Now and then she stopped to listen for some response, or to look about
for some sign that might tell her that Sylvia had passed that way, and
near the top of one of the little slopes she found a bunch of the green
vines and yellow blossoms which Sylvia had dropped.
"She shuah am somewhar near," thought Estralla, and just then she heard
a far-off call.
"Dat was my name!" she exclaimed aloud, and listened more intently than
ever.
"Maybe 'twas jes' one o' them gull-birds a-callin'," she decided as no
further sound came to her ears.
Now she went on more carefully, but she, too, came to the shore; but it
was on the inner curve of the land, a little cove where an old shanty
stood near the water, and a boat was drawn up near by.
Estralla looked into the rough cabin, half hoping to find Sylvia there.
Then she went back a little way and shouted Sylvia's name again and
again, and this time there was a response. "Estralla! Estralla!" came
clearly to her ears.
"My lan' o' grashus!" whispered the little darky, and then called
loudly, "I'se a-comin', Missy Sylvia." And now Sylvia called again. Back
and forth sounded the voices of the two girls, each one moving toward
the other, for at the welcome sound of Estralla's call Sylvia had sprung
up and hurried in the direction from which the voice seemed to come.
It was now so nearly dusk that as they came in sight of each other they
were like dark shadows.
"Oh, Estralla! Where is my father?" Sylvia cried as Estralla ran toward
her and flung both arms about her little mistress.
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