But now a difficulty arose. The sun had gone down, though we had not observed it, and it rapidly became dusk. So that when we would have walked off a little way, out of sight of Lucille, to place ourselves, it was too dark for sword play. Sir George remarked it Conventions in Hong Kong .
Why, it is night,” he said, and there is need of light for what we have before us. However, to-morrow will be another day. There is little likelihood that our quarrel will cool in the darkness.”
Not on my side, my lord,” I answered, bowing custom woven labels .
223Enough, then. We will wait till sunrise. I will go with Simon to another part of the beach. We will meet again in the morning, and may the best sword win.”
Say rather, may the right win,” was my reply, but he only laughed.
Well, then,” he went on, good-night, madame, and you also, Sir Francis, though ’tis more like to be a bad one for all of us and for you, madame. I would we had some small shelter, or some food for you, but the poor Eagle’s wings are broken.”
We looked to where the boat had been, but it was gone dermes
.
Stay,” I said, remembering my saddle bags. There is no need of hunger, at least, if Simon will go and bring what is on Kit’s back. We had better eat while we have the chance.”
I told the sailor what to fetch, adding some instructions about tying the mare more securely.
Presently Simon returned, and we threw more wood on the fire. Then I gave Sir George and his man some of the biscuits and bacon, which I had purchased at my last stopping place. The meat we roasted before the blaze on sharpened sticks, eating it smoking hot. I prepared some for Lucille, giving them to her on a clean washed piece of drift-wood, that served for a platter.
Surely no stranger band ever gathered about a camp fire on that lonely Atlantic coast. Had any one seen us eating together he would have said that we were ship-wrecked, 224but, for all that, merry adventurers, so well did the outward semblance conceal the bitter passions within. For there was in our hearts love, hate, fear, distrust, anger and envy, yet none of us betrayed by so much as a word while we were eating that there was aught but friendliness among us. Thus had so little a thing as hunger made us forget strong passions for a time.
The fire crackled, the waves beat upon the sands with thunderous noise, and we four sat there. How many and how varied were the thoughts in each of our minds.
