Nedra

  CHAPTER XXXII

  _THE CRUISER "WINNETKA"_

  A moment later pandemonium broke loose. The ceremony was forgotten inthe panic that seized the startled savages. There was a rush, a stampedeof terror and the great temple was emptied as if by magic. Hugh and hisfair companion stood alone in the little plain, staring at the distantgateposts, over which a faint cloud of smoke was lifting, coming up fromthe sea beyond. The terrified savages had fled to their homes inwildest alarm.

  Minutes passed before Hugh could speak again. Power of comprehensionseemed to have left them. They were looking dumbly into eachother's eyes.

  "It _was_ a gun--a big gun. Our flag."

  Without knowing what they did the two started across the plain, theireyes glued to the great rocks that screened the mystery.

  "Can it be the Oolooz men?" she asked.

  "The whole Oolooz army, dead or alive, couldn't have made a noise likethat. It might have been a volcano breaking through the rocks."

  "Then we must not venture down there," she cried, holding back. He threwhis big right arm around her waist and broke into a brisk run, takingher along resistlessly.

  Together they walked and ran across the plain and through the pass whichled to the sea. Far behind straggled a few of the villagers, emboldenedby curiosity.

  "The rocks seem to be all right," he said, as if a pet theory had beendestroyed.

  By this time they had passed over the rocks and were upon the sand.Simultaneously they turned their eyes toward the sea, and the sight thatburst upon them fairly took the breath from their lungs, leaving them soweak that they staggered. A mile or so out at sea lay a huge ship, whitehulled and formidable. There were gun turrets above deck and a swarm ofmen on board.

  Hugh's eyes seemed to turn round and round in his head, his legs beganto tremble and his palsied lips parted helplessly, as he pointed to thecolors she flew. The American flag fluttered from the mizzen-mast of thegreat vessel!

  Almost crazed by the sight, the castaways, overcoming theirstupefaction, forgetting all that had gone before, danced frantically onthe sand hill, their ecstasy knowing no bounds.

  "Will they see us?" she sobbed, falling at last to the ground in sheerexhaustion, digging her fingers feverishly, unconsciously into the sand.

  "Yes, yes! They must see us! We are saved! Saved!" he yelled hoarsely.Then he threw himself beside her, and they were clasped in each other'sarms, crying like children. Afterward they could remember only that theysaw a boat lowered from the ship. It came toward them, a white uniformedofficer standing in the bow. As the boat drew near Tennys began toregain her equanimity. She withdrew hastily from Hugh's arms and arose.With streaming eyes she waved her hands in response to the farawaysalute of the officer. Hugh, not so easily restrained, jumped to hisfeet and shouted:

  "Hurrah! Hurrah! God bless you! American sailors! Angels of heaven,every one of you! Hurrah!"

  Holding their hands to their temples, the castaways finally calmedthemselves enough to look rationally at each other. Their minds began toregain order, their nerves were quieted, their hearts forgot the tumult,and they could think and talk and reason again. In the fierce ecstasy ofseeing the long-looked-for rescuers, they had forgotten their expresseddesire to live always on the island. Human nature had overcome sentimentand they rejoiced in what they had regarded as a calamity an hourbefore. Now they realized that a crisis had come.

  "Hugh, will they take us away?" she cried, real anguish mingling withtriumphant joy.

  "Shall we go or stay?" cried he, torn by two emotions.

  "It may be the end of our happiness," she whispered, pale as death. "Iwill stay here forever, Hugh, if you like."

  "Do you want to go?"

  "I want to go and I want to stay. What shall we do?"

  "Go! We shall be happy. Nothing shall part us, darling."

  "But Grace? What if she is alive?" she asked faintly.

  "God grant she is. I'll throw myself at her feet and she shall be madeto understand," he said, but a nameless chill crossed him.

  "You would break her heart," moaned she. "Our poor, poor wedding day."

