missed thought with a great effort of will and got up from his seat.
At least there was some action, something definite to do waiting for him. Speculation only blurred everything. He would be true to the trust his friends in England reposed in him and leave the rest to happen as it was fated.
There was a relief in that attitude—the Arab attitude. Kismet!
Griggs, the fruit merchant, came up from the saloon wiping his lips.
"Bit orf," he said, "waiting like this. But the sea will go down soon. Last spring I had to go on to Beyrout, the weather was that rough. Ever tried that Vin de Rishon le Zion? It's a treat. Made from Bordeaux vines transplanted to Palestine—you 'll pass the fields on the way up—just had a half bottle. Hallo!—look, there 's the boat at last — old Francis Karane's boat. Must go and look after my traps."
A long boat was creeping out from behind the reef. Spence went to his cabin to see after his light kit. It was better to move and work than to think.
| · | · | · | · | · | · | · | · |
It was early morning, the morning after Spence's arrival in Jerusalem. He slept well and soundly in his hotel room, tired by the long ride—for he had come on horseback over the moonlit slopes of Ajalon.
When at length he awoke it was with a sensation of mental and bodily vigour, a quickening of all his pulses in hope and expectation, which was in fine contrast to the doubts and hesitations of the Jaffa roads.
A bright sun poured into the room.
He got up and went to the window. There was a deep, unspoken prayer in his heart.
The hotel was in Akra, the European and Christian
