Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/254

 HERE am I?" Joan asked with a catch in her breath as she glanced round.

"You are safe. Do not be afraid, little one," the Portuguese replied, his teeth gleaming white in the rays of the lamp. "This is my ship. It is better to be late than never. It was only just in time, though, that I arrived with my men."

Joan had regained her feet.

"What has happened?" she demanded imperiously.

"I fear you people of Tao Tao have been the victims of a rebellion," Moniz declared smoothly. "It was by the merest chance that I happened to be sailing past and heard the shouting of the niggers. I went ashore with my men, and for a time I feared we, too, should be overpowered, but we managed to drive them off in the end. I regret that your brother and Mr. Keith were killed before we were able to rescue them. It was, however, for you, querida, that I fought, and though I received a slight wound I count it a pleasure to have earned it in such a cause."

Joan was listening in silence. Her brother dead! 242