loss and betrayal was heavy upon him. Though she had made no promise, he had hoped with all his heart that Judith Nazet might come. Now, as he made his final tour of inspection of the ship, he steadfastly refrained from looking back towards the shore.
Ned came to him. 'The tide has turned, Captain! And the wind stands fair to weather Dahlak Island on a single tack.'
Hal could delay no longer. 'Up anchor, Mister Tyler. Set all plain sail. Take us south to Elephant Lagoon. We have some unfinished business thereabouts.'
Ned Tyler and Big Daniel grinned at the prospect of reclaiming their share of the treasure that they knew was hidden there.
The canvas billowed out from her yards and the Golden Bough shook herself and came awake. Her bows swung round and steadied as they pointed at the entrance to the open sea.
Hal stood, his hands clasped behind his back, and stared straight ahead. Aboli came to him then with a cloak over his arm, and when Hal turned to him he shook it out and lifted it high for his appraisal. 'The croix pattge, the same as your father wore at the beginning of every voyage.'
'Where did you get that, Aboli?'
'I had it made for you in Zulla while you lay wounded. You have earned the right to wear it.' He spread it over Hal's shoulders, and stood back to appraise him. 'You look like your father did on the first day I saw him.' Those words gave Hal such pleasure as to lighten his sombre mood.
'Deck!' The hail from the lookout rang out of the lightening sky.
'Masthead?' Hal threw his head back and looked up. 'Signal from the shore!'
Hal turned quickly with the cloak swirling about him.
Above the walls of Zulla three bright red lights hung in the dawn sky, and as he watched they floated gracefully back to earth.
'Three Chinese rockets!' Aboli said. 'The recall signal.' 'Put the ship about, please, Mister Tyler,' said Hal, and went to the rail as the ship swung round.
'Boat putting out from the pard' came Aboli's hail.
Hal peered ahead and, out of the gloom, saw the shape of a small dhow coming to meet them. As the range closed and the light strengthened, he felt his heart leap and his breath come shorter.
In the bows stood a figure in unfamiliar garb, a woman who wore a blue caftan and a head cloth of the same colour. As the boat drew alongside she lifted the cloth from her head and Hal saw the glorious dark crown of her hair.
He was waiting for her at the entry port When Judith Nazet stepped onto the deck, he greeted her awkwardly. 'Good morrow, General Nazet.'
'I am a general no longer. Now I am only a common maid named Judith.'.
'You are welcome, Judith.'
'I came as soon as I was able.' Her voice was husky and uncertain. 'Now at last Iyasu is crowned, and the Tabernacle has gone back to its resting place in the mountains.'
'I had despaired of you,' he said.
'No, El Tazar. Never do that,' she answered him.
With surprise, Hal saw that the dhow was already on its way back to the shore. It had unloaded no baggage. 'You have brought nothing with you? 'he asked.
'Only my heart, 'she replied softly. 'I am southward bound,' he said. 'Wherever you go, my lord, I go also.'
Hal turned to Ned Tyler. 'Bring the ship round. Lay her on the other tack. Course to clear Dahlak Island, and then south for the Bah El Mandeb. Full and by, Mister Tyler.'
'Full and by it is, Captain.' Ned grinned widely and winked at Big Daniel.
As the Golden Bough ran out to meet the dawn, Hal stood tall on her quarterdeck, his left hand resting lightly on the sapphire in the pommel of the Neptune Sword. With his other arm he reached out and drew Judith Nazet Closer to him. She came willingly.
The End
