He did not see him. He saw nothing but
moonlight--moonlight across an uncovered floor and the white dimness
of a bed in the shadow! . . . But he must keep cool . . . was there
time to stop Desire with a telegram? She was only a day ahead . . .
no--he was just too late for that. He knew the time-table by heart.
Her train was already in . . . impossible to reach her now!
Fear having reached its limit, his mind swung slowly back to reason.
. . . There was, he told himself, no occasion for panic. Li Ho might
have exaggerated. Besides, a danger known is almost a danger met And
Li Ho knew. Li Ho would be there. When, Desire came he would guard
her. . . . A few hours only . . . until he could get to her. . . .
She was safe for tonight at least. She would not attempt to cross
the Inlet, until the morning. She would have to hire a launch--a
thing no woman would attempt to do at that hour of night. She was in
no hurry. She would stay somewhere in the city and get herself taken
to Farr's Landing in the morning. . . . Through the day, too, she
would be safe . . . and, to-morrow night, he, Benis, would be there.
. . . But not until late . . . not until after the moon . . . better
not think of the moon . . . think of Li Ho . . . Li Ho would surely
watch . . .
He lay in his berth and told himself this over and over. The train
swung on. The cool, high air of the mountains crept through the
screened window. They were swinging through a land of awful and
gigantic beauty.
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