Part 53 (2/2)
Hazel started.
Helen felt him start, and asked him, with some surprise, what was the matter.
”Cloud!” said he; ”that is no cloud. That is smoke.”
”Smoke!” echoed Helen, becoming agitated in her turn.
”Yes; the breeze is northerly, and carries the smoke nearer to us; it is the smoke of a steamboat.”
CHAPTER XLV.
BOTH were greatly moved; and after one swift glance Helen stole at him, neither looked at the other. They spoke in flurried whispers.
”Can they see the island?”
”I don't know; it depends on how far the boat is to windward of her smoke.”
”How shall we know?”
”If she sees the island she will make for it that moment.”
”Why? do s.h.i.+ps never pa.s.s an unknown island?”
”Yes. But that steamer will not pa.s.s us.”
”But why?”
At this question Hazel hung his head, and his lip quivered. He answered her at last. ”Because she is looking for you.”
Helen was struck dumb at this.
He gave his reasons. ”Steamers never visit these waters. Love has brought that steamer out; love that will not go unrewarded. Arthur Wardlaw is on board that s.h.i.+p.”
”Have they seen us yet?”
Hazel forced on a kind of dogged fort.i.tude. He said, ”When the smoke ceases to elongate, you will know they have changed their course, and they will change their course the moment the man at the mast-head sees us.”
”Oh! But how do you know they have a man at the mast-head?”
”I know by myself. I should have a man at the mast-head night and day.”
And now the situation was beyond words. They both watched, and watched, to see the line of smoke cease.
It continued to increase, and spread eastward; and that proved the steamer was continuing her course.
The sun drew close to the horizon.
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