In Search of an Unknown Race — page 166: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

154 VAN. Van seated himself on a rawhide stool beside her. ‘““Why—yes,” returned Van, devoutly wishing he could reply in the negative. ‘‘T can only say that I am sorry, Cousin Van,” was the quiet reply ; ‘‘for 1 am convinced that he means harm—to you.” And then, for the first time since leaving Itambez, the two talked on through the delightful afternoon. They were freed from the prying presence of Flores, who had taken Van’s gun and wandered off in the forest, as he had done a number of times since they had reached Atlaxa. ‘Where can Flores be?” suddenly exclaimed Van, as he saw the sun drawing down toward the horizon. ‘‘T must hunt him up—and Tom, too.” ‘“ Good-bye, Cousin Van,” said the young girl as Van rose up to his feet, and moved by some strange im- pulse, their hands met in a long lingering clasp, as though a separation lay before them. Eomichooks co m