Page:Adrift in the Pacific, Sampson Low, 1889.djvu/119

Rh the beach, waiting for the tide to turn, and Moko had gone off up the river-bank in search of a stone pine from which he thought he would like a few fruits.

When he returned to the mouth of the river night had begun to close in. Away out at sea the waves were still lighted by the last rays of the sun, but the shore was plunged in semi-darkness.

When Moko reached the boat, Briant and his brother had not returned. As they could not be far off, he was in no way anxious about them.

But he was surprised to hear a violent sobbing, and then the sound of a loud voice. He could not be deceived; it was Briant's.

Were the brothers in any danger? Moko did not hesitate to run off at once along the beach and round the rocks which shut in the little harbour.

Suddenly he saw something which made him halt. Jack was on his knees before Briant! He seemed to be pleading with him to be begging for pardon! And his were the sobs Moko had heard.

The cabin-boy would have run back, but it was too late. He had heard and understood! He knew now what Jack had done, and what he had just confessed, and why Briant was exclaiming, —

"You stupid boy! It was you — you who did it! You are the cause!"

"Forgive me! forgive me!"

"That is why you keep apart from the rest! That is why you are afraid of them! May they never know I No ! Not a word — not a word — to any one!"

Moko would have given much not to have known the secret. But to pretend not to know it now he was face to face with Briant would never do. And a few minutes afterwards, when he found him alone by the boat, he said to him, —

"I overheard — "

"What!" said Briant, "you know that it was Jack?"

"Yes, and you must forgive him."