Evening star., 1938-03-06
Noreh 6. 1888

them out in it," Give said, the scorn
of his voice sounding brittle.
The deck gave another lurch to
port. like live creature settling slowly
under wounds. Give stepped close to
her, dropped his flashlight into a
pocket, and began trying to break her
hold on the rail.
Listen to me-" she cried at him.
understand it, will you. for the dear
love of God? i'll die this way. they get
money of their own - from my dying,
from the insurance got specially for
a chance like this. l have to wait
another year before they'll pay any
thing for suicide. can't wait. and
you're trying to"
Her resistance gave abruptly; he
took an unexpected step backward to
keep balance and she pushed him
hard, 50 that he brought up against
a jut of cabin behind him as she
wrenched her wrist free; the flashlight
fell and went out. and he heard her
quick steps running away from him.
As he ran. great. misty eye of light
sprang high in the fog and showed
him her silhouette ahead. He had even
an instant's appreciation Of the beauty
of her running - straight-legged. like
a trained boy Just before he caught
her she whirled on him - pounced
upon him with mad efficiency of
defense that used blows and claws and
kicks. His own fist travelled no more
than six inches to make the sharp
crack of her teeth coming together,
and he caught her slumped body just
before it hit the slanted deck. His foot
slipped and he went to one knee, hold
ing her. The ship faltered again help
lessly in her settling. and water swirled
halfway up his extended leg. The
boilers must explode soon now. He
got her up in his arms, backed against
the rail, and sat on it. Then he swung
both legs over it and slipped of into
the water close below. There was
struggling moment as they started to
90 down. but at the surface again he
got her into position and began to
swim from the wounded ship with
strong, one-armed backstroke.
All round the life raft that had
nearly knocked him out when he swan
into it, a sourceless light crept through
the fog. Give could barely see her
beside him now on the gently moving
space - his jacket over her. his waist
coat rolled up under her head. He took
her pulse again. counted her breath
ing. they were still all right: but he
began once more to chafe her wrists.
Then there were wispy holes over
head through which fresh sky showed,
and abruptly the monotonous warn
ing of the horn on the Hook left of.
She looked at him unstartled in the
first opening of her eyes. as if she'd
often seen him on waking. The deep
hurt was gone from them: in its place
stood only yadrowsy comfort that made
him thankful they hadn't been picked
up in the night and separated. so
that he couldn't watch her waking.
Lazily she murmured. Such a
lovely sleep. I wonder why I've got a
headache"
Probably because I hit you," he
said cautiously. wanting nothing to
disturb her expression there till he'd
memorized it.
''Hit me?" she said. with a slight,
sleepy smile to herself. That was
nice. Why did you do -" The COM
fort vanished before the startled awe
of her remembering. and alarm
brought her sitting up. ''You hit me
to save me- and I didn't ,oans to
be saved. told you l didn't want to
be, and-and- You've done some
thing. wicked - soicked. Why in
heavens name did you7"