awakes her suddenly! No noise, in the name of Heaven! A sudden shock

which would awake her suddenly would be of no use. It will be a pity if

anybody comes by. I believe that every one on board is asleep. Thanks be

to Providence for that mercy. Well, and Homo? Where is he, I wonder? In

all this confusion I forgot to tie him up. I do not know what I am

doing. It is more than an hour since I have seen him. I suppose he has

been to look for his supper somewhere ashore. I hope nothing has

happened to him. Homo! Homo!"

Homo struck his tail softly on the planks of the deck.

"You are there. Oh! you are there! Thank God for that. If Homo had been

lost, it would have been too much to bear. She has moved her arm.

Perhaps she is going to awake. Quiet, Homo! The tide is turning. We

shall sail directly. I think it will be a fine night. There is no wind:

the flag droops. We shall have a good passage. I do not know what moon

it is, but there is scarcely a stir in the clouds. There will be no

swell. It will be a fine night. Her cheek is pale; it is only weakness!

No, it is flushed; it is only the fever. Stay! It is rosy. She is well!

I can no longer see clearly. My poor Homo, I no longer see distinctly.

So we must begin life afresh. We must set to work again. There are only

we two left, you see. We will work for her, both of us! She is our

child, Ah! the vessel moves! We are off! Good-bye, London! Good evening!

good-night! To the devil with horrible London!"

He was right. He heard the dull sound of the unmooring as the vessel

fell away from the wharf. Abaft on the poop a man, the skipper, no

913

The Man Who Laughs