There are two boats." He listened, and after a moment heard the regular glug-glug of the paddles stealing over the waters of the still tropic river, covering a wonderful distance.
"Yes," he said, "I hear.

Mr.Meredith said he would be back to-night." She gave a strange, little low laugh--almost the laugh of a happy woman.
"He is like that, Mr.Meredith," she said; "what he says he does"-- in the pretty English of one who has learnt Spanish first.
"Yes, Marie--he is like that." She turned, in her strangely subdued way, and went into the house to prepare some supper for the new-comers.
It was not long before the sound of the paddles was quite distinct, and then--probably on turning a corner of the river and coming in sight of the lights of Msala--Jack Meredith's cheery shout came floating through the night.

Oscard took his pipe from his lips and sent back an answer that echoed against the trees across the river.

He walked down to the water's edge, where he was presently joined by Joseph with a lantern.
The two boats came on to the sloping shore with a grating sound, and by the light of the waving lantern Oscard saw Durnovo and Jack land from the same boat.
The three men walked up to the house together.

Marie was at the door, and bowed her head gravely in answer to Jack's salutation.