en, he
wormed his way backward with slow caution. Iris was crouched where he
had left her, wide-eyed, motionless.

"Good job we came here," he said. "It is evident they mean to maintain
a patrol until there is news of De Sylva one way or the other. It will
be interesting now to hear what the gallant San Benavides says. If any
ship comes to Fernando Noronha to-night she will be seen from the
island long before any signal is visible at this point."

"Do you think the others saw the launch?" she asked.

"No--not unless some of the men strayed down the gully, which they were
told not to do. The breakers would drown the noise of the engines and
screw."

There was a slight pause.

"Will you tell them?" she went on.

"Why not?"

This time the pause was more eloquent than words. Quite unconsciously,
Iris replied to her own question.

"Of course, as you said a little while ago, we owe our lives to Dom
Corria De Sylva," she murmured, as if she were reasoning with herself.

By chance, probably because Hozier stooped to help her to her feet, his
arm rested lightly across her shoulders.

"I will not pretend to misunderstand you," he said. "If the Brazilians
do not mean to play the game, it would be a just punishment to let them
rush on their own doom. But De Sylva may not agree with this fop of an
officer, and, in any event, we must go straight with him until he shows
his teeth."

"You seem to dislike Captain San Benavides," she said inconsequently.

"I regard him as a brainless ass," he exclaimed.

"Somehow, that sounds like a description of a dead donkey, which one
never sees."

"Mademoiselle!" came a voice from the lip of the ravine.

"One can hear him, though," laughed Hozier, with a warning pressure
that suspiciously resembled a hug. These two were children, in some
respects, quicker to jest than to grieve, better fitted for mirth than
tragedy.

They moved out from their niche, and San Benavides blustered into
vehement French.

"We are going to the landing-place before it is too dark," he muttered
angrily. "We must not show a light; in a few minutes the path will be
most dangerous. Please make haste, mademoiselle. We did not know
where you had gone."

"The men knew," suggested Hozier in the girl's ear. He dared not trust
either his temper or his vocabulary.

"We shall lose no time, now, monsieur," said Iris, hurrying on.

"This way then. No, we do not pass the cave. We go right round th