It was a fine morning, and the signal, "Steamer approaching from the South," was flying from the staff high up on the Isleta hill, when Pancho Brown's boat lay heaving on the smooth swell at the entrance to Las Palmas harbour. Mrs. Hatherly, Jacinta, and Muriel sat in the stern-sheets, and beyond them two barefooted Canarios were resting on their oars, while two or three miles away a smear of smoke that half hid a streak of dusky hull moved towards them across the shining sea. Brown was watching it attentively with a pair of marine glasses in his hand.
"You have brought me off several times for nothing, but I almost think our friends have turned up at last," he said. "Of course, from Lieutenant Onslow's cable she should have been here several days ago, but it's very likely the engines would give them trouble. Any way, we'll know in ten minutes or so. There's theSanidadgoing off."
A launch crept out from the mole, and behind her in the harbour boats were being got afloat. Coaling clerks, tobacco and wine merchants, and a miscellaneous crowd of petty dealers, were waiting to step on board, but two, at least, of Pancho Brown's party had no eyes for them. They were watching the incoming steamer rise higher out of the shining sea, and wondering if she was the one they had for the last few days looked for with tense anxiety.They had Onslow's cable from Sierra Leone, and the skipper of a big tramp which had come in for coals reported that a small British steamer had asked him for the latitude and longitude a week before. Nothing, however, had since been heard of her, and Jacinta had found the last three or four days as trying as Muriel did. The latter had, however, borne the suspense bravely, and displayed a sublime confidence in her lover which Jacinta, for no very obvious reason, found almost exasperating at times.
"Can't we go out a little?" she said at last.
Brown made a sign to the Canarios, who dipped the oars, and as they slid past theCarsegarry, which lay with steam blowing off, and a water barge alongside, Captain Farquhar leaned over her rails. He had come in for coal on his way to Liverpool the previous day, and had spent part of the night with Brown.
"I really think that is theCumbria," he said. "Any way, she's much the kind of boat Jefferson described to me, and so far as I can make out they have a big boiler on deck. I suppose you are going off to her?"
Brown said they were, and Farquhar glanced at the boat hesitatingly. "I'd very much like to come with you, but I can't leave just now," he said. "Still, we won't have filled our tanks up for an hour or two, and you might tell Mr. Austin that I certainly expect him to pull across and see me. In fact, although we have steam up, I'll wait until he does."
Brown made a sign of comprehension, and the boat slid away, while when she stopped again outside the harbour the eyes of all on board her were fixed upon the steamer. She had also stopped, and lay rolling wildly, with the yellow flag at her foremast-head and theSanidadlaunch alongside her; but in another minute or two the flag came fluttering down, and she moved on again towards the harbour. Brown signed to the oarsmen to turn the boat's head.
"There's no doubt that she's theCumbria, and they can't have had anything very bad on board," he said.
In another five minutes theCumbriacrept up with them, rolling wickedly, with the big pump thudding on her deck, and a stream of water spouting from her side. Rags of awnings fluttered about her, her funnel was white with salt crust, for the trade-wind blows strong at that season, and the blistered paint had peeled from her corroded sides. Her story was written upon her so that even the girls could read, and both felt that no plainer testimony was needed to the courage of the men who had brought her home. Then they saw them, Jefferson leaning out, gaunt and blanched in face, from the bridge rails, and Austin standing amidst a group of haggard men on the forecastle. Jacinta's heart was beating a good deal faster than usual, and she saw the sudden tears rise to her companion's eyes; but as the long, rusty hull forged past them Austin made no sign. He stood looking straight in front of him, until he turned to the men about him who were busy with the anchor.
"He can't have seen us," said Muriel, with astonishment in her tone, and then touched Brown's arm. "Tell them to row their hardest, please."
The Canarios bent their backs and the boat swept forward, for the steamer had already passed ahead of them. Jacinta sat unusually still, watching her, sensible at once of a vague dismay and a thrill of pride. She had understanding as well as imagination, and the sight of that rusty vessel and the worn faces of the men upon her deck had stirred her curiously. It was, she felt, a notable thing they had done, and she was, she knew, responsible for the part one of them had played in it. He had come home with credit, a man who had done something worth while,and had doubtless learned his strength. She could not fancy him frittering his life away after that; but still she was perplexed, and a trifle anxious, for it seemed that he must have seen them, and he had made no sign. She had, on her part, twice passed him without recognition in the Plaza at Santa Cruz, and her heart smote her as she remembered it; but he was not a vindictive man, and must by that time have realised the misapprehension she had been under concerning him. For that, at least, she would ask his forgiveness in another few minutes, and her face burned as she wondered what he would say to her.
