"I am happy, for your sake, and I want to apologize for my display of
temper. Come away where I won't have to scream so. I want to talk to
you."
"It is music to my ears," he answered, as he led her past the rows of
Chinamen bowed before their soldering-torches as if busied with some
heathen rites. "But I'm glad to sit down just the same. I've been on my
feet for thirty-six hours."
"You poor boy! Why don't you take some sleep?"
"I can't. George is coming with another load of fish, and the plant is
so new I am afraid to leave it even for an hour."
"It's too much for one man," she declared.
"Oh, I'll sleep to-morrow."
"Did you see--her?" questioned Cherry.
"Yes!"
"She must be very proud of you," she said, wistfully.
"I--I--don't think she understands what I am trying to do, or what it
means. Our talk was not very satisfactory."
"She surely must have understood what Marsh is doing."
"I didn't tell her that."
"Why not?"
"What good would it have done?"
"Why"--Cherry seemed bewildered--"she could put a stop to it; she could
use her influence with her father against Marsh. I expected to see your
old crew back at work again. Oh, I wish I had her power!"
"She wouldn't take a hand under any circumstances--it wouldn't occur to
her--and naturally I couldn't ask her." Boyd flushed uncomfortably.
"Thanks to George's trap, there is no need." He went on to tell Cherry
of the scene with Mr. Wayland and its stormy ending.
"They have used all their resources to down you," she said, "but luck
is with you, and you mustn't let them succeed. Now is the time to show
them what is in you. Go in and win her now, against all of them."
He was grateful for her sympathy, yet somehow it made him uncomfortable.
"What was it you wished to see me about?" he asked.
"Oh! Have you seen Chakawana?"
"No."
"She disappeared early this morning soon after the yacht came in; I
can't find her anywhere. She took the baby with her and--I'm worried."
"Doesn't Constantine know where she is?"
"Why, Constantine is down here, isn't he?"
"He hasn't been here since yesterday."
Cherry rose nervously. "There is something wrong, Boyd. They have been
acting queerly for a long time."
"Then you are alone at your place," he said, thoughtfully. "I think you
had better come down here."
"Oh no!"
"I shall send some one up to spend the night at your house. You
shouldn't be left unprotected." But just then Constantine came
sauntering round the corner of the building.
"Thank Heaven!" cried Cherry. "He will know where the others are."
But when his mistress questioned him, Constantine merely replied: "I
don' know. I no see Chakawana."
"They have been gone since morning, and I can't find them anywhere."
"Umph! I guess they all right."
"There is something queer about this," said Emerson. "Where have you
been all day?"
"I go sleep. I tired from fighting last night. I come back now and go
work. Bime'by Chakawana come back too, I guess."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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