in of the old song, but as
from a speaking automaton, unconsciously taken up from time to time. The
excess of motion and uproar had made them dumb, and despite their youth
their smiles were insincere, and their teeth chattered with cold; their
eyes, half-closed under their raw, throbbing eyelids, remained glazed
in terror. Lashed to the helm, like marble caryatides, they only moved
their numbed blue hands, almost without thinking, by sheer muscular
habit. With their hair streaming and mouths contracted, they had become
changed, all the primitive wildness in man appearing again. They could
not see one another truly, but still were aware of being companioned.
In the instants of greatest danger, each time that a fresh mountain
of water rose behind them, came to overtower them, and crash horribly
against their boat, one of their hands would move as if involuntarily,
to form the sign of the cross. They no more thought of Gaud than of any
other woman, or any marrying. The travail was lasting too long, and
they had no thoughts left. The intoxication of noise, cold, and fatigue
drowned all in their brain. They were merely two pillars of stiffened
human flesh, held up by the helm; two strong beasts, cowering, but
determined they would not be overwhelmed.

CHAPTER II--A PARDONABLE RUSE

In Brittany, towards the end of September, on an already chilly day,
Gaud was walking alone across the common of Ploubazlanec, in the
direction of Pors-Even.

The Icelanders had returned a month back, except two, which had perished
in that June gale. But the _Marie_ had held her own, and Yann and all
her crew were peacefully at home.

Gaud felt very troubled at the idea of going to Yann's house. She had
seen him once since the return from Iceland, when they had all gone
together to see poor little Sylvestre off to the navy. They accompanied
him to the coaching-house, he blubbering a little and his grandmother
weeping, and he had started to join the fleet at Brest.

Yann, who had come also to bid good-bye to his little friend, had
feigned to look aside when Gaud looked at him, and as there were
many people round the coach to see the other sailors off, and parents
assembled to say good-bye, the pair had not a chance to speak. So, at
last, she had formed a strong resolution, and rather timidly wended her
way towards the Gaos's home.

Her father had formerly had mutual interests with Yann's father
(complicated business, which, with peasants