Then she saw the white wash of theCumbria's propeller as it whirled astern, and there was a roar of running chain, while two or three minutes later they were making their way up the lowered ladder amidst a crowd of petty dealers when Jefferson came across the deck, driving the latter aside. Jacinta saw that it cost Muriel an effort to hide her consternation at his appearance, but in another moment she was smiling at him with shining eyes, and the haggard man's arms were about her. That the deck was crowded with Spaniards did not seem in the least to matter to either of them. Jacinta, who would not have done as much, felt a little thrill of sympathy, and, it was significant, looked round for Austin. There was, however, no sign of him.
Then Jefferson, still holding Muriel's arm, drew them out of the press, and there was a general offering of congratulations and grasping of hands.
"I am," he said, "uncommonly glad to be back again, though I'm not sure we'd have ever got here except for Austin. I have only been on my feet the last day or two, and he did everything."
"Where is he?" said Muriel, seeing that Jacinta would not ask.
"Across at theCarsegarry. At least, he told me he was going when he recognised her."
"Without coming to shake hands with us?" said Muriel, who flashed a covert glance at Jacinta.
"I understand from one of these fellows that Farquhar is just going to sea, and it's very probable that Austin heard it, too. I have no doubt he'll be back again in five minutes."
"You will come ashore with us, and we will expect you and Mr. Austin to make my house your home in the meanwhile," said Brown.
"I shall be very glad," said Jefferson. "You will, however, have to excuse me for an hour or two. I have our Consul to see, and a good many things to do before I can call my time my own. I wonder if you could get me a tartana?"
"Mine is waiting at the Mole," said Brown.
It was an hour later when they took their places in the vehicle, but though Brown bade the driver wait a minute or two, there was no appearance of Austin. Just then theCarsegarrycrept down the harbour, and with a sonorous blast of her whistle steamed out to sea.
"There is no boat coming. He must have landed on the other mole, and, perhaps, met somebody he couldn't get away from," said Brown. "I'll leave word that we are expecting him, and no doubt he'll turn up soon after we get home."
They drove away, and that afternoon sat together in Brown's cool patio. The noise of the bustling city was deadened by the tall white walls, over which there shone a square of cloudless blue, and the scent of flowers was heavy in the shadowy space below. Jefferson lay, attired becomingly once more, in a big cane chair, with a little smile of content in his hollow face, and a pile of fruit, anda flask of wine, on the table in front of him. The others sat about him, and a fountain splashed behind them in the shadow.
"A very little of this will make me well," he said. "In fact, it is already a trifle difficult to believe that I could scarcely lift myself in my berth a few days ago. I think it was the sight of Gomera that cured me. You see, I was a little doubtful about Austin finding the Canaries, and when they came to tell me they could see the Peak, Wall-eye, who was watching me, ran out."
"What was he watching you for?" asked Muriel.
"To see I didn't get up. I had my chance then, and I crawled out of my berth. I believe I fell over several things before I got out on deck, and then I knew we were all right at last. There was the Peak—high up in the sky in front of us, with Gomera a blue smudge low down at its feet. We ran in under the lee, and, because they were played out, and Tom had trouble with his engines, stayed there three days."
He stopped a moment, with a little laugh. "I think Austin was 'most astonished as I was to find he'd brought her home. He'd been running four or five days on dead reckoning, and wasn't much more than a hundred miles out."
"I wonder where he is," said Brown.
Jefferson looked a trifle perplexed, and it was evident that others of the party had asked themselves the same question, for there was a moment's silence until Muriel spoke.
"If he doesn't come soon I shall feel very vexed with him; but we want to hear how you got the steamer off," she said.
Jefferson commenced his tale diffidently, but, because Austin had worked in the sombre background—more effectively than he could do already—the rest listened with full comprehension. His unvarnished narrative was, however, striking enough, and, save for the splashing of the fountain, and his low voice, there was a suggestive silence in the patio, until he stopped abruptly when he came to the scene in which Austin pleaded for the negro.
"The man wasn't fit to look at," he said.
"But why did Mr. Austin go near him?" asked Muriel, with a little shiver.
"To save his life," said Jefferson, awkwardly. "You see, we couldn't have him there—and he really wasn't a man then. The thing he had we believed contagious, and somebody had to put him into his canoe."
Muriel gazed at him with an expression of perplexity, and it was clear that she did not quite understand what had taken place on the night in question, which was, however, not astonishing. Brown appeared a trifle uncomfortable, and Jefferson was sincerely thankful when Jacinta broke in.
"Of course," she said. "He couldn't have stayed there. Mr. Austin put him into his canoe?" She stopped for a moment, and her voice seemed to change a trifle. "Did he find it necessary to touch him?"
"He did. In fact, the nigger got hold of him. One of them slipped on the bridge deck ladder and they rolled down it together."
Again there was silence, and all of them looked at Jefferson, who saw the question in Jacinta's eyes.
"No," he said. "Nothing came of it, though for a week or so I was horribly afraid. It isn't men like Austin who take that kind of thing, and it's possible it mayn't have been infectious, after all."
