The pursuers had given it up; perhaps believed that with reinforcements at hand we might turn the tables and chase them; or it might be more worthy motives caused them to go back and assist their demoralized comrades.
I cared not a picayune what the motive, so long as we were rid of the fellows.
Hildegarde once more sat upon a thwart.
Her arm was around Carmencita, and, though unable to account for the fact, I could see that she was awaiting events with her nerves at the highest tension.
Strange if, after all I had done, she held that old grudge against me still, and allowed it to make the acceptance of a temporary shelter on board my yacht a painful necessity.
I could not quite discharge these bitter thoughts that insisted upon crowding upon me.
The launch bore around and came up alongside our clumsy craft.
I was never more glad to grasp hold of it.
Karl Wagner, with another, was aboard—the stout engineer, I think it was—their departure had been in such haste, they had not waited for more recruits.
“Let me help you in, Hildegarde,” I said, quietly, and withal not able to avoid a little tenderness in my voice, for she had been so sadly frightened during the battle on the water, I felt genuinely sorry for her.