The Girl of the Golden Gate
the east we should be going."

Emily met his gaze now, with a pallor beginning to overspread her face.

"But do you think he does not know?" she asked, and her voice trembled.

"If you will remember it was he—this man—who changed the course of the Yakutat," answered Rowgowskii. "I have been thinking that you might induce him to change—to do right."

Consternation seized her at the mention of the Yakutat. It bore quick doubt in her heart; then fear. Her new faith was torn from its moorings. Her mind lost all sense of its bearings.

"Why have you not spoken to him?" she asked.

"I mentioned it this morning. He ignored me. That Chinaman there"—he indicated Chang with a glance—"that beast there—told me that I could walk ashore if I did not like the way things were done here."

Neither had observed Chang for some time, but now Emily looked up at him and was startled by the steadiness with which his gaze was fixed dead ahead. He stood tense like a hunting dog at a point, his nostrils twitching nervously. Rowgowskii followed the direction of the giant's gaze, but could see nothing. Emily started to speak to Chang, but her lips opened only to gasp.

"Land ho!" cried Chang.

"Where away?" answered Lavelle, leaping to his feet.

"Two points—starboard bow, master," and Chang pointed one of his powerful and sinewy arms straight ahead.

Emily, Rowgowskii, and the coolie sailors looked eagerly in the direction in which he pointed, but could see nothing. They turned toward Lavelle, who, with his hands shading his eyes, was driving his gaze toward the southwest. The tensity of the moment was terrific. It impinged upon him in every glance. He was the commander; his was the task to bring this boat to land; his was the responsibility. They saw his lips move as if he counted something. As he finished he dropped his hands.

"It is land," he said, speaking directly to Emily, and his voice trembled. "We should be up with it before sunset, Miss Granville. God grant it means your succor—your deliverance."

"What land is it?" she asked eagerly.

"I don't know. It puzzles me."

"I saw you 
 Prev. P 32/151 next 
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