Muriel heard Jacinta softly draw in her breath, as though she had been under a strain which had suddenlyrelaxed. Then a little colour crept into her face and a sparkle into her eyes.
"Yes," said Jefferson, though nobody had spoken, "it was a daring thing. More, in fact, than I would have done. My partner has the cleanest kind of real hard sand in him."
He turned to Muriel with a little deprecatory gesture. "I had more at stake than he had—and I was afraid that night."
Jacinta sat still a while, a trifle flushed in face, for the scene Jefferson had very vaguely pictured had stirred her to the depths. The man whom she had sent forth had done more than she would ever have asked of him, and the gallantry of the action brought a dimness to her eyes. Then she remembered that it was not done recklessly, for he had, it seemed, decided calmly, which must have made it inexpressibly harder. There were, she could imagine, circumstances in which a man might more or less willingly risk his life, but the risk Austin had taken was horrible, and he stood to gain nothing when he quietly recognised the responsibility he had taken upon himself. It was with an overwhelming sense of confusion she remembered the jibes she had flung at him concerning his discretion, and yet under it there was still the sense of pride. After all, it was to please her he had gone to Africa.
"Well," said Jefferson quietly, "you are pleased with him?"
Jacinta met his gaze unwaveringly, and her voice had a little thrill in it.
"Does it matter in the least whether I am pleased or not?" she said. "Still, since you ask, I scarcely think I have heard of anything that would surpass what he did that night."
Jefferson made her a little inclination. "I am," he said gravely, "not sure that I have, either."
He went on with his story, but Jacinta scarcely listened to it, for she was wondering why Austin had not come, and waiting expectantly for the time when she could, in self-abasement, endeavour to wipe what she had said from his memory. Still, he did not come, and it was half an hour later when a barefooted boatman was shown into the patio. He had an envelope in his hand, and turned to Brown.
"The Englishman who was in theEstremeduragave me this on board theCarsegarry," he said. "I am sorry I could not bring it before, but several steamers I had to go to came in, and then it was some time before I found out that the Señor Jefferson had gone home with you."
When he went away Brown handed Jefferson the note, while the latter, who opened it, straightened himself suddenly and seemed to be struggling with some emotion. Then he passed it to Jacinta.
"You have good nerves, Miss Brown," he said. "If I had known it would come to this, I think I would have left theCumbriathere."
Jacinta took the letter in a steady hand, but her face grew a trifle blanched as she read.
"I am going home with Farquhar," the message ran. "I could hardly go in a passenger boat, and he is fixing me up a room by myself. I didn't care to tell you when you were just shaking off the fever, but one of my arms feels very much as that engineer said his did. I am going to see if one of the big specialists or the Tropical Disease men can do anything for me."
Jacinta sat quite still a minute, and then slowly rose.
"It is horrible, but I suppose even a purpose of the kind he had does not exempt one from the consequences," shesaid. "There are things to attend to. You will excuse me just now."
They looked at one another when she left them, and then Brown turned to Jefferson.
"I wonder if you have any objections to showing me that note?" he said.
"It doesn't seem to be here," said Muriel. "What can she have done with it?"
"Don't worry about looking," said Jefferson sharply. "I can remember it. It has, in fact, shaken a good deal of the stiffness out of me."
Muriel gasped with consternation when he told them, and by and by the group broke up, while it was a somewhat silent party that assembled for comida an hour later. Jacinta, it was evident, had very little appetite, though she contrived to join in the somewhat pointless conversation, and it was not until late that night Brown came upon her alone on the flat roof. She was leaning on the parapet, and looking out across the sea, but her eyes were turned northwards now, and she did not hear him until he gently laid a hand upon her shoulder. Then she turned and looked at him with despair in her face. She had not expected him, or he would not have seen it, though there was clear moonlight above them.
Brown sat down on the parapet, and, taking off his gold-rimmed glasses, held them in his hand.
"I think I understand, my dear, and I have something to say," he said.
Jacinta made no disclaimer. For one thing, she saw it would have been useless, and she had no strength left in her then.
"Is it worth while?" she asked. "Would anything that you could say change what has happened?"
"No," said Brown, reflectively, "I scarcely think itwould. Still, I would like to mention that we really don't know the thing is incurable. In fact, it may be a malady which is readily susceptible to the proper treatment, and he has done wisely in going to England."
A little gleam of hope crept into Jacinta's eyes. "I had hardly dared to think of that," she said.
"Well," said Brown, "I really fancy the thing may not be as serious as you and Mr. Jefferson, perhaps naturally, seem to fear. Now, as you know, I was going to England about the new fruit contracts in a week or two, and there is no particular reason why I shouldn't go the day after to-morrow. I should make it my business to see Mr. Austin has the best advice which can be got from the specialists in that country. Only, my dear, I want to ask a very plain question. Supposing he is cured—what then?"
"I'm afraid you must shape the question differently," and a trace of colour crept into the whiteness of Jacinta's face.
