Sundipped,nightcuppedhandsovertheworld.Thelongdayofexcitementwasover.Marinersslept,adventurersgentleandsimple,thetwelvefriarsandFatherBuil.Seventeenships,nighfifteenhundredmenofEurope,swingingwiththetidebeforethelandweweretomakeSpanish.
Thewatchraisedacry.SpringingfromhisbedJuanLepecameondecktofindthereconfusion,andunderthemoonintheclearwater,swimmingforms,swimmingfromusinakindofdesperatehasteandstrength.Therewasshoutingtomantheboat.OnejostlingagainstmecriedthattheywerethecaptiveIndians.Theyhadbrokenbonds,liftedhatch,knockeddownthewatch,leapedoverside.
Anothershouted.No,theCaribsweresafe.Thesewerethewomen——
Thewomen——sevenformsmightbemadeout——werenotfarfromland.Ifelttinglingacrosstometheirhopeandfear.Outofshipshadowshotafterthemourboat.
Stronglyrowed,itseemedtogain,buttheymadespeedstrongly,strongly.Theboatgotintotroublewiththeshallows.Theswimmersnowstoodandran,nowwereracers;inamomenttheywouldtouchthedry,theshiningbeach.Outofboatsprangmenrunningafterthem,runningacrosslowwhitelinesoffoam.Thewomen,thatstrongwomancaciqueahead,leftwater,racedacrosssandtowardforest.Twomenweregaining,theycaughtattheleastswiftwoman.Thedark,nakedformbrokefromthem,leapedlikeahurtdeerandrunningatspeedpassedwithallintotheebonybandthatwasforest.