"The licenses for the
_Flibberty_ and the _Emily_ don't allow for one hundred and fifty. What
did Burnett say?"
"He passed them, all of them," she answered. "Captain Munster will tell
you what he said--something about being blowed, or words to that effect.
Now I must run and wash up. Did the Sydney orders arrive?"
"Yours are in your quarters," Sheldon said. "Hurry, for breakfast is
waiting. Let me have your hat and belt. Do, please, allow me. There's
only one hook for them, and I know where it is."
She gave him a quick scrutiny that was almost woman-like, then sighed
with relief as she unbuckled the heavy belt and passed it to him.
"I doubt if I ever want to see another revolver," she complained. "That
one has worn a hole in me, I'm sure. I never dreamed I could get so
weary of one."
Sheldon watched her to the foot of the steps, where she turned and called
back,--
"My! I can't tell you how good it is to be home again."
And as his gaze continued to follow her across the compound to the tiny
grass house, the realization came to him crushingly that Berande and that
little grass house was the only place in the world she could call "home."
* * * * *
"And Burnett said, 'Well, I'll be damned--I beg your pardon, Miss
Lackland, but you have wantonly broken the recruiting laws and you know
it,'" Captain Munster narrated, as they sat over their whisky, waiting
for Joan to come back.
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