"Then I will tell you what I know. You sent that man to Africa, and he went because he was in love with you. He is also a man I have a considerable liking for—and you are my only child. I am getting old, and would like to see you safely settled before I go. There are," and he made a little gesture, "occasions on which one must speak plainly."
Jacinta's face was crimson at last, but she in no way attempted to question the correctness of the announcement he had made.
"Mr. Austin, at least, never told me what you seem to be so sure about—and it is scarcely likely that he will ever do so now," she said.
Brown smiled a little, and tapped the palm of his hand with his glasses.
"My dear," he said, "I think you know better. Ofcourse, you would never have admitted so much as you have done if I had not had you at a disadvantage to-night. Well, the first thing is to see what can be done to cure him. Only, if he comes back, you will, I suppose, know your mind?"
He looked at her steadily, and, when Jacinta lowered her eyes, laid his hand gently on her arm again.
"I sail by the yellow-funnel boat the day after to-morrow," he said.
TheCarsegarrywas not a fast vessel. Like most of the ocean tramp species, she had been built to carry the largest possible cargo on a very moderate consumption of coal, and speed was a secondary consideration. She had also been in the warmer seas for some time, with the result that every plate beneath her water-line was foul, and as she fell in with strong northwest breezes, she was an unusually long while on the way to Liverpool. Austin was thus not astonished to find a letter from Jefferson, written four or five days after he left Las Palmas, waiting him at Farquhar's brokers, which made it evident that his comrade had got to work again.
He smiled a trifle grimly as he read it, for he fancied that its optimistic tone had cost Jefferson—who alluded to his apprehensions about his arm very briefly—an effort, for the fact that he was asked to cable as soon as he had seen a doctor appeared significant. The rest of the letter concerned financial affairs.
"We have had a rough preliminary survey, and the result is distinctly encouraging," he read. "After making a few temporary repairs I expect to bring her on to Liverpool, and there is every reason to believe we can dispose of her for a good round sum. I could have got £10,000, ex-cargo, as she lies here. Palm oil, it also appears, is scarce and dear, at up to £30 the ton, from which it seems to me thatyour share should approximate £7,000. I have to mention that Brown is on his way to Liverpool and wants you to communicate with him at the address enclosed."
This was satisfactory as far as it went. The only trouble was that Austin was very uncertain whether he would live to spend what he had so hardly earned. His arm had become exceedingly painful during the voyage, and after a consultation with the ship broker he telephoned an eminent specialist.
"I will expect you at two o'clock," the doctor said. "If it appears advisable, we can, of course, avail ourselves, as you suggest, of any views the Tropical Disease men may favour us with. In the meanwhile, I will arrange for a gentleman who has made considerable progress in similar researches to meet you."
Austin went out of the broker's office with three hours to spare, and wandered aimlessly about the city in a state of tense suspense. He felt that he could not sit still, and in any case he was dubious as to whether he was warranted in going back to the hotel. Indeed, he wondered whether he had any right to be at large at all, and after a while hung about the wharves, where there was less chance of any one coming into perilous contact with him. He had never spent such a morning in his life, and decided that what he had done and borne in Africa was not worth mention by comparison. Still, the hours dragged by, and at last he set out for the specialists' surgery without daring to wonder what the result would be, and found two gentlemen awaiting him there. One of them, who had grey hair and very keen eyes, motioned him to a chair.
"Now," he said, "before we proceed to an examination it might be better if you told us concisely what happened to you in Africa."
Austin, who sat down, did so, and wondered a littlethat he was able to speak coherently and quietly, for every nerve in him seemed tingling with tense anxiety. Then the man with the grey hair asked him a few terse questions about the negro's appearance, and when he had described it as well as he could remember, glanced at his companion.
"Do you recognise the symptoms?" he said.
"No," said the other man, who was younger. "There are one or two complaints not unusual in that country which appear to somewhat resemble it, but they are seldom so virulent. I would like to talk to Mr. Austin about it later, but in the meanwhile——"
"Exactly," and the specialist made a little gesture. "Mr. Austin is, no doubt, anxious to hear our opinion. If you will permit me——"
He drew the jacket gently over Austin's swollen arm, and the latter, who held it out, bare to the shoulder, felt the perspiration start from him as he watched the doctors bend over the limb. They said nothing for a space of seconds, and Austin fancied he would remember that time while he lived. Then, to his astonishment, the grey-haired man glanced at his companion with a little smile.
"I fancy this case has lost its special interest to you?" he said.
The other man nodded. "It has," he said. "Our views evidently coincide."
"I would venture to point out that any decision you may have arrived at is, naturally, of considerable importance to me," said Austin, a trifle sharply.
The specialist smiled again. "I expect you will be pleased to hear that it is not a peculiarly African disease you are suffering from. It is, in fact, no more than a by no means infrequent form of blood poisoning."
