Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-07-29

I-turned my eyes away before ven.
turing to reply. yet | dared not utter
an untruth.
Two: the being picked up by some
passing vessel. or the attaining of in
habitable land
Are there any vessels in this sea
at this season."
1T is hardly probable there are. I'M.
less 1t should be some whaler blown
from her course around the Horn"
Then our only practical hope lies
In reaching land by our own efforts?"
She leaned forward, her hand touching
mine as it grasped the tiller. her earn
est eyes compelling me to look at her
"Yes."
"How-how far away Is this land:"
/ hesitated. actually afraid myself
to speak the answer. but her hand
clasp merely tightened.
please tell me. II wish to know
the very worst. Such knowledge will
be easier to bear than this awful
doubt"
but hardly know myself" con-
fessed desperately. 81 have had no
observation for several days. and can
only guess the rate Of progress of the
Sea Queen. or our drift during the
storm. | will be perfectly honest with
you, though. and give you my best
judgment. believe we must be be-
tween four and five hundred miles to
the east and north OF Dougherty is
land. and not yet beyond the limit Of
drift ice. There would be no use In
our attempting to turn back for that
point OF land, as It Is nothing but a
rock. and we could never find It by the
mere guidance Of a compass. Our only
chance is to bear away to the north.
ships"
"How far? What land?'
THE western coast OF South Amer.
lea: at least 1900 miles"
felt her shudder. and scarcely re-
alizing that l did SO. or the signifi-
cance OF the action. impelled by an
impulse beyond all control. ! drew her
hand within both my own rs though
in pledge OF protection.
"It can be DONE" insisted. Such
boa, voyages have been accom-.
plished."
She made no effort to draw away.
her eyes still upon mine.
Not through such a sea as this: /:
not at this season OF the year.
could not answer. my lips dry. my
throat parched.
You know the utter hopelessness
Of it," she went on. stimulated by my
silence. you know We can never
survive the cold. the closing In OF the
ice. the certainty OF storm. You are
sailor. and n brave man-trust me
with the whole truth
1T would be almost miracle" fal-
tered. the words fairly forced from
my lips by her insistence. This is
the beginning of winter In the storm
lest ocean on the globe. God could
do 1t. but not man."
Her head sank, the white cheek
touching my sleeve. but the fearless
gray eyes were still open. gazing
straight into mine.
Then 1t is the certainty of DEATH"
she said soberly. Death together"
My heart leaped as though 1t had
received an electric shock.
Together! you mean"
That should rather be here. facing
death with you. than anywhere else
alone" she exclaimed swiftly. oh.
| can say It frankly now: say 1t here
before you and God; say II in all
purity and honor. Perhaps tonight.
perhaps tomorrow, somewhere amid
this awful waste of waters We will go
together into eternity. What are the
dictates of men to us now? What
meaning is there any longer to the
hdeous requirements of the world?
We are beyond them all. Here. now.
we can be ourselves. ourselves. To-
night we are free; tonight ! can hear
you speak what I have already read In
your eyes. and am not afraid TO hear
it,
"You-you love me?"
With all my heart and soul"
With everything else blotted out,
with all else forgotten. I sat speech
less. gazing down through the mist Of
tears into her eyes.