Chapter 27

           Daybroke,greyandchill.Theboatwasclose-hauledonafreshbreezeandthecompassindicatedthatwewerejustmakingthecoursewhichwouldbringustoJapan.Thoughstoutlymittened,myfingerswerecold,andtheypainedfromthegriponthesteering-oar.Myfeetwerestingingfromthebiteofthefrost,andIhopedferventlythatthesunwouldshine.

           Beforeme,inthebottomoftheboat,layMaud.She,atleast,waswarm,forunderherandoverherwerethickblankets.ThetoponeIhaddrawnoverherfacetoshelteritfromthenight,soIcouldseenothingbutthevagueshapeofher,andherlight-brownhair,escapedfromthecoveringandjewelledwithmoisturefromtheair.

           LongIlookedather,dwellinguponthatonevisiblebitofherasonlyamanwouldwhodeemeditthemostpreciousthingintheworld.Soinsistentwasmygazethatatlastshestirredundertheblankets,thetopfoldwasthrownbackandshesmiledoutonme,hereyesyetheavywithsleep.

           "Good-morning,Mr.VanWeyden,"shesaid."Haveyousightedlandyet?"

           "No,"Ianswered,"butweareapproachingitatarateofsixmilesanhour."

           Shemadeamoueofdisappointment.

           "Butthatisequivalenttoonehundredandforty-fourmilesintwenty-fourhours,"Iaddedreassuringly.

           Herfacebrightened."Andhowfarhavewetogo?"

           "Siberialiesoffthere,"Isaid,pointingtothewest."Buttothesouth-west,somesixhundredmiles,isJapan.Ifthiswindshouldhold,we’llmakeitinfivedays."

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