"I presume you would not care to earn Muriel's undying gratitude by being a trifle more definite?"
"No," said Onslow, with twinkling eyes. "I esteem Miss Gascoyne's good opinion, but I really couldn't go any further to win yours. As I pointed out, one would be guided by circumstances; but men on board stranded steamers have been supplied with drugs and provisions, as well as lent naval artificers to advise them as to repairs. I have even heard of a gunboat's launch carrying out their hawsers and anchors."
Jacinta rose with a little smile. "I think one could leave it with confidence to your discretion, and since it seems very likely that you will come across that steamer, I should be pleased to have your views as to the selection of a few comforts and provisions."
Onslow favoured her with them, and, as it happened, met Macallister when at last he went down the ladder.
"Ye are going out to Africa, too?" said the latter, with a grin. "She has been giving ye sailing instructions?"
Onslow looked at him grimly. "Well," he said, "what the devil has that to do with you?"
"Oh, nothing. Just nothing at all. Still, because I see ye are willing, I would have ye know that there are—two—men from Grand Canary on board yon steamer already."
Onslow smiled a trifle drily. "My dear man, I'm not altogether an ass," he said.
In the meanwhile Muriel strolled back towards Jacinta, and glanced at her with a suggestion of astonishment in her face as she sat down.
"You are different from what you were a little while ago," she said.