the messengers-第3部分

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the　forward　stoop　of　each　white　body；　weighing　heavily　on　the　slim；
black　legs；　was　written　utter　weariness；　abject　fatigue。　　To　each
even　to　lower　his　bill　and　sip　from　the　cool　waters　was　a　supreme
effort。　　And　in　their　exhaustion　so　complete　was　something　humanly
helpless　and　pathetic。

To　Ainsley　the　mysterious　visitors　made　a　direct　appeal。　　He　felt
as　though　they　had　thrown　themselves　upon　his　hospitality。　　That
they　showed　such　confidence　that　the　sanctuary　would　be　kept　sacred
touched　him。　　And　while　his　friends　spoke　eagerly；　he　remained
silent；　watching　the　drooping；　ghost…like　figures；　his　eyes　filled
with　pity。

〃I　have　seen　birds　like　those　in　Florida；〃　Mortimer　was　whispering；
〃but　they　were　not　migratory　birds。〃

〃And　I've　seen　white　cranes　in　the　Adirondacks；〃　said　Lowell；　〃but
never　six　at　one　time。〃

〃They're　like　no　bird　I　ever　saw　out　of　a　zoo；〃　declared　Elsie
Mortimer。　　〃Maybe　they　ARE　from　the　Zoo？　　Maybe　they　escaped　from
the　Bronx？〃

〃The　Bronx　is　too　near；〃　objected　Lowell。　　〃These　birds　have　come　a
great　distance。　　They　move　as　though　they　had　been　flying　for　many
days。〃

As　though　the　absurdity　of　his　own　thought　amused　him；　Mortimer
laughed　softly。

〃I'll　tell　you　what　they　DO　look　like；〃　he　said。　　〃They　look　like
that　bird　you　see　on　the　Nile；　the　sacred　Ibis；　they〃

Something　between　a　gasp　and　a　cry　startled　him　into　silence。　　He
found　his　host　staring　wildly；　his　lips　parted；　his　eyes　open　wide。

〃Where？〃　demanded　Ainsley。　　〃Where　did　you　say？〃　　His　voice　was　so
hoarse；　so　strange；　that　they　all　turned　and　looked。

〃On　the　Nile；〃　repeated　Mortimer。　　〃All　over　Egypt。　　Why？〃

Ainsley　made　no　answer。　　Unclasping　his　hold；　he　suddenly　slid　down
the　face　of　the　rock；　and　with　a　bump　lit　on　his　hands　and　knees。
With　one　bound　he　had　cleared　a　flower…bed。　　In　two　more　he　had
mounted　the　steps　to　the　terrace；　and　in　another　instant　had
disappeared　into　the　house。

〃What　happened　to　him？〃　demanded　Elsie　Mortimer。

〃He's　gone　to　get　a　gun！〃　exclaimed　Mortimer。　　〃But　he　mustn't！
How　can　he　think　of　shooting　them？〃　he　cried　indignantly。　　〃I'll
put　a　stop　to　that！〃

In　the　hall　he　found　Ainsley　surrounded　by　a　group　of　startled
servants。

〃You　get　that　car　at　the　door　in　five　minutes！〃　he　was　shouting；
〃and　YOU　telephone　the　hotel　to　have　my　trunks　out　of　the　cellar
and　on　board　the　Kron　Prinz　Albert　by　midnight。　　Then　you　telephone
Hoboken　that　I　want　a　cabin；　and　if　they　haven't　got　a　cabin　I　want
the　captain's。　　And　tell　them　anyway　I'm　coming　on　board　to…night；
and　I'm　going　with　them　if　I　have　to　sleep　on　deck。　　And　YOU；〃　he
cried；　turning　to　Mortimer；　〃take　a　shotgun　and　guard　that　lake；
and　if　anybody　tries　to　molest　those　birdsshoot　him！　　They've
come　from　Egypt！　　From　Polly　Kirkland！　　She　sent　them！　　They're　a
sign！〃

