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Virginia felt, with a thickly beating heart, that the long preface was finished, the first chapter of the book about to begin. She looked at this island of exile and punishment with an emotion that was not curiosity, but which could be classified by no other word. The Ile Nou was not to the eye the terrible place of which she had so often dreamt.
No explanation had been given to Captain Gorst, who neither needed nor desired any. His orders were to follow the boat, and stand in as near the Ile Nou as possible without arousing attention on shore; there to wait until the launch returned, or to approach still closer to the island, if pursuit rendered it advisable.
If he were here, did any voice whisper to him of hope? The canot for the Ile Nou was to start almost immediately. The credentials of the party were examined at the douanerie, and they were permitted to go on board. Twelve convicts were the rowers.
Now such decrees may not be broken, but it was argued that the words 'full age of eighteen years, meant and were intended to mean until you reached your nineteenth birthday; that is in a month from now." "Then must we go, Nou?" asked Miriam in dismay, for she knew no other world but this village in the desert, and no other friends than these venerable men whom she called her uncles.
By great good luck the Government commissariat stock, consisting of some thousands of sheep, and even some horses, had also been left behind. But we were not cheered. Among the many questions asked regarding this sad state of affairs was one put by an old burger: "Dat is nou die plan, want zooals zaken hier lyk, dan heeft die boel in wanhoop gevlug."
"They disgraced Hector in New Caledonia," she said, "because he refused to punish a convict at Ile Nou who did not deserve it. He determined to go to France to represent his case. He left me behind, because we were poor. He went to Sydney. There he came to know this good man," her finger gently felt his name upon the stone, "who made him a guest upon his ship; and so he came on towards England.
"By the paths that we Christians have to tread, mother," said Rachel, sadly. "But sit; you are weary. Nou, help her." Anna nodded, and slowly, for her limbs were stiff, sank down on to the step of the fountain. "Give me to drink, child," she said, "for I have been brought upon a mule from Tyre, and am athirst."
But I tell you this while I live no lion's fangs shall tear that dear flesh of yours. First if need be, I will stab you there in the arena, or if they take my knife from me, then I will choke you, or dash out your brains against the posts." "It may be a sin, Nou; take no such risk upon your soul." "My soul! What do I care about my soul? You are my soul.
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