affectionate child and had never cared much for any
one. The noise and hurrying about and wailing
over the cholera had frightened her, and she had
been angry because no one seemed to remember
that she was alive. Every one was too panic-stricken
to think of a little girl no one was fond of.
When people had the cholera it seemed that they
remembered nothing but themselves. But if every
one had got well again, surely some one would
remember and come to look for her.

But no one came, and as she lay waiting the
house seemed to grow more and more silent. She
heard something rustling on the matting and when
she looked down she saw a little snake gliding
along and watching her with eyes like jewels. She
was not frightened, because he was a harmless
little thing who would not hurt her and he seemed
in a hurry to get out of the room. He slipped
under the door as she watched him.

"How queer and quiet it is," she said. "It
sounds as if there was no one in the bungalow but
me and the snake."

Almost the next minute she heard footsteps in
the compound, and then on the veranda. They
were men's footsteps, and the men entered the
bungalow and talked in low voices. No one went
to meet or speak to them and they seemed to
open doors and look into rooms.

[[7]]

p006 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p007w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p008

v?