SATISFACTION—DISSATISFACTION—AND A CONTEMPLATED ARRIVAL.
First thing next morning Murkard went off to the township. He was gone about an hour, and during that time Ellison seemed to live a lifetime. Fearing that his face might frighten his wife, he found work for himself in the store and among the boats. Everything seemed to conspire to remind him of his position, and every few moments the inevitable result would rise before him in a new light and fairly take his breath away. Times out of number his patience got the better of him, and he went down to the shore to see if there were any sign of the boat's return. When at last he did make it out, his heart seemed first to stand still and then to throb until it felt as if it would burst his chest asunder. Nearer and nearer came the white sail, gleaming like a flake of ivory on the warm sunlit sea. When she drew alongside the jetty one glimpse of Murkard's face told him that the errand had been satisfactorily accomplished. He waited for him to beach the boat, and then they set off together for the store.
"Well," asked Ellison anxiously, as soon as they were inside and had shut the door, "how have you succeeded?"
"Admirably, so far. I have dispatched the cablegram, and by this time to-morrow we shall know our fate."
"But what proof have you that they will believe your tale?"
"The Government Resident's word. He has guaranteed the truth of my statement."
Not another syllable did Ellison utter. His lips moved, but no sound came from them. Then suddenly, with a little cry, he stretched out his arms towards the counter as if to sustain himself, and missing that, fell prone in a dead faint upon the floor.
In a minute or two Murkard had brought him back to consciousness.
"What on earth's the matter with you, Ellison?" he cried. "You're surely not going to give way now that the business is accomplished?"
"I don't know," the other replied shamefacedly, as soon as he was sufficiently recovered to talk. "I suppose the anxiety has been too much for me. My wife must know nothing of this, remember."