Well, what is the matter? he growled.

He reached without difficulty the banks of the Dong-Nai; but here obstacles presented themselves of which he had not thought. The night was so dark, that he could hardly see to find his way along a wharf in process of construction, and covered with enormous stones and timber. Not a light in all the native huts around. In spite of his efforts to pierce this darkness, he could discern nothing but the dark outline of the vessels lying at anchor in the river, and the light of the lighthouse as it trembled in the current.

How so? All?

Why, to dinner

You are joking.

Do not force me; I would be a sorry companion.

Well, my dear Champcey, they said, are you coming?

I am quite capable, thought Daniel, of not finding the boat of ��The Conquest.��

Well, what is the matter? he growled.

He called. No voice replied. The silence, which was as deep as the darkness, was broken only by the low wash of the river as it flowed down rapidly.

Why, to dinner

He reached without difficulty the banks of the Dong-Nai; but here obstacles presented themselves of which he had not thought. The night was so dark, that he could hardly see to find his way along a wharf in process of construction, and covered with enormous stones and timber. Not a light in all the native huts around. In spite of his efforts to pierce this darkness, he could discern nothing but the dark outline of the vessels lying at anchor in the river, and the light of the lighthouse as it trembled in the current.

You have had letters from France, I see.

Well, to dinner. It appears Saigon possesses an admirable French restaurant, where the cook, a Parisian, is simply a great artist. Come, get up, and let us go.

Do not force me; I would be a sorry companion.

I cannot dine with you to-day, my friends, he said to his comrades.

You are joking.

But Daniel did not notice this; all his thoughts were with Henrietta.

Why should she not have written, he thought, when all the others found means to write?

A friendly touch on the shoulder recalled him rudely to the real world. Four or five officers from The Conquest were standing around him, gay, and free from cares, a hearty laugh on their lips.

But Daniel did not notice this; all his thoughts were with Henrietta.

Well, to dinner. It appears Saigon possesses an admirable French restaurant, where the cook, a Parisian, is simply a great artist. Come, get up, and let us go.

Where are the men? asked Daniel.

Still he did find it, after long search, drawn up, and half lost, in a crowd of native boats. But the boat seemed to be empty. It was only when he got into it, that he discovered a little midshipman fast asleep in the bottom, wrapped up in a carpet which was used to cover the seats for the officers. Daniel shook him. He rose slowly, and grumbling, as if overcome by sleep.

And as he looked at them with the air of a man who had just been roused, and has not had time to collect his thoughts, they went on,��

Still they insisted, as friends will insist who will not understand that others may not be equally tempted by what charms them; but nothing could induce Daniel to change his mind. At the door of the government house he parted with his comrades, and went back, sad and solitary, towards the harbor.

Lieutenant, all the men are in town.

He called. No voice replied. The silence, which was as deep as the darkness, was broken only by the low wash of the river as it flowed down rapidly.

Well, to dinner. It appears Saigon possesses an admirable French restaurant, where the cook, a Parisian, is simply a great artist. Come, get up, and let us go.