Pagina 388 di 416

"I did, partly," she replied. She lifted her eyes to his and he

saw something in them that startled him--something that, in all

his association with her, he had never seen before. He stood

silent, amazed, overwhelmed while she turned her face away.

CHAPTER XXX

ELSA'S TRIUMPH

Code Schofield's appearance at his schooner the next morning to

help the crew unload was the signal for a veritable native-son

demonstration. Not only had the story of Code's sudden liberation

and Nat's as sudden imprisonment spread like wild-fire clear to

Southern Head Light, twenty miles away, but the tale was hailed

with joy.

For Nat had come into his own in the hatred of his townsfolk.

Among the fleet he was heartily unpopular because he had not

fished all season and then had tried to catch the first market

with a purchased cargo, merely to revenge himself on Code and the

Tanners. Throughout his conduct had been utterly selfish, whereas

others had worked for the island and for its salvation.