If I am unfaithful what
will he say to me? Besides, the supply-boat is coming soon--I have
thought of this--when it comes it will bring food. But if the light is
out, the boat may be lost. That would be the punishment for my sin. No,
MON PERE, we must trust God. He will keep the people. I will keep the
light."'

The priest looked at her long and steadily. A glow came into his face.
He put his hand on her shoulder. "You shall follow your conscience," he
said quietly. "Peace be with you, Nataline."

That evening just at dark Marcel came. She let him take her in his arms
and kiss her. She felt like a little child, tired and weak.

"Well," he whispered, "you have done bravely, sweetheart. You were right
not to give the key. That would have been a shame to you. But it is all
settled now. They will have the oil without your fault. To-night they
are going out to the lighthouse to break in and take what they want. You
need not know. There will be no blame--"

She straightened in his arms as if an electric shock had passed through
her. She sprang back, blazing with anger.

"What?" she cried, "me a thief by round-about,--with my hand behind my
back and my eyes shut? Never. Do you think I care only for the blame? I
tell you that is nothing. My light shall not be robbed, never, never!"

She came close to him and took him by the shoulders. Their eyes were on
a level. He was a strong man, but she was the stronger then.

"Marcel Thibault," she said, "do you love me?"

"My faith," he gasped, "I do. You know I do."

"Then listen," she continued; "this is what you are going to do. You are
going down to the shore at once to make ready the big canoe. I am going
to get food enough to last us for the month. It will be a hard pinch,
but it will do. Then we are going out to the island to-night, in less
than an hour. Day after to-morrow is the first of April. Then we shall
light the lantern, and it shall burn every night until the boat comes
down. You hear? Now go: and be quick and bring your gun."

IV

They pushed off in the black darkness, among the fragments of ice that
lay along the shore. They crossed the strait in silence, and hid their
canoe among the rocks on the island. They carried their stuff up to the
house and locked it in the kitchen. Then they unlocked the tower, and
went in, Marcel with his shot-gun, and Nataline with her father's old
carabine. They fastened the door again, and bolted it, and sat down in
the