Evening star., 1936-03-29
Magazine Section

out of hand He hadn't the scientists
discipline and hardness of mind. In
deed, Tontine caught sight of him
vainly trying to lift the rock off the
spring about midday.
That was not the only anxiety Ton
tine had that day. About mid-after-
noon he saw the girl wading out from
their tiny beach. She waded until the
water was up to her small, neat knees,
then she began to ladle the sea up to
her face. He ran out to her.
You mustn't do that" he cried.
Drinking sea water means agony
madness"
Her face wet and lifeless turned
spiritlessly to him.
I'm only bathing my face. It
it cools. l know mustn't drink"
She went on laving her face, her
hair, her neck, making her feeble
efforts to assuage the thirst that was
racking her by the coolness of the
water.
Batter snarled like beast when he
got back to shore.
why didn't you let her drink. you
fool?" he said. The sooner she goes
nutty and does for herself the better
for us. And by heavens it's not going
to be easy for us. anyhow"
His big. meaty frame was feeling the
heat and the lack of water acutely. Yet
he mastered himself enough to hold
back when they shifted the rock for
the daily share-out of water. He let
Tontine drink first. and stood back
while the scientist filed the shell for
him.
But he swore at the girl who had
crept up to rock near them. She
made no attempt to plead for share,
Just stood in a dreadful silence staring
at the water.
Tontine looked up at Balter's oath
and saw her. just as he had filled the
shell for his second drink. Their eyes
met mutely; then he filled the shall
with every drop of water that re-
mained. Batter was still trying to
drive her away when Tontine stood
up. He was able to step past the mil
lionaire and give the she'll to the girl
before Batter could interfere.
Batter screamed in Illustration. tried
to snatch the water. but Tontine
stood in his way. Tontine found him.
self saying. "We're human after ALL"
Batter shouted: 80 that's how
your darned science really functions?
All right Only l beliess your science -
and will stand by it. There's water
enough to save only two of us. Missy"
he said quietly to the girl. He de-
cided you weren't the one to be
saved. Now I'll decide. You've broken
our bargain. Tontine. so you suffer. /
and the girl live. You hear that.
Missy. You and I are going to live.
Because he dies"
He jumped at Tontine and knocked
him down with a single blow. Then he
flung himself onto the scientist. his
great hands sinking deep into the thin
throat. Tontine's frail figure was no
match for Balter's bull-like physique.
His hands failed Intellectually.
The girl watched the fight. wide
eyed. She did not stir. She knew
Tontine had condemned her to death:
she knew that with Tontine dead she
would live. She watched the mans
feeble hands twitch and 60 limp. And
then something stirred in her. With
out a sound she bent. picked up
small rock and hit Batter on the head.
When Tontine recovered conscious
ness day later, he was so weak that
lie could do no more than move his
head. But he was in better way than
Batter. who still lay unconscious. his
head bound up in what was obviously
part of girls undergarment.
Tontine found they were lying in
cool patch of shadow. He saw that
miracle came from no more than the