Page:Vance--Terence O'Rourke.djvu/93

 "If your information is correct, monsieur," he said, "here is the oasis. Here should be the mouth of the Wadi Saglat—and here is the Eirene."

"So near?" breathed the visionary. "So near?"

"In two hours, monsieur, we make the coast."

"Yes—yes," responded Lemercier, devouring the map—his future empire!—with his gaze.

Some minutes passed, the captain waiting with his head to one side, his eyes narrowed, as a man that harkens for an expected sound. Presently he was rewarded; the ship seemed to spring to sudden life. There was a commotion upon the decks, the sounds of excited voices crying, "There! there!" to one another; and then the voice of the lookout:

"Land ho!"

Le petit Lemercier wheeled about with a strangled cry of expectation, and rushed from the chartroom, the captain following.

In the saloon, Chambret arose, startled for the moment. "Cape Juby at last, messieurs!" he cried. Monsieur le Prince turned upon him a cold, malicious eye. "Monsieur is excitable," he observed, sneering offensively.

Chambret fought down his resentment of the personality; he had agreed with O'Rourke not to permit the prince to quarrel with him, as yet.

"Possibly," he admitted at last, placidly. "I go on deck to observe the fringe of the new empire," he added.

Prince Felix yawned and stretched himself.

"Monsieur is at liberty to go whither he lists," he remarked, with the same air of insolence. "Without obtaining permission from Monsieur le Prince?" inquired Chambret respectfully. "For that, many thanks."

He met Prince Felix's gaze with one so steadfast that the