It was evident he feared the
outcome of any sudden overthrow of her self-control.
"I think," he suggested, with a real sympathy in his voice, "that it
would be better if you went to the saloon, or your cabin. Believe me,
I shall come to you with every scrap of news. Boyle will see all that
happens and we shall know the best, or the worst, within an hour."
"If you would help me," she answered dully, "please take the dog away.
He is tearing my heart-strings. Poor little fellow, he makes no
pretence."
So Joey was fastened up, much against his will, and his piteous
protests no longer added to the girl's agony. She clung to the after
rail, and watched the boat, now a tiny dot hard to discern amidst the
ripples caused by the inflowing tide. Her intimate acquaintance with
the daily happenings of life aboard told her that Courtenay had chosen
the last hour of flood for his effort, thus gaining the advantage of
the ebb in the event of the life-boat's being pursued by canoes on the
return journey. By degrees, a tender little sprig of hope peeped up in
her dulled consciousness. The boat was very near the distant rocks,
and there was neither sight nor sound of the Indians.
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