“Never mind, dear,” said she. “I care only if you do.”
She patted his great shoulders lightly and smiled up at him.
“Run, help!” she cried. “And come home as soon as you can. I'll have something nice and hot all ready for you.”
She turned away, the smile still on her lips; but as soon as she was out of sight, her face fell grave.
“Come, Mina!” she said to the younger girl. “Time to go.”
They toiled through the heavy sand to where, hours ago, they had left Prince. That faithful animal dozed in his tracks and awoke reluctantly.
Carroll looked back. The fires leaped red and yellow. Against them were the silhouettes of people, and in the farther circle of their illumination were more people cast in bronze that flickered red. In contrast to their glow the night was very dark. Only from the lake there disengaged a faint gray light where the waters broke. The strength of the failing wind still lifted the finer particles of sand. The organ of the pounding surf filled the night with the grandeur of its music.
XXXV
Orde mounted the office stairs next day with a very heavy step. The loss of the NORTH STAR and of the two schooners meant a great deal to him at that time.