〃Are　you　going　mad？〃　cried　Mortimer。

〃No！〃　roared　Ainsley。　　〃I'm　going　to　Egypt；　and　I'm　going　NOW！〃

Polly　Kirkland　and　her　friends　were　travelling　slowly　up　the　Nile；
and　had　reached　Luxor。　　A　few　hundred　yards　below　the　village　their
dahabiyeh　was　moored　to　the　bank；　and；　on　the　deck；　Miss　Kirkland
was　watching　a　scarlet　sun　sink　behind　two　palm…trees。　　By　the
grace　of　that　special　Providence　that　cares　for　drunken　men；
citizens　of　the　United　States；　and　lovers；　her　friends　were　on
shore；　and　she　was　alone。　　For　this　she　was　grateful；　for　her
thoughts　were　of　a　melancholy　and　tender　nature　and　she　had　no　wish
for　any　companion　save　one。　　In　consequence；　when　a　steam…launch；
approaching　at　full　speed　with　the　rattle　of　a　quick…firing　gun；
broke　upon　her　meditations；　she　was　distinctly　annoyed。

But　when；　with　much　ringing　of　bells　and　shouting　of　orders；　the
steam…launch　rammed　the　paint　off　her　dahabiyeh；　and　a　young　man
flung　himself　over　the　rail　and　ran　toward　her；　her　annoyance
passed；　and　with　a　sigh　she　sank　into　his　outstretched；　eager　arms。

Half　an　hour　later　Ainsley　laughed　proudly　and　happily。

〃Well！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃you　can　never　say　I　kept　YOU　waiting。　　I
didn't　lose　much　time；　did　I？　　Ten　minutes　after　I　got　your　C。　Q。
D。　signal　I　was　going　down　the　Boston　Post　Road　at　seventy　miles　an
hour。〃

〃My　what？〃　said　the　girl。

〃The　sign！〃　explained　Ainsley。　　〃The　sign　you　were　to　send　me　to
tell　me〃he　bent　over　her　hands　and　added　gently〃that　you　cared
for　me。〃

〃Oh；　I　remember；〃　laughed　Polly　Kirkland。　　〃I　was　to　send　you　a
sign；　wasn't　I？　　You　were　to　'read　it　in　your　heart'；〃　she　quoted。

〃And　I　did；〃　returned　Ainsley　complacently。　　〃There　were　several
false　alarms；　and　I'd　almost　lost　hope；　but　when　the　messengers
came　I　knew　them。〃

With　puzzled　eyes　the　girl　frowned　and　raised　her　head。

〃Messengers？〃　she　repeated。　　〃I　sent　no　message。　　Of　course；〃　she
went　on；　〃when　I　said　you　would　'read　it　in　your　heart'　I　meant
that　if　you　REALLY　loved　me　you　would　not　wait　for　a　sign；　but　you
would　just　COME！〃　　She　sighed　proudly　and　contentedly。　　〃And　you
came。　　You　understood　that；　didn't　you？〃　she　asked　anxiously。

For　an　instant　Ainsley　stared　blankly；　and　then　to　hide　his　guilty
countenance　drew　her　toward　him　and　kissed　her。

〃Of　course；〃　he　stammered〃of　course　I　understood。　　That　was　why　I
came。　　I　just　couldn't　stand　it　any　longer。〃

Breathing　heavily　at　the　thought　of　the　blunder　he　had　so　narrowly
avoided；　Ainsley　turned　his　head　toward　the　great　red　disk　that　was
disappearing　into　the　sands　of　the　desert。　　He　was　so　long　silent
that　the　girl　lifted　her　eyes；　and　found　that　already　he　had
forgotten　her　presence　and；　transfixed；　was　staring　at　the　sky。　　On
his　face　was　bewilderment　and　wonder　and　a　touch　of　awe。　　The　girl
followed　the　direction　of　his　eyes；　and　in　the　swiftly　gathering
darkness　saw　coming　slowly　toward　them；　and　descending　as　they
came；　six　great　white　birds。

They　moved　with　the　last　effort　of　complete　exhaustion。　　In　the
drooping　head　and　dragging　wings　of　each　was　written　utter
weariness；　abject　fatigue。　　For　a　moment　they　hovered　over　the
dahabiyeh　and　above　the　two　young　lovers；　and　then；　like　tired
travellers　who　had　reached　their　journey's　end；　they　spread　their
wings　and　sank　to　the　muddy　waters　of　the　Nile　and　into　the
enveloping　night。

〃Some　day；〃　said　Ainsley；　〃I　have　a　confession　to　make　to　you。〃






End