Austin gasped, and felt his heart beat furiously fromrelief, and the specialist waited a moment or two before he went on. "It is evident that you had several lacerations on your lower arm—made by corroded iron, or something of the kind."
"I tore the skin rather frequently working cargo, and when the scars had partly healed opened up rather a nasty wound by falling on the steamer's rail."
"Exactly. The result is not astonishing in the case of a man weakened by fever who has attempted to work harder than is advisable in a country like the one you mention. In the meanwhile, this arm is going to give you trouble, and I should recommend you to go into the private ward of the —— hospital. I will telephone them if that would suit you?"
Austin said he placed himself in the doctor's hands, and half an hour later was being driven to the hospital, where the other man, who was apparently anxious to know more about the negro, asked permission to visit him. He also came in due time, but, so far as Austin could ascertain, never quite decided what the negro was suffering from, though he admitted that there were African troubles of the kind which were infectious.
In the meanwhile, Austin realised how much he needed rest, and how heavy the strain he had borne had been. He did not even want to read, and was languidly content to sit still and think of nothing, until one day, when it was evident that his arm was healing, a nurse came in to announce a visitor.
"If it's that doctor man, you can tell him I can't remember anything more about the nigger, and don't mean to try," he said.
The nurse laughed. "It isn't," she said. "It's a little gentleman with gold-rimmed spectacles."
Austin started. "Ah!" he said. "Will you please tell them to send him in?"
In a few more minutes Brown came in, and, sitting down, shook his head reproachfully.
"You have really given your friends a good deal of anxiety, and I was almost afraid I would have to go back without learning what had become of you," he said. "Still, though I know the thing isn't, fortunately, what you thought it was, the first question is, how are you?"
"Recovering," said Austin, with a smile. "I understand that my arm will be all right again very shortly. It was a very usual trouble. As you seem to recognise, I let my imagination run away with me."
"I am very pleased to hear it. Why didn't you cable?"
"I understood that you had left Las Palmas, and Jefferson was on the point of doing so. I could scarcely suppose there was any one else who cared enough about what happened to me to make it necessary."
Brown looked at him with a curious little smile which Austin found disconcerting. "There are Mrs. Hatherly and Muriel. I almost think Jacinta would have liked to know that you and Jefferson were under a misapprehension, too. Still, that is, perhaps, not very important, after all. I suppose Jefferson told you that he expects to get a good deal for theCumbriaand her cargo?"
"I was pleased to hear that my share might amount to £7,000."
Brown took off his glasses and held them in one hand, which, as Austin knew, was a trick of his when he had anything on his mind.
"I am going to take a liberty," he said. "Have you decided yet what you will do with it?"
"No. That was one of the points I meant to wait a little before grappling with."
"Well," said Brown, reflectively, "there is something I could suggest, but I would like to ask another question." He stopped a moment, and tapped the palm of one hand with his glasses. "Why did you go out to Africa?"
"Wouldn't the chance of winning £5,000, which was what Jefferson estimated my share would be, appear a sufficient reason?"
"No," said Brown drily. "Not to me. When he first made you the offer you wouldn't go."
"I went, however, when I heard that he was sick. It was then a very natural thing. That ought to satisfy you."
"I scarcely think it does."
"Then, if I had any other reasons, though I am not exactly admitting it, they concern myself alone."
Brown made a little gesture. "Well," he said, "I don't suppose it matters in the meanwhile. You have once or twice asked my advice, and now you have some £7,000, and, I understand, don't know how to lay it out to the best advantage."
"Exactly. I don't feel the least desire to undertake the heaving off of any more steamers."
Brown leaned forward, and tapped his hand with the glasses. "An enterprising man could do a good deal with £7,000. It would, for example, buy him, we'll call it, a third share in a certain rather profitable fruit and wine business in Las Palmas. That is, of course, on the understanding that he devoted his whole time and energy to it."
Austin gazed at him in blank astonishment for a moment or two, and then a red flush crept into his face.
"I fancy a third share in the business you are evidently alluding to would be worth a good deal more than that," he said.
"Probably," said Brown, with a trace of dryness. "Thatis, I might get more for it, but I have no intention of offering it to everybody. I would like to ask your careful attention for a minute or two, Mr. Austin."
He stopped a moment, and his tone had changed when he proceeded. "There is nothing to be gained by hiding the fact that I am getting old, and I begin to feel that I would like to take my life a little more easily," he said. "Indeed, I want somebody I could have confidence in to do the hardest work for me. I made the business—and I am a little proud of it. It would not please me to let go of it altogether—and, as a matter of fact, I have been warned that if I retired to England, the climate would probably shorten my life for me. You are, perhaps, aware that I came out to the Canaries originally because my constitution is not an excellent one."
He stopped again, and added, with a certain significance: "I have, however, been told that my ailments are not likely to prove hereditary. Well, as I mentioned, I do not want to give the business up entirely, and it would be a matter of grief to me to see it go to pieces in the hands of an incompetent manager. That is why I have made you the offer."
