"
"Even a shark would appreciate the compliment," he said.
Her eyes continued to watch the terrifying apparition until it prowled
into hidden depths again.
"I am not sorry I have seen it," she murmured. "It helps one to
understand. We are glib concerning the laws of nature, and seem to
regard them much as the printed regulations stuck on hackney carriages,
whatsoever they may be. Yet, how cruelly just they are! I suppose
that the finding of the ship's booty by that huge creature has given a
new span of life to some weaker fish."
Hozier did not know whether or not she had realized the shark's real
quest. Her next words enlightened him.
"If we follow the others, will the soldiers throw our dead bodies into
the sea?" she asked.
"I want you to believe that you will be absolutely safe if we escape
being discovered during the crossing of the narrow strip of water that
separates this rock from the island," he hastened to say. "That is
your only risk, and it is a light one. Senhor De Sylva is sure that
the troops will not keep the keenest lookout to-night. They are still
convinced that the insurgent steamer is sunk. Our chief danger will
date from to-morrow's dawn. Marcel reports that a systematic search of
the island was begun to-day. It will be continued to-morrow, but on
new lines, because, by that time, they will have learnt the truth.
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