Page:Barbour--Joan of the ilsand.djvu/97

Rh Two blacks were pulling, and presently Keith got his first close view of Moniz. The trader jumped out immediately the little craft touched the beach, and advanced toward Joan and her companion with a wide sweep of his helmet. He was well built, and good-looking in a saturnine fashion, with piercing black eyes, swarthy skin, and a black beard neatly trimmed. As he replaced his hat he threw away the end of a cigarette and instantly began to roll another, which in turn was followed by a third and fourth as fast as its predecessor was consumed. "I come on a friendly errand, Miss Trent," he said with a deferential bow. Moniz spoke excellent English, with but a trace of accent.

The girl gave a swift glance toward Keith, as though relying upon him to negotiate a difficult matter.

"The last few messengers you've sent weren't particularly friendly," Keith replied sharply. "Two of them went through my boat and one stuck into one of our niggers."

Moniz gave a slight shrug of the shoulders.

"Somebody very carelessly cut the cable of my schooner while she was near a weather shore the other evening," he said almost reproachfully.

"I hope I am betraying no confidence when I say it is a pity the schooner wasn't smashed on the reef," Keith declared without hesitation.