Part 22 (2/2)

”Besides,” she said, ”I could risk ”

He tried a last shot The words alled in his throat

”And Joe?” he said ”Have you no thought of Joe?”

”Joe loves me,” she said--”loves h to chance death rather than lose his wife”

”But I won't let you go!” said Gregory

”You can't stop ht her round the body and tried to hold her, but she fought herself free His strength was gone; he was as feeble as a child; in the course of those short hours soe was startled at his weakness

”Greg, you're ill!” she cried, as he staggered, and caught at a backstay to save hi He sat down on the house and tried to keep back a sob Madge stooped, and looked anxiously into his face She had known him for two years as a man of unusual sternness and self-control; obstinate, reserved, willful, andcourage and resolution It was inexplicable now to see hi, his sinewy hands opening and shutting convulsively

”You're ill,” she repeated ”I'll go down and fetch you soe,” he said faintly ”I suppose it's just a touch of the old fever See, it's passing already”

She watched him in silence Then she stepped forward, dropped down the forecastle hatchway, and reappeared with an ax While he ondering what she meant to do, she raised it in the air and crashed it down on the groaning anchor chain It parted at the first blow, and the _Edelweiss_, now adrift, blundered broadside on to leeward

Madge ran aft, brought the schooner up in the wind, and cried out to Gregory to get into his boat

He said sullenly he wouldn't do anything of the kind

She lashed the wheel and ca,” she said

”You are going to your death, Madge,” he said

”Get into your boat!” she repeated

He rose, and slowly began to obey

”You ,” she said

She put up her face to his; their lips met Then, with her arm around him, she half forced, half supported hiainst the side He wanted to resist; he wanted to cry out and tell her the truth, but a strange, leaden powerlessness benu painter she cast after hi for the passage With her black hair flying in the wind, her bare arirlish, supple figure bending with the heel of the deck, she never faltered nor looked back as the water whitened and boiled in the schooner's wake

Gregory came to hi over hi his naked feet Overhead the rush and roar of the gale broke pitilessly on his ears

”The _Edelweiss_!” he gasped; ”the _Edelweiss_!”

”Went down an hour ago, sir,” said Cracroft grimly