As he now neared the land, certain small sparks of red, moving on the distant water, informed him that the canoes of the sentinels had been ordered back to their duty.
Carefully avoiding the lights, he reached his own side of the island without accident, and, guided by the boat's lantern, anchored under the cliff. He climbed the rocks, advanced to the door of the hut, and was met, to his delight and astonishment, by Aimata on the threshold.
"I dreamed that some dreadful misfortune had parted us forever,"she said; "and I came here to see if my dream was true. You have taught me what it is to be miserable; I never felt my heart ache till I looked into the hut and found that you had gone. Now Ihave seen you, I am satisfied. No! you must not go back with me.
My father may be out looking for me. It is you that are in danger, not I. I know the forest as well by dark as by daylight."The Captain detained her when she tried to leave him.
"Now you _are_ here," he said, "why should I not place you at once in safety? I have been to the ship; I have brought back one of the boats. The darkness will befriend us--let us embark while we can."She shrank away as he took her hand. "You forget my father!" she said.
