Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/82

60 day? Thou art twelve hours too late. Come thou with me!” and he led Gysbert to the door of a tent which was empty and  lighted only by a large fire outside.

“Here, Alonzo de Rova!” he called to a burly sentinel. “Guard this young interloper till I have time to report him to Commander Valdez.”

“Now,” thought Gysbert, “I am caught in earnest! But without seeming to possess any wits, I will try to use those the good God  has given me as skillfully as I can.” Alonzo  de Rova paced up and down before the tent  door for a time, apparently utterly ignoring  the boy, yet in reality watching him keenly.

Gysbert on his part kept his eyes well open, yet assumed the vacant gaze he had attempted in the morning. Presently he took up a charred stick from the fire that happened to lie near him, and with it commenced  to make some strokes on the white canvas of the tent.

“What art thou doing?” demanded De