Foul Play

by Charles Reade

  CHAPTER XXXI.

  THE next morning, when Helen awoke, she was very weak; her head ached,but she was herself. Hazel had made a broth for her from the fleshy partof a turtle; this greatly revived her, and by midday she was able to situp. Having seen that her wants were within her reach, he left her; but ina few moments she heard him busily engaged on the roof of her hut.

  On his return, he explained to her his fears that the structure wasscarcely as weather-proof as he desired; and he anticipated hourly thecommencement of the rainy season. Helen smiled and pointed to the sky,which here was clear and bright. But Hazel shook his head doubtingly. Thewet season would commence probably with an atmospheric convulsion, andthen settle down to uninterrupted rain. Helen refused obstinately tobelieve in more rain than they had experienced on board the boat--agenial shower.

  "You will see," replied Hazel. "If you do not change your views withinthe next three days, then call me a false prophet."

  The following day passed, and Helen recovered more strength, but stillwas too weak to walk; but she employed herself, at Hazel's request, inmaking a rope of cocoanut fiber, some forty yards long. This he requiredto fish up the spar to a sufficient height on the great palm-tree, andbind it firmly in its place. While she worked nimbly, he employed himselfin gathering a store of such things as they would require during thecoming wintry season. She watched him with a smile, but he persevered. Sothat day passed. The next morning the rope was finished. Helen was not sowell, and was about to help herself to the poppy liquor, when Hazelhappily stopped her hand in time. He showed her the exact dose necessary,and explained minutely the effects of a larger draught. Then heshouldered the rope, and set out for Palm-tree Point.

  He was absent about six hours, of which Helen slept four. And for two,which seemed very long, she ruminated. What was she thinking of that madeher smile and weep at the same moment? and she looked so impatientlytoward the door.

  He entered at last, very fatigued. It was eleven miles to the Point andback. While eating his frugal supper, he gave her a detail of his day'sadventures. Strange to say, he had not seen a single seal on the sands.He described how he had tied one end of her rope to the middle of thespar, and, with the other between his teeth, he climbed the great palm.For more than an hour he toiled; he gained its top, passed the rope overone of its branches, and hauled up the spar to about eighty feet abovethe ground. Then, descending with the other end, he wound the ropespirally round and round the tree, thus binding to its trunk the firsttwenty feet by which the spar hung from the branch.

  She listened very carelessly, he thought, and betrayed little interest inthis enterprise which had cost him so much labor and fatigue.

  When he had concluded, she was silent awhile, and then, looking upquickly, said, to his great surprise:

  "I think I may increase the dose of your medicine there. You are mistakenin its power. I am sure I can take four times what you gave me."

  "Indeed you are mistaken," he answered quickly. "I gave you the extrememeasure you can take with safety."

  "How do you know that? You can only guess at its effects. At any rate, Ishall try it."

  Hazel hesitated, and then confessed that he had made a little experimenton himself before risking its effects upon her.

  Helen looked up at him as he said this so simply and quietly. Her greateyes filled with an angelic light. Was it admiration? Was itthankfulness? Her bosom heaved, and her lips quivered. It was but amoment, and she felt glad that Hazel had turned away from her and sawnothing.

  A long silence followed this little episode, when she was aroused fromher reverie.

  Patter--pat--pat--patter.

  She looked up.

  Pat--patter--patter.

  Their eyes met. It was the rain. Hazel only smiled a little, and then randown to his boat-house, to see that all was right there, and thenreturned with a large bundle of chips, with which he made a fire, for thesky had darkened overhead. Gusts of wind ran along the water; it hadbecome suddenly chilly. They had almost forgotten the feel of wetweather.

  Ere the fire had kindled, the rain came down in torrents, and, the mattedroof being resonant, they heard it strike here and there above theirheads.

  Helen sat down on her little stool and reflected.

  In that hut were two persons. One had foretold this, and feared it, andprovided against it. The other had said petulantly it was a bugbear.

  And now the rain was pattering, and the prophet was on his knees makingher as comfortable as he could in spite of all, and was not the man toremind her he had foretold it.

  She pondered his character while she watched his movements. He put downhis embers, then he took a cocoa-pod out from the wall, cut it in sliceswith his knife, and made a fine clear fire; then he ran out again, inspite of Helen's remonstrance, and brought a dozen large scales of thepalmtree. It was all the more cheering for the dismal scene without andthe pattering of the rain on the resounding roof.

  But, thanks to Hazel's precaution, the hut proved weather-tight; of whichfact having satisfied himself, he bade her good-night. He was at the doorwhen her voice recalled him.

  "Mr. Hazel, I cannot rest this night without asking your pardon for allthe unkind things I may have done and said; without thanking you humblyfor your great forbearance and your--respect for the unhap-- I mean theunfortunate girl thus cast upon your mercy."

  She held out her hand; he took it between his own, and faintly expressedhis gratitude for her kindness; and so she sent him away brimful ofhappiness.

  The rain was descending in torrents. She heard it, but he did not feelit; for she had spread her angel's wings over his existence, and heregained his sheltered boat-house he knew not how.