Dumb with amazement, blind with tears, Norine found herself
staring upward into O'Reilly's face, and heard him saying:
"I told you I would bring her home."
The next instant she lay upon his breast and sobs of joy were
tearing at her.
XXIX
WHAT HAPPENED AT SUNDOWN
The story of Rosa's rescue came slowly and in fragments, for the
news of O'Reilly's return caused a sensation. His recital was
interrupted many times. So numerous and so noisy did these
diversions become that Norine, fearing for the welfare of her
patient, banished O'Reilly's visitors and bore him and Branch off
to her own cabin, leaving the brother and sister alone. In the
privacy of Norine's quarters O'Reilly finished telling her the
more important details of his adventures. He was well-nigh worn
out, but his two friends would not respect his weariness; they
were half hysterical with joy at his safety, treating him like one
returned from the dead; so he rambled disjointedly through his
tale. He told them of his hazardous trip westward, of his and
Jacket's entrance into Matanzas and of the distressing scenes they
witnessed there. When he had finished the account of his dramatic
meeting with Rosa his hearers' eyes were wet. The recital of the
escape held them breathless.
"As a matter of fact, our get-away was ridiculously easy," he
said, "for we had luck at every turn--regular Irish luck.
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