Kit Musgrave's Luck

le came and went when they liked. Jacinta had a smile for all; to some she talked in a low voice and with some she joked. She knew things her guests

clothes were better and the colours did not clash. He had dropped one or two mannerisms Mrs. Austin quietly discouraged, and had begun to take for models her husband and Jefferson. Jefferson was thin and hard and often quiet, although his smile w

terested, and Kit was jealous. His cricket was elementary and he knew nothing about tennis, but he thought Olivia ought to see Nasmyth was a fool. For one thing, he wore Spanish alpaca clothes, a black Spanish hat

o a shy tenderness that was mainly protective. When he was with Olivia he was romantic and ambitious; she inspir

you see Wolf's schooner when y

ent on board one evening an

him not to talk about it. Besides, the thing was puzzling, and Kit was curious. He narrated their getting Scot on

w Wolf?" Au

met him before. He was polite, b

ltivating?" Jefferson remarked. "Sometimes a

or me. He's trading in North-west A

es have goods to trade and some of the stuff that comes out of the hinterland is valuable.

fellows are

ar and hard as rawhide. We don't know much about their morals, but they're fearless, p

up against the

heep and barley and sometimes other goods. The trouble is the Spanish crew are not keen about anchoring on the Sahara coast; they know t

is the

belt belongs to Spain. France claims the hinterland, the coast south of Rio

went to the house where Wolf's note was sent,

he house?"

ooked at Jefferson, w

stin. "Do you know

asked about his injury he put this on the table. The b

it to Austin, who said nothing for a fe

aps significant!"

? We know the man

ince in Persia and India. I don't know how they get them, but these people are not savages. They have a pretty go

went off, and Kit pondered. On the surface, the others had been frank, but he doubted if the

ullet interested y

of the Berbers' smooth guns. Since they make very good shooting, we found t

ure, but Austin stopped and got up, for Olivia a

e us, I expect you're

I owe Mrs. Austin much for lea

I suppose we're r

ules; you must be sober and punctual, you must look important, and your aim was to get on. At Las Palmas, you're not a type but individuals, doi

in the moon's track, and the twinkling lights along the belt of surf. When he stopped he heard the s

e the port," Olivia agreed. "It looks as if you felt its cha

of a dark room when the sun is bright. I'm, so

other where we go, so long as the road is easy and the sun does shin

nce when she talked to the young man in the thea

nk I was justi

ou arrived you were a Puritan; something of Jefferson's

umorous, but you feel what they say goes. Then you know their politeness i

ships were numerous. She was wrecked and when she was sinking the crew got at some liquor and tr

control," Kit remarked. "Bu

He came to Las Palmas and went to the coaling wharf. In the

opics, with the moon on the sea! The g

o when Gascoyne was crossing from Teneriffe. Then Jefferson got a small legacy and bought the wreck of the Cumbria. Austin went to help him and when they floated the ship, married my sister. The doctors said Mrs. Jefferson

ect a legacy," Kit remarked

omething like Jefferson. He married a clergyma

er sort; then wrecks that poor adventurers could float were not numerous. All the same, when he talked to Olivia he was car

d; his urbanity was rather Spanish than English. When he stopped by Mrs. Austin, Kit somehow imagined she was not pleased, bu

ooks as if you used some tact. Your g

when I went to look him up the clerk

ptain's men on the track. Since Scot landed in the hotel boat, they'd take it for granted he was a

d Scot's passage he put down a larger sum than was required, and Kit, thinking about it afterwards, imagined the fellow expected him to keep the money

tting bette

In fact, since the town is hot j

Scot had gone, but perhaps this was no

your post on board the c

t "I like my job, b

il you know the country and the Spanish merchants, but

got up. Mrs. Austin gave him her hand

friend of you

said Kit. "I thi

onder-- Anyhow, I imagine she approves you and you might find her

ing whether her remarks indicated that he ought to c