Page 254 - for-the-term-of-his-natural-life

which hid the fire. It seemed that the waves, tired of perse-
cuting him, had, with disdainful pity, cast him ashore at the
goal of his hopes. Looking back, he for the first time realized
the frightful peril he had escaped, and shuddered. To this
shudder succeeded a thrill of triumph. ‘Why had he stayed
so long, when escape was so easy?’ Dragging the carcases
above high-water mark, he rounded the little promontory
and made for the fire. The recollection of the night when
he had first approached it came upon him, and increased
his exultation. How different a man was he now from then!
Passing up the sand, he saw the stakes which he had direct-
ed Frere to cut whiten in the moonshine. His officer worked
for him! In his own brain alone lay the secret of escape!
He—Rufus Dawes—the scarred, degraded ‘prisoner’, could
alone get these three beings back to civilization. Did he re-
fuse to aid them, they would for ever remain in that prison,
where he had so long suffered. The tables were turned—he
had become a gaoler! He had gained the fire before the soli-
tary watcher there heard his footsteps, and spread his hands
to the blaze in silence. He felt as Frere would have felt, had
their positions been reversed, disdainful of the man who
had stopped at home.
Frere, starting, cried, ‘It is you! Have you succeeded?’
Rufus Dawes nodded.
‘What! Did you catch them?’
‘There are four carcases down by the rocks. You can have
meat for breakfast to-morrow!’
The child, at the sound of the voice, came running down
from the hut. ‘Oh, Mr. Dawes! I am so glad! We were begin-