ious land.

Simon strode to and fro on the plateau, like a man who does not know
on what course to decide and who knows, moreover, that there is no
course on which he can decide. But Dolores unsaddled the horses,
unbuckled the saddle-bags and said:

"Our food will hold out, but we have nothing to drink. The spare
water-bottles were strapped to Antonio's saddle."

And she added, after spreading out the two horse-rugs:

"We will sleep here, Simon."

CHAPTER II

ALONG THE CABLE

He fell asleep beside her, after a long spell of waking during which
his uneasiness was gradually assuaged by the soft and regular rhythm
which marked the young girl's breathing.

When he woke, fairly late in the morning, Dolores was stooping and
bathing her beautiful arms and her face in the stream that flowed down
the hillside. She moved slowly; and all her attitude, as she dried her
arms and put back her hair, knotting it low on her neck, were full of
a grave harmony.

As Simon stood up, she filled a glass and brought it to him:

"Drink that," she said. "Contrary to what I thought, it's fresh water.
I heard our horses drinking it in the night."

"That's easily explained," said Simon. "During the first few days, the
rivers of the old coasts filtered in more or less anywhere, until
forced, by their increasing flow, to wear themselves a new course.
Judging by the direction which this one seems to follow and by its
size, it should be a French river, doubtless the Somme, which will
join the sea henceforth between Le Havre and Southampton. Unless.
. . ."

He was not certain of his argument. In reality, under the implacable
veil of the clouds, which were still motionless and hanging very low,
and without his compass, which he had heedlessly handed to Antonio, he
did not know how to take his bearings. He had followed in Isabel's
track last evening; and he hesitated to venture in either direction
now that this track was lost and that there was no clue to justify his
seeking her in one direction rather than in another.

A discovery of Dolores put an end to his hesitation. In exploring the
immediate surroundings, the girl had noticed a submarine cable which
crossed the river.

"Capital!" he said. "The cable evidently comes from England, like
ourselves. If we follow it, we shall be going towards France. We shall
be sure of going the same way as our enemies and we shall very likely
pick up some information on the road."

"France