had been threatened by a blow.

“You mean—­he is forcing her into his harem?” he asked.

“No, he can not do that!” exclaimed Neil, the hatred bursting out anew in his face.  “He can not force her into marrying him, and yet—­” He flung his arms above his head in sudden passionate despair.  “As there is a God in Heaven I would give ten years of my life for the secret of the prophet’s power over Marion!” he groaned.  “Three months ago her hatred of him was terrible.  She loathed the sight of him.  I have seen her shiver at the sound of his voice.  When he asked her to become his wife she refused him in words that I had believed no person in the kingdom would dared to have used.  Then—­less than a month ago—­the change came, and one day she told me that she had made up her mind to become Strang’s wife.  From that day her heart was broken.  I was dumfounded.  I raged and cursed and even threatened.  Once I accused her of a shameful thing and though I implored her forgiveness a thousand times I know that she weeps over my brutal words still.  But nothing could change her.  On my knees I have pleaded with her, and once she flung her arms round my shoulders and said, ’Neil, I can not tell you why I am marrying Strang.  But I must.’  I went to Strang and demanded an explanation; I told him that my sister hated him, that the sight of his face and the sound of his voice filled her with abhorrence, but he only laughed at me and asked why I objected to becoming the brother-in-law of a prophet.  Day by day I have seen Marion’s soul dying within her.  Some terrible secret is gnawing at her heart, robbing her of the very life which a few weeks ago made her the most beautiful thing on this island; some dreadful influence is shadowing her every step, and as the day draws near when she is to join the king’s harem I see in her eyes at times a look that frightens me.  There is only one salvation.  To-morrow I shall kill Strang!”

“And then?”

Neil shrugged his shoulders.

“I will shoot him through the abdomen so that he will live to tell his wives who did the deed.  After that I will try to make my escape to the mainland.”

“And Marion—­”