Part 56 (2/2)
One day, he came suddenly through the jungle, and found her reading her prayer-book.
He took it from her, not meaning to be rude, neither, but inquisitive.
It was open at the marriage-service, and her cheeks were dyed scarlet.
His heart panted. He was a clergyman; he could read that service over them both.
Would it be a marriage?
Not in England; but in some countries it would. Why not in this? This was not England.
He looked up. Her head was averted; she was downright distressed.
He was sorry to have made her blush; so he took her hand and kissed it tenderly, so tenderly that his heart seemed to go into his lips. She thrilled under it, and her white brow sank upon his shoulder.
The sky was a vault of purple with a flaming topaz in the center; the sea, a heavenly blue; the warm air breathed heavenly odors; flaming macaws wheeled overhead; humming-birds, more gorgeous than any flower, buzzed round their heads, and amazed the eye with delight, then cooled it with the deep green of the jungle into which they dived.
It was a Paradise with the sun smiling down on it, and the ocean smiling up, and the air impregnated with love. Here they were both content now to spend the rest of their days--
”The world forgetting; by the world forgot.”
CHAPTER XLIX.
THE _Springbok_ arrived in due course at longitude 103 deg. 31 min., but saw no island. This was dispiriting; but still Captain Moreland did not despair.
He asked General Rolleston to examine the writing casefully, and tell him was that Miss Rolleston's handwriting.
The general shook his head sorrowfully. ”No,” said he; ”it is nothing like my child's hand.”
”Why, all the better,” said Captain Moreland; ”the lady has got somebody about her who knows a thing or two. The man that could catch wild ducks and turn 'em into postmen could hit on the longitude somehow; and he doesn't pretend to be exact in the lat.i.tude.”
Upon this he ran northward four hundred miles; which took him three days; for they stopped at night.
No island.
He then ran south five hundred miles; stopping at night.
No island.
Then he took the vessel zigzag.
Just before sunset, one lovely day, the man at the mast-head sang out:
”On deck there!”
”Hullo!”
”Something in sight; on our weather-bow.”
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