The state herald., 1910-08-05

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."
ut is hardly probable there are, un-
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 1t grasped the tiller, her earn.
est eyes compelling me to look at her.
"Yes"
"How-how far away ia this land?"
! hesitated, actually afraid myself
to speak the answer. but her hand
clasp merely tightened.
please tell me. IL wish to know
the very worst. Such knowledge will
be easier TO bear than this awful
doubt"
"But / hardly know myself" I 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 1t is nothing but q
rock, and we could never find 1t by the
mere guidance of compass. Our only
chance is to bear away to the north
east toward land and the track Of
ships"
How far? What land?"
The western coast OF South Amer
lea; at least 1900 miles,
felt her shudder, and scarcely re-
alizing that I did so. or the signifi-
canoe OF the action, impelled by an
impulse beyond all control. | drew her
hand within both my own as though
/ In pledge OF protection.
1T can be done" | insisted. Such
boat voyages have been accom-.
plished."
She made no effort to draw away.
her eyes still upon mine.
Not through such sea as this;
not at this season OF the year"
could not answer. my lips dry. my
throat parched.
"You know the utter hopelcssness
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 a miracle" fsl.
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 II. 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 II Is the certainty of DEATH"
she said soberly. Death together"
My heart leaped as though II 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 II frankly now; say II here
before you and God: say II In all
purity and honor Perhaps tonight.
perhaps tomorrow. somewhere ami,
this awful waste Of waters We will &c
together into eternity. What are the
dictates OF men to us now? What
meaning Is there any longer to the
hideous requirements Of the vorids
We are beyond them all. Hare. now.
we can be ourselves. ourselves. To
night we are free; tonight ! can hear
you speak what have already read In
your eyes. and am not afraid TO hear
H."
"You-you love mc?"
with all my heart and soul"
With everything else blottod out.
with all else forgotten. sat speech.
less. gazing down through the mist Of
/ lnN. hA.