Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/470

 443 D1CK SANDS» THE BOY CAPTAIK. douds above were going to pennit a rift by wkkii tbe nsyn of ihe tropical sun could find a possagie^. On tibecontnry, the tokens of improvement in the weather, whidi faad beâ^ observed in the jcarly morning/ had ail diiappeand» tlia atmosphère was darlœr than ever» and lieavT'stortii-diôps begaji to patter dova A reaction was beginning to take place in ibe coâùii- dasm of the crowd. After ail, then, it wouldf aeeai' 4ili .liiis famous i^gatiga from whom so. mmdk %àd beçv expected, had no power above the rest Dia^ipoiiilincirt: every moment grew more keen, and aoon tbêfe wat a positive display of irritation. The natives presaed «nNiiid bim with dosed fists and theatening gc st m »L A frown gathered on Moena's face, and her lips opened widi muttered wbrds dear enough to make the magidan under- stand that his ears were in jeopardy. His position was evidently becoming critical. An unexpected incident suddenly altered the aspect of aflfairs. The mganga was quite tall enough to see oyer the heads of the crowd, and ail at once pausing in the midst of his incantations, he pointed to a distant corner of the enclosure. Ail eyes were instantly tumed in that direction. Mrs. Weldon and Jack had just corne out of their but, and catching sight of them, the mganga stood with his left hand pointing towards them and his right upstretched towârds the heavens. Intuitively the multitude comprehended his meaning. Hère was the explanation of the mystery. It was this white woman with her child that had been the cause of ail their misery, it was owing to them that the douds had poured down this desolating rain. With yells of exécration the whole mob made a dash towards the unfortunate lady who, pale with fright and rigid as a statue, stood clasping her boy to her side. The mganga, however, anti- cipated them. Having pushed his way through the infuriated throng, he seized the child and held him high in the air, as though about to hurl him to the ground, a peace-offering to the offended gods.