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Updated: April 30, 2025
Up and down the length of the cave he strode like some imprisoned wild thing. At length, standing quite still with folded arms, he seemed to lose himself in thought. "Battling with the surf I did not see nor hear," he muttered at last. "But he could not sail without me!" he added. Fiercely he raised his head and his eyes flashed. "He dare not so betray me!" Wildenai, too, had been considering.
"Thy father, oh princess, sends me to summon thee to his lodge. Strangers, paleface strangers, enemies, who can tell, are coming. See, the ship!" With dark forefinger he pointed toward the sea. "Torquam would have thee hide with the rest of the women in the cave at the Great Rock. There Kathah-galwa wilt keep thee safe, he says. Make haste, oh Wildenai!"
That reason is because, because, my Wildenai, thou art Spanish born thyself." The princess drew a hasty breath. In the darkness he felt rather than saw her startled eyes upon him. "My father!" The exclamation, filled with pain as well as astonishment, touched him to the quick. Tenderly he drew her to him.
They have always been good, loyal, highly respected American citizens," she told him fiercely, "and I'm proud of them! Besides " with reckless emphasis, "I've always felt so sorry for Wildenai." But at this point, quite incomprehensibly, Blair broke into peals of laughter.
She let him lead her back along the broad boardwalk toward the hotel until they stood within the shadow of the huge boulder which for centuries has marked the outer boundary of the Bay of Moons. Beyond them the lights of the St. Catherine glimmered down the hill and on over the water, rimming with golden bubbles the outlines of the pier. "Wildenai!"
Yet, possibly, for all that, had it not been for the lengthy ceremonial of the peace-pipe, Wildenai could not have taken time to observe so closely, in stolen glances from beneath her long black lashes, the splendor of the young noble standing proudly erect beside his captain; nor could he have stared so often, with no attempt to hide his admiration, at the dark beauty of the princess.
Yet even in the stress of such a moment a tender light stole into his eyes as they rested upon his motherless daughter. Wildenai made obeisance and for a brief moment the two surveyed each other in silence. Then, "It is well thou art come, my beloved one," spoke the chief. "Stranger pale-faces will soon be amongst us." "Wildenai feels no fear, my father," quietly answered the girl.
Drake gave a sharp command. His followers sprang to their feet, and without further ceremony the party passed quickly down the beach to their boat. But the princess Wildenai did not leave the feasting ground. Hidden by deepening shadows she watched the ship's lights glimmer across the water.
Was the Great Spirit powerless, after all, to save her? In sore bewilderment and terror Wildenai watched the distant ship. Nearer and nearer it came. But, as its outline grew each moment more distinct, gradually her fears departed. For this was not the clumsy Spanish galleon she remembered. The prow was not nearly so high, nor was the incoming vessel as large in any respect as had been that other.
Into this boat immediately several sailors swung themselves and after a short delay, amidst the shouting of the Indians, now running in wild excitement up and down the beach, the men picked up their oars and started for the land. "Alla-hoa, Wildenai!" Up the stony trail leading to her cavern scrambled an Indian runner, a lithe youth who flung himself breathless at her feet.
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