Inside the box was a pair of smoked-glasses!
Fay lifted his white, drawn face and glared toward the sea. He swayed as he drew the box with its contents back and over his right shoulder. He flushed suddenly with the memory of the trip he had taken. Rage crimsoned his features.
“Sent me!â€� he exclaimed huskily. “They sent me through hell to get this trifle. You, Richard, and you, Keenon—are mad!â€�
The box and the glasses described a flashing arc through the air. They struck the sullen waves below the shelf of dark rock. They sank in many fathoms of brine. A winding shroud of opal vapor swirled and enclosed them in its clammy folds. It was like a pall to all his hopes!
CHAPTER XII
SMOKED-GLASSES
Saidee Isaacs was the first to recover her voice and reason. She seized Fay’s left arm and drew him away from the edge of the cliff. She feared that he might cast himself into the sea.
“You shouldn’t have thrown them away,â€� she said quickly. “Chester—you should have looked them over carefully. Perhaps—â€�
“I’m done! To think what a fool I’ve been. We’ve both been gulled. It is the end of a wild-goose chase—if ever there was one!â€�
She let go of his arm. Her face lifted to his. She saw his eyes flash out and over the sea. A bitter light was in their depths. Defiance flamed there. He squared his shoulders and dropped his hands to his sides.
“Come on!� he said. “Let’s go inland and find out where we are. We can get a railroad train or something for the north. The country is full of refugees and broken soldiers. No one will notice us. We can go to Stavanger and then to the States.