Part 24 (2/2)

”Daybreak?” she said ”I wish it were here now”

Swish!+ swish!+ went the sea withsound For the moht her up sharply The girl spoke no radually beca as she accusto, her head drooped It was dry in the bow; a blanket protected her from the wind, and, weary with the events of the last few days, she seemed to rest as securely on this wave-rocked couch as a child in its cradle The youth, uncertain whether she slept or not, forbore to disturb her Hours went by

As the night wore on a few stars caed kind of way

Heretofore he had been steering by the wind; now, that scanty peripatetic band, adrift on celestial highways, assisted hi his course When one sleepy-eyed planet went in, another, not far away (from the human scope of survey) came out, and Francois, with the perspicacity of a follower of the sea, seeame of hide-and-seek with the pin-points of infinitude Betatching the stars, the sea and the sail, he found absorbing occupation for mind and muscle Sometimes, in the water's depressions, a lull would catch theain over the tops of the crests, slapping fiercely the canvas, a brief period of hazard had to be met The boat, like a delicate live creature, needed a fine as well as a firm hand

His faculties thus concentrated, Francois had remained oblivious to the dark foreinov had first lance passed steadily over her had not heard it She raised herself slightly; sat a long ti in direction, frouishable figure of hiers played with a scarf--the one that had been wound around her head Once she leaned back, her cheek against the sharp thwart, her gaze heavenward She reh her fingers continued to toy with the bit of heavy silk, as if keeping pace with sohts

A wastrel, she had been in e places, but never before had she found herself in a situation so extraordinary To her startled outlook, the boat ht well have seeure, aluishable, yet so steadfastly present at the stern of the little craft, appeared gririp had been real; certainly that He had been, too, perforce, a master of action She leaned her head on her elbow

Strangely, she felt no resentment

The tired stars, as by a co, slowly faded altogether The wolance board The day--ould it reveal? She understood a good deal, yet h a dream, she had seemed to hear the name, ”Francois”--to listen to a crystalline voice, fresh as the tinkling bells in some teray, and as that sohter neutral tint, she irl As by a species of fascination, she continued to look at her while the morn unfolded slowly From behind a dark promontory of vapor, Aurora's warhtened the chilly-looking sea; they touched a golden tress--just one, that stole out froirl's face could not be seen; the heavy covering concealed the lines of the lithe young form

As she continued to sleep--undisturbed by the first lance swept backward to hiht showed now his face, worn and set, yet strangely transfigured He did not seelances shot this way and that to where wisps of mist on the surface of the sea partly obscured the outlook Sonia Turgeinov divined his purpose; he was looking for the _Nevski_ But although he continued to search in the direction of the yacht, he did not catch sight of her

Only the winding and twining diaphanous veils played where he feared she reat satisfaction passed over his features

Then he swayed froladly to the bottom of the boat Brain as well as sinew has its li He had done work that called for tenseness and mental concentration every moment He had outlasted divers and ht have overwhelmed them, and now that the blackness which had shrouded a thousand unseen risks and perils had been swept aside, an al reaction claimed him This natural lassitude became the more marked after he had scanned the horizon in vain for the prince's pleasure-yacht

His task, however, was far froaze and his expression were al their destinies as by force of habit

Luckily the breeze had waned and the boat danced erously It threw little rainbows of spray in the air; he blinked at them, his eyes half closed In the bow the old dun-colored blanket stirred but he did not see it A glorious sun swept up, and began to lap thirstily the wavering einov spoke now softly to the steersaze met hers All dislike and disapproval seemed to have vanished frouerreotype of long ago, or looks at features limned by a soulless etcher

”Do you see it?” he asked

”What?”

”Trees? Aren't those trees?”

”I see nothing”

”You do You hly, as if she irritated hi,” she said, and started ”Like a speck?--a filain stirred Then, as frohtness and beauty, so froht a red-lipped, lovely vision

”Trees,” repeated the steerseinov ”I am positive--” he went on, but lost interest in his oords Fatigue seemed to fall froolden hair Betty Dalrymple's eyes flashed full upon him

”You!” she said

Mr Heatherblooue, indefinite--again partook of the somnambulistic

CHAPTER XXI