  "There will be another glad and joyous day," he said, trying to findheart.

  "I will go where you go, Hugh," she said.

  A few long sweeps of the oars and the white boat, with its bluetrimmings, shot upon the beach, and the officer leaped forward to meetthe waiting pair.

  "I am Ensign Carruthers, United States cruiser _Winnetka_, CaptainHildebrand commanding. We saw your flag and were considerablymystified," he said, doffing his cap to her Ladyship. But Ridgeway,forgetting politeness, dignity and reserve, rushed up and grabbed him bythe hand, mad with the exuberance of joy.

  "Saved! Saved! Saved!"

  Carruthers, dumbfounded, looked from one to the other of the now franticcouple. He saw white people dressed in most unusual garments, the womanpossessing a gloriously beautiful face and the air of royalty, the manbushy haired and stalwart, every inch a gentleman and an American.

  "What does this mean?" he demanded.

  "You are the first white man we have seen in more than a year," criedHugh.

  "We have seen none but savages," added she, tears of happiness startingafresh down her cheeks.

  "You were wrecked?" exclaimed the sailor, appalled.

  It was an incoherent recital that the two poured into his ears, firstone, then the other talking excitedly, but it was not long before he wasin possession of all the facts.

  "You were on the _Tempest Queen_," he cried, doubting his ears.

  "Was no one saved?" they cried breathlessly.

  "The captain and five or six passengers, I think, were picked up, almoststarved, in a boat, some days after the wreck. All others were lost."

  "Who were the passengers?" asked Hugh, trembling with eagerness.

  "I don't recall the names."

  "Was there a Miss Ridge among them?"

  "Was Lord Huntingford saved?"

  "I can't say as to the lady, but I know that Lord Huntingford was lost.I remember the papers were full of headlines about him and his youngwife. His dead body was picked up by a steamer. She was not found."

  "She has just been found," said Hugh. "This it Lady Huntingford."

  * * * * *

  The _Winnetka_ was on a three years' cruise. Her engines had broken downa few days before, during a storm, and she was carried out of hercourse. The machinery being repaired, she was now picking her way towardManila. The sailors were sent back to the warship, with information forthe commander, and Carruthers accompanied the joyous couple to thevillage. The natives had seen the ship and the white men, and there wasintense excitement among them.

  Then came the struggle for Hugh and Tennys Huntingford. For an hour theywavered and then the die was cast. Back to the old world!

  When it became known that the Izors who had done so much for them wereto leave the island on the big, strange thing of the deep, the greatestconsternation and grief ensued. Chattering disconsolately, the wholevillage accompanied the belongings of the Izors to the beach. LadyTennys and Ridgeway went among their savage friends with the promise toreturn some day, a promise which they meant to fulfil.

  "I'll have missionaries out here in a month," vowed Hugh, biting hislips and trying to speak calmly through the grip that was choking himinvoluntarily.

  King Pootoo, the picture of despair, stood knee-deep in the water. Asthe sailors pushed off, he threw up his hands and wailed aloud; and thenthe whole tribe behind him fell grovelling in the sand. Two white-robedfigures flung themselves in the water and grasped the gunwales as theboat moved away. The sailors tried to drive them off, but they screamedand turned their pleading faces toward their mistress.

  "Please take them in," she cried, and strong arms drew the dusky womeninto the boat. They were Alzam and Nattoo, the devoted handmaidens ofthe beautiful Izor. Trembling and in fear of dire punishment for theiraudacity, they sank to the bottom of the boat. Nor did they cease theirm
oaning until they were on the broad deck of the _Winnetka_, whereastonishment overcame fear.

  Slowly the boat moved away from the island of Nedra, just one year afterits new passengers had set foot on its shores. High upon the top of thetall gatepost fluttered the frayed remnants of an American flag. Thecaptain pointed toward it, removed his cap proudly, and then there arosea mighty cheer from the men on board the man o' war.