Austin met his gaze steadily, though the flush was still in his face. "I scarcely think anybody would call me an enterprising business man, that is, at least, from the conventional English point of view."
Brown chuckled softly. "I believe you know as well as I do that a man of that kind would not be of the least use in Spain. They would drive him crazy, and he would probably have insulted half his clients past forgiveness before he had been a month among them. Now, you understand the Spaniards, and, what is as much to the purpose, they seem to like you."
Austin sat still, looking at him, and at last he saw thatBrown's reserve was breaking down. His hands seemed to be trembling a little, and there were other signs of anxiety about him.
"I don't know why you have made me that offer, sir," he said. "There must be plenty of men more fitted to be the recipient of it."
"It is, at least, wholly unconditional," and Brown made a little gesture that curiously became him. "I may say that I had already satisfied myself about you, or I should never have made it."
"Then," said Austin, a trifle hoarsely, "I can only thank you—and endeavour to give you no cause for being sorry afterwards that you fixed on me."
They had a little more to say, but the nurse appeared during the course of it and informed Brown that the surgeon was coming to dress Austin's arm.
"Just a minute," said the latter. "Will you be kind enough to pass me that pad and pencil?"
She gave it to him, and he scribbled hastily, and then tore off the sheet and handed it to Brown.
"I wonder if that message meets with your approval, sir?" he said.
Brown put on his glasses, and smiled as he read: "Miss Brown, Casa-Brown, Las Palmas. Ran away without a cause. Almost well. May I come back as your father's partner?"
Brown chuckled softly, though there was a curious and somewhat unusual gentleness in his eyes.
"It has my full approbation, though, considering the cable company's charges, isn't it a trifle loquacious?"
"Does that matter?" asked Austin.
Brown laughed, and grasped the hand he held out. "No," he said, "I don't suppose it does. After all, these things only happen once in the average lifetime. Well, I mustevidently go now, but I will come back to see what Jacinta says to-morrow."
He went out, and that night Austin got Jacinta's answer.
"Come!" was all it said, but Austin was well content, and, though he was not a very sentimental man, went to sleep with the message beneath his pillow.
It was, however, rather more than three weeks later when, as a yellow-funnelled mailboat slid into Las Palmas harbour, Austin, leaning down from her rail, saw Jacinta and Mrs. Hatherly in one of the crowding boats below. The little lady discreetly remained where she was, and when Jacinta came up the ladder Austin met her at the head of it. She flashed a swift glance into his face, and then for a moment turned hers aside.
"Ah!" she said, "you have forgotten what I said to you, and you are really well again?"
Austin laughed, a quiet, exultant laugh. "I was never particularly ill, but you know all that, and we have ever so much more pleasant things to talk about," he said. "In the meanwhile, I fancy we are blocking up the gangway."
Holding the hand she had given him, he drew her behind the deck-house masterfully, and looked down on her with a little smile.
"I almost think you are pleased to see me back," he said.
"Ah!" said Jacinta, "if you only knew what the past few weeks have cost me."
Austin, laying both hands on her shoulders, stooped and kissed her twice. "That was worth going to Africa for, and if Jefferson had only bought theCumbriasooner I would have ventured to do as much ever so long ago."
There was apparently nobody else on that side of the deck-house, and Jacinta, who did not shake his grasp off, looked up at him with shining eyes.
"You are quite sure of that?" she said.
"The wish to do so was almost irresistible the first time I saw you. It has been growing stronger ever since."
Jacinta laughed softly, though the crimson was in her cheeks. "Still, you would have mastered it. You were always discreet, you know, and that was why at last I—who have hitherto told all my friends what they ought to do—had to let some one else make it clear how much I wanted you. Now, you are going to think very little of me after that?"
"My dear," said Austin, "you know there was only one thing which could have kept me away from you."
"As if that mattered," and Jacinta laughed scornfully. "Now, stoop a little, though, perhaps, I shouldn't tell you, and if you hadn't gone to Africa, of course, I shouldn't have done it. I knew when you went away how badly I wanted you—and I would have done anything to bring you back, however much it cost me."
A couple of seamen carrying baggage appeared from behind the deck-house just then, which naturally cut short their confidences, and Austin made his way with Jacinta's hand upon his arm towards the boat. He was a trifle bewildered, as well as exultant, for this was quite a new Jacinta, one, in fact, he had never encountered before. She gave him another proof of it when he made an observation that afforded her the opening as they were rowed across the harbour.
"No," she said, quite disregarding Mrs. Hatherly, "I am not going to give you any advice or instructions now you belong to me. After managing everybody else's affairs successfully for ever so long I made a deplorable mess of my own, you see."
"Then what am I to do when we have difficulties tocontend with?" said Austin. "We may have a few now and then."
"You," said Jacinta sweetly, "will have to get over them. I know you can do that now, and I am just going to watch you and be pleased with everything. Isn't that the correct attitude, Mrs. Hatherly?"
