O'Reilly had taken his bitter medicine as becomes a man--he had
maintained a calm, if not a cheerful, front; but now that every
throb of the propeller bore him closer to his heart's desire he
felt a growing jubilation, a mounting restlessness that was hard
to master. His pulse was pounding; his breath swelled in his
lungs. Sleep? That was for those who merely risked their lives for
Cuba. Hunger? No food could satisfy a starving soul. Rest? He
would never rest until he held Rosa Varona in his arms. This
rusty, sluggish tub was standing still!
Into the midst of his preoccupation Norine Evans forced herself,
announcing, breathlessly:
"Oh, but I'm excited! They're hoisting a cannon out of the hold
and putting it together, so that we can fight if we have to."
"Now don't you wish you'd stayed at home?" O'Reilly smiled at her.
"Good heavens, no! I'm having the time of my life. I nearly died
of curiosity at first--until I found Major Ramos's tongue."
"Hm-m! You found it, all right. He appears to be completely
conquered."
"I-I'm afraid so," the girl acknowledged, with a little grimace.
"You'd think he'd never seen a woman before. He's very--intense.
Very!"
"You don't expect me, as your chaperon, to approve of your
behavior? Why, you've been flirting outrageously."
"I had to flirt a little: I simply had to know what was going on.
Pages:
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226