416ページ中14ページ

Who of them, he wondered, was not, in his heart, convicting him

of those things Elsa Mallaby had mentioned? His straightforward

nature revolted against the hypocrisy in men that bade them treat

him as they had done all his life, and yet think of him only as a

criminal.

Suddenly the dull red that had glowed dimly against the sky burst

into rosy bloom. A great tongue of fire leaped up and licked the

heavens, while floating down the brisk breeze came the distant

mingling of men's shouts. As he passed a white wooden gate he

heard a woman on the porch crying, and a child's voice in

impatient question.

Then for the first time he lost sight of his own distress and

thought of the misery of his whole people. It was August, and the

Indians should soon be coming from the mainland to spear

porpoises.

The dulce-pickers on the back of the island reported a good yield

from the rocks at low tide, but outside of these few there was

wretchedness from Anthony's Nose to Southern Cross.

The fish had failed.