it outside the Quette d'Amont, the
eastern sentinel of L'Etat, and so, with shipped oars, by means of his
single scull astern, brought them deftly to the riven black ledges round
the corner on the south side.

It is a precarious landing at best, and the after scramble up the
crumbling slope calls for caution even in the light of day. In that
misleading darkness, clinging with his hands and climbing on the sides
of his feet, and starting at startled feathered things that squawked and
fluttered from under his groping hands and feet, Gard found it no easy
matter to follow Nance, though she carried a great bundle and waited for
him every now and again. When he looked down next day upon the way they
had come he marvelled that they had ever reached the top in safety.

"Wait here!" she said at last, when they had attained a somewhat level
place, and before he had breath for a word she was away down again.

She was back presently with another bundle, and he started when she
thrust into his hands a long gun, and bade him pick up the first bundle
and follow her. The feel of the gun brought home to him, as nothing else
could have done, her and Bernel's views of possible contingencies.

He followed her stumblingly along the rough crown of the ridge, till she
dipped down a rather smoother slope and came to a stand before what
seemed to him a heap of huge stones.

"There is shelter in here," she said. "And these things are for your
comfort. We will bring you more to eat in a day or two--"

"Nance, dear," he said, dropping the gun and the bundle, and laying his
hand on her slim shoulder. "I have become a sore burden to you--"

"Oh no, no!" she said hastily. "You would have done as much for me, and
it is because--"

"For you, dear? I would give my life for you, Nance, and here it is you
who are doing everything, and running all these risks for me."

"It is because I know they are in the wrong. It may be only a day or
two, and they will thank me when they find out their mistake."

"Well, I thank you and Bernel with my whole heart. Please God I may some
time be able to repay you!"

"If you are safe, that is all we want. Now I must go. We must get back
before they miss us."

"God keep you, dear!" and he bent and kissed her, and as before she
kissed him back with the frankness of a child.

He was about to follow her when she turned to go, but she said
imperatively, "Stop here, or you may lose yourself in the dark. And in
the