There was no wind, and as a matter of course, therefore, they
were not chanting. I wiled away the quarter of an hour before the time
when George became due, with wondering at them, and in a way admiring
them, hideous though they were; but all the time I kept looking towards
the part from which George should come.
At last my watch pointed to noon, but there was no George. A quarter
past twelve, but no George. Half-past, still no George. One o'clock,
and all the quarters till three o'clock, but still no George. I tried to
eat some of the ship's biscuits I had brought with me, but I could not.
My disappointment was now as great as my excitement had been all the
forenoon; at three o'clock I fairly cried, and for half an hour could
only fling myself on the ground and give way to all the unreasonable
spleen that extreme vexation could suggest. True, I kept telling myself
that for aught I knew George might be dead, or down with a fever; but
this would not do; for in this last case he should have sent one of his
brothers to meet me, and it was not likely that he was dead. I am afraid
I thought it most probable that he had been casual--of which unworthy
suspicion I have long since been heartily ashamed.
I put the brooches inside my knapsack, and hid it in a place where I was
sure no one would find it; then, with a heavy heart, I trudged down again
to my camp--broken in spirit, and hopeless for the morrow.
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