CHAPTERSIX
AssoonasAbdullaandhiscompanionshadlefttheenclosure，AissaapproachedWillemsandstoodbyhisside。Hetooknonoticeofherexpectantattitudetillshetouchedhimgently，whenheturnedfuriouslyuponherand，tearingoffherface-veil，trampleduponitasthoughithadbeenamortalenemy。Shelookedathimwiththefaintsmileofpatientcuriosity，withthepuzzledinterestofignorancewatchingtherunningofacomplicatedpieceofmachinery。Afterhehadexhaustedhisrage，hestoodagainsevereandunbendinglookingdownatthefire，butthetouchofherfingersatthenapeofhisneckeffacedinstantlythehardlinesroundhismouth；hiseyeswavereduneasily；hislipstrembledslightly。Startingwiththeunresistingrapidityofaparticleofiron——which，quiescentonemoment，leapsinthenexttoapowerfulmagnet——hemovedforward，caughtherinhisarmsandpressedherviolentlytohisbreast。
Hereleasedherassuddenly，andshestumbledalittle，steppedback，breathedquicklythroughherpartedlips，andsaidinatoneofpleasedreproof——
\"OFool-man！Andifyouhadkilledmeinyourstrongarmswhatwouldyouhavedone？\"
\"Youwanttolive……andtorunawayfrommeagain，\"hesaidgently。\"Tellme——doyou？\"