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〃But why should any one who had seen whites forget them； and yet remember negroes？〃 asked Cary。
〃Let us try again。 Do you mind no great monkeys but those black ones？〃 asked Amyas。
〃Yes；〃 she said； after a while；〃devil。〃
〃Devil？〃 asked all three； who； of course； were by no means free from the belief that the fiend did actually appear to the Indian conjurors； such as had brought up the girl。
〃Ay； him Sir John tell about on Sundays。〃
〃Save and help us！〃 said Yeo； 〃and what was he like unto？〃
She made various signs to intimate that he had a monkey's face； and a gray beard like Yeo's。 So far so good： but now came a series of manipulations about her pretty little neck； which set all their fancies at fault。
〃I know；〃 said Cary； at last； bursting into a great laugh。 〃Sir Urian had a ruff on； as I live！ Trunk…hose too； my fair dame？ StopI'll make sure。 Was his neck like the senor commandant's； the Spaniard？〃
Ayacanora clapped her hands at finding herself understood； and the questioning went on。
〃The 'devil' appeared like a monkey； with a gray beard； in a ruff； humph！〃
〃Ay！〃 said she in good enough Spanish； 〃Mono de Panama； viejo diablo de Panama。〃
Yeo threw up his hands with a shriek〃Oh Lord of all mercies！ Those were the last words of Mr。 John Oxenham！ Ayand the devil is surely none other than the devil Don Francisco Xararte！ Oh dear！ oh dear！ oh dear！ my sweet young lady！ my pretty little maid！ and don't you know me？ Don't you know Salvation Yeo； that carried you over the mountains； and used to climb for the monkey…cups for you； my dear young lady？ And William Penberthy too； that used to get you flowers； and your poor dear father； that was just like Mr。 Cary there； only he had a black beard； and black curls； and swore terribly in his speech； like a Spaniard； my dear young lady？〃
And the honest fellow； falling on his knees； covered Ayacanora's hands with kisses； while all the crew； fancying him gone suddenly mad； crowded aft。
〃Steady； men； and don't vex him！〃 said Amyas。 〃He thinks that he has found his little maid at last。〃
〃And so do I； Amyas； as I live；〃 said Cary。
〃Steady； steady； my masters all！ If this turn out a wrong scent after all； his wits will crack。 Mr。 Yeo； can't you think of any other token？〃
Yeo stamped impatiently。 〃What need then？ it's her； I tell ye； and that's enough！ What a beauty she's grown！ Oh dear！ where were my eyes all this time； to behold her； and not to see her！ 'Tis her very mortal self； it is！ And don't you mind me； my dear； now？ Don't you mind Salvation Yeo； that taught you to sing 'Heave my mariners all； O！' a…sitting on a log by the boat upon the sand； and there was a sight of red lilies grew on it in the moss； dear； now； wasn't there？ and we made posies of them to put in your hair； now？〃And the poor old man ran on in a supplicating； suggestive tone； as if he could persuade the girl into becoming the person whom he sought。
Ayacanora had watched him； first angry； then amused； then attentive； and at last with the most intense earnestness。 Suddenly she grew crimson； and snatching her hands from the old man's； hid her face in them； and stood。
〃Do you remember anything of all this； my child？〃 asked Amyas； gently。
She lifted up her eyes suddenly to his； with a look of imploring agony； as if beseeching him to spare her。 The death of a whole old life； the birth of a whole new life； was struggling in that beautiful face； choking in that magnificent throat； as she threw back her small head； and drew in her breath； and dashed her locks back from her temples； as if seeking for fresh air。 She shuddered； reeled； then fell weeping on the bosom； not of Salvation Yeo； but of Amyas Leigh。
He stood still a minute or two； bearing that fair burden； ere he could recollect himself。 Then；
〃Ayacanora； you are not yet mistress of yourself； my child。 You were better to go down； and see after poor Lucy； and we will talk about it all to…morrow。〃
She gathered herself up instantly； and with eyes fixed on the deck slid through the group； and disappeared below。
〃Ah！〃 said Yeo； with a tone of exquisite sadness； 〃the young to the young！ Over land and sea； in the forests and in the galleys； in battle and prison； I have sought her！ And now！〃
〃My good friend；〃 said Amyas； 〃neither are you master of yourself yet。 When she comes round again； whom will she love and thank but you？〃
〃You； sir！ She owes all to you； and so do I。 Let me go below； sir。 My old wits are shaky。 Bless you； sir； and thank you for ever and ever！〃
And Yeo grasped Amyas's hand； and went down to his cabin； from which he did not reappear for many hours。
From that day Ayacanora was a new creature。 The thought that she was an Englishwoman； that she； the wild Indian； was really one of the great white people whom she had learned to worship； carried in it some regenerating change： she regained all her former stateliness； and with it a self…restraint； a temperance； a softness which she had never shown before。 Her dislike to Cary and Jack vanished。 Modest and distant as ever； she now took delight in learning from them about England and English people； and her knowledge of our customs gained much from the somewhat fantastic behaviour which Amyas thought good； for reasons of his own； to assume toward her。 He assigned her a handsome cabin to herself； always addressed her as madam； and told Cary； Brimblecombe； and the whole crew that as she was a lady and a Christian； he expected them to behave to her as such。 So there was as much bowing and scraping on the poop as if it had been a prince's court： and Ayacanora； though sorely puzzled and chagrined at Amyas's new solemnity； contrived to imitate it pretty well （taking for granted that it was the right thing）； and having tolerable masters in the art of manners （for both Amyas and Cary were thoroughly well…bred men）； profited much in all things； except in intimacy with Amyas； who had； cunning fellow； hit on this parade of good manners； as a fresh means of increasing the distance between him and her。 The crew； of course； though they were a little vexed at losing their pet； consoled themselves with the thought that she was a 〃real born lady；〃 and Mr。 Oxenham's daughter； too； and there was not a man on board who did not prick up his ears for a message if she approached him； or one who would not have； I verily believe； jumped overboard to do her a pleasure。
Only Yeo kept sorrowfully apart。 He never looked at her； spoke to her； met her even； if he could。 His dream had vanished。 He had found her！ and after all； she did not care for him？ Why should she？
But it was hard to have hunted a bubble for years； and have it break in his hand at last。 〃Set not your affections on things on the earth；〃 murmured Yeo to himself； as he pored over his Bible； in the vain hope of forgetting his little maid。
But why did Amyas wish to increase the distance between himself and Ayacanora？ Many reasons might be given： I deny none of them。 But the main one； fantastic as it may seem； was simply； that while she had discovered herself to be an Englishwoman； he had discovered her to be a Spaniard。 If her father were seven times John Oxenham （an