The little lady beamed upon them both. "It is rather an old-fashioned one, my dear," she said. "Still, I am far from sure that it doesn't work out as well as the one occasionally adopted by young women now."
THE END.
Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the original edition have been corrected.In Chapter II,"Don Erminio," said Jacinto, "evidently doesn't approve of his dinner."was changed to"Don Erminio," said Jacinta, "evidently doesn't approve of his dinner.",A bit doosoor on the coal trade is one thing, but you was—insultin'was changed toA bit doosoor on the coal trade is one thing, but yon was—insultin',as he steamer rolledwas changed toas the steamer rolled, andour launcha readywas changed toour lancha ready.In Chapter III,Erminio Oliviera, theEstremeduro'scaptainwas changed toErminio Oliviera, theEstremedura'scaptain, andif Jacinto ever doeswas changed toif Jacinta ever does.In Chapter IV,it also occured to himwas changed toit also occurred to him.In Chapter V,a schoner load of onionswas changed toa schooner load of onions, and a missing quotation mark was added afterpainting little pictures on board theEstremedura.In Chapter VI,as he drew in under the Estremedura's sidewas changed toas he drew in under theEstremedura'sside, andIsn't that sufficient.was changed toIsn't that sufficient?In Chapter VII,his silk-covered beastwas changed tohis silk-covered breast,escaped anihilationwas changed toescaped annihilation, anddidn't apear to have any legitimate connectionwas changed todidn't appear to have any legitimate connection.In Chapter VIII,the negroes who crosesd itwas changed tothe negroes who crossed it, andsomebody seized his soulderswas changed tosomebody seized his shoulders.In Chapter IX,drifted etherially athwartwas changed todrifted ethereally athwart.In Chapter X,acompanied the rhythmic splash of oarswas changed toaccompanied the rhythmic splash of oars.In Chapter XI,the blurr of steamy mangroveswas changed tothe blur of steamy mangroves,swoopd down beneathwas changed toswooped down beneath, and"Who the devil are you poisoning?"was changed to'Who the devil are you poisoning?'.In Chapter XIII, a missing period was added afterwinch commenced to fire his blood.In Chapter XV, a quotation mark was deleted beforeThose salvage men are specialists.In Chapter XVI, a quotation mark was added afterLast night the water was on the thumb.In Chapter XVII, a missing quotation mark was added after"Well,and beforehe said, "it isn't the usual view, and a missing quotation mark was added afterThe trouble is, I don't quite know where I'm going to get it..In Chapter XIX,admissable now and thenwas changed toadmissible now and then,he recognised thath she must be forcedwas changed tohe recognised that she must be forced,the girls' big blue eyeswas changed tothe girl's big blue eyes, and a missing quotation mark was added beforeCouldn't you get there in theEstremedura.In Chapter XX, a missing quotation mark was added after"Well,and beforesaid Muriel, "it is really your own fault, a quotation mark was deleted beforeEight guineas for the two, and a period was changed to a question mark afterthe Delgado Island lies.In Chapter XXI,That, I think, is, to be acuratewas changed toThat, I think, is, to be accurate.In Chapter XXII,one of the Canorios raised himself a triflewas changed toone of the Canorios raised himself a trifle, and a quotation mark was deleted afternot afraid of Funnel-paint.In Chapter XXIII, a quotation mark was added aftermakes any exertion out of the question, a quotation mark was deleted beforeOffer any of the rest of them, andclenched a hard, scared fistwas changed toclenched a hard, scarred fist.In Chapter XXIV,even Jefferson deferrd to himwas changed toeven Jefferson deferrd to him,as the Cumbria rose uprightwas changed toas theCumbriarose upright,In a month her deck was almost levedwas changed toIn a month her deck was almost leveled,You will remember the encouraging words that fellow left—"My arm's almost rotten now."was changed toYou will remember the encouraging words that fellow left—'My arm's almost rotten now.'", andslowly clenched one scared handwas changed toslowly clenched one scarred hand.In Chapter XXV,he keeps in the litle casewas changed tohe keeps in the little case,beam and angle comenced to tremblewas changed tobeam and angle commenced to tremble, andWire and hemp and studded chain rosedwas changed toWire and hemp and studded chain rose.In Chapter XXVI, a missing question mark was added afterPut that lamp out.,keep outside the straking radiuswas changed tokeep outside the striking radius,Austim became sensible of a change in his moodwas changed toAustin became sensible of a change in his mood, anda faint rythmic throbbingwas changed toa faint rhythmic throbbing.In Chapter XXVII, quotation marks were added afterkeep your skin unbroken.andYou may as well open the rest of them.In Chapter XXVIII,theCumbriasteerd handilywas changed totheCumbriasteered handily, andthe distance run appeared to be working acuratelywas changed tothe distance run appeared to be working accurately.In Chapter XXX,an dinformed Brown that the surgeonwas changed toand informed Brown that the surgeon.
