"
"No--I try all I can. How long was it ago? In what country? Under
what circumstances? And I cannot hit upon it."
"Mr. Fragoso!"
"Miss Lina!"
"Stay on board and keep watch on Torres during our absence!"
"What? Not go with you to Ega, and remain a whole day without seeing
you?"
"I ask you to do so!"
"Is it an order?"
"It is an entreaty!"
"I will remain!"
"Mr. Fragoso!"
"Miss Lina!"
"I thank you!"
"Thank me, then, with a good shake of the hand," replied Fragoso;
"that is worth something."
Lina held out her hand, and Fragoso kept it for a few moments while
he looked into her face. And that is the reason why he did not take
his place in the pirogue, and became, without appearing to be, the
guard upon Torres.
Did the latter notice the feelings of aversion with which he was
regarded? Perhaps, but doubtless he had his reasons for taking no
account of them.
A distance of four leagues separated the mooring-place from the town
of Ega. Eight leagues, there and back, in a pirogue containing six
persons, besides two negroes as rowers, would take some hours, not to
mention the fatigue caused by the high temperature, though the sky
was veiled with clouds.
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