Would she come? He forced himself to
lay still, overcoming the impulse to rise and rush round the clearing
again. He turned this way and that; at last, quivering with the effort,
he lay on his back, and saw her face among the stars looking down on him.
The croaking of frogs suddenly ceased. With the watchfulness of a hunted
man Dain sat up, listening anxiously, and heard several splashes in the
water as the frogs took rapid headers into the creek. He knew that they
had been alarmed by something, and stood up suspicious and attentive. A
slight grating noise, then the dry sound as of two pieces of wood struck
against each other. Somebody was about to land! He took up an armful of
brushwood, and, without taking his eyes from the path, held it over the
embers of his fire. He waited, undecided, and saw something gleam
amongst the bushes; then a white figure came out of the shadows and
seemed to float towards him in the pale light. His heart gave a great
leap and stood still, then went on shaking his frame in furious beats. He
dropped the brushwood upon the glowing coals, and had an impression of
shouting her name--of rushing to meet her; yet he emitted no sound, he
stirred not an inch, but he stood silent and motionless like chiselled
bronze under the moonlight that streamed over his naked shoulders.
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