Transcriber's Note: The following typographical errors present in the original edition have been corrected.
In Chapter II,"Don Erminio," said Jacinto, "evidently doesn't approve of his dinner."was changed to"Don Erminio," said Jacinta, "evidently doesn't approve of his dinner.",A bit doosoor on the coal trade is one thing, but you was—insultin'was changed toA bit doosoor on the coal trade is one thing, but yon was—insultin',as he steamer rolledwas changed toas the steamer rolled, andour launcha readywas changed toour lancha ready.
In Chapter III,Erminio Oliviera, theEstremeduro'scaptainwas changed toErminio Oliviera, theEstremedura'scaptain, andif Jacinto ever doeswas changed toif Jacinta ever does.
In Chapter IV,it also occured to himwas changed toit also occurred to him.
In Chapter V,a schoner load of onionswas changed toa schooner load of onions, and a missing quotation mark was added afterpainting little pictures on board theEstremedura.
In Chapter VI,as he drew in under the Estremedura's sidewas changed toas he drew in under theEstremedura'sside, andIsn't that sufficient.was changed toIsn't that sufficient?
In Chapter VII,his silk-covered beastwas changed tohis silk-covered breast,escaped anihilationwas changed toescaped annihilation, anddidn't apear to have any legitimate connectionwas changed todidn't appear to have any legitimate connection.
In Chapter VIII,the negroes who crosesd itwas changed tothe negroes who crossed it, andsomebody seized his soulderswas changed tosomebody seized his shoulders.
In Chapter IX,drifted etherially athwartwas changed todrifted ethereally athwart.
In Chapter X,acompanied the rhythmic splash of oarswas changed toaccompanied the rhythmic splash of oars.
In Chapter XI,the blurr of steamy mangroveswas changed tothe blur of steamy mangroves,swoopd down beneathwas changed toswooped down beneath, and"Who the devil are you poisoning?"was changed to'Who the devil are you poisoning?'.
In Chapter XIII, a missing period was added afterwinch commenced to fire his blood.
In Chapter XV, a quotation mark was deleted beforeThose salvage men are specialists.
In Chapter XVI, a quotation mark was added afterLast night the water was on the thumb.
In Chapter XVII, a missing quotation mark was added after"Well,and beforehe said, "it isn't the usual view, and a missing quotation mark was added afterThe trouble is, I don't quite know where I'm going to get it..
In Chapter XIX,admissable now and thenwas changed toadmissible now and then,he recognised thath she must be forcedwas changed tohe recognised that she must be forced,the girls' big blue eyeswas changed tothe girl's big blue eyes, and a missing quotation mark was added beforeCouldn't you get there in theEstremedura.
In Chapter XX, a missing quotation mark was added after"Well,and beforesaid Muriel, "it is really your own fault, a quotation mark was deleted beforeEight guineas for the two, and a period was changed to a question mark afterthe Delgado Island lies.
In Chapter XXI,That, I think, is, to be acuratewas changed toThat, I think, is, to be accurate.
In Chapter XXII,one of the Canorios raised himself a triflewas changed toone of the Canorios raised himself a trifle, and a quotation mark was deleted afternot afraid of Funnel-paint.
In Chapter XXIII, a quotation mark was added aftermakes any exertion out of the question, a quotation mark was deleted beforeOffer any of the rest of them, andclenched a hard, scared fistwas changed toclenched a hard, scarred fist.
In Chapter XXIV,even Jefferson deferrd to himwas changed toeven Jefferson deferrd to him,as the Cumbria rose uprightwas changed toas theCumbriarose upright,In a month her deck was almost levedwas changed toIn a month her deck was almost leveled,You will remember the encouraging words that fellow left—"My arm's almost rotten now."was changed toYou will remember the encouraging words that fellow left—'My arm's almost rotten now.'", andslowly clenched one scared handwas changed toslowly clenched one scarred hand.
In Chapter XXV,he keeps in the litle casewas changed tohe keeps in the little case,beam and angle comenced to tremblewas changed tobeam and angle commenced to tremble, andWire and hemp and studded chain rosedwas changed toWire and hemp and studded chain rose.
In Chapter XXVI, a missing question mark was added afterPut that lamp out.,keep outside the straking radiuswas changed tokeep outside the striking radius,Austim became sensible of a change in his moodwas changed toAustin became sensible of a change in his mood, anda faint rythmic throbbingwas changed toa faint rhythmic throbbing.
In Chapter XXVII, quotation marks were added afterkeep your skin unbroken.andYou may as well open the rest of them.
In Chapter XXVIII,theCumbriasteerd handilywas changed totheCumbriasteered handily, andthe distance run appeared to be working acuratelywas changed tothe distance run appeared to be working accurately.
In Chapter XXX,an dinformed Brown that the surgeonwas changed toand informed Brown that the surgeon.