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Valmai's voice eak and low, and he had to bend his head over her

to catch the words: "You have been near death for my sake--those dreadful waves!"

"Do not think of theer But I have been nearer

death since I have sat here watching your slow recovery Now, Val that every er to her, "be brave; give yourself up to me, and I

will carry you home"

But this adjuration was needless, for as he placed her gently down

while he rose to his feet he felt that she was limp and powerless as a

baby; he lifted her in his arht no more than if he

had carried a storm-beaten bird His own drenched condition he did not

consider--did not feel, while he clihted only by theclouds Pushing his way between the

furze and broom bushes, he was careful to let no stray branch catch

Valmai's face or hair, and as he reached the farhted to feel a strong and swift motion in her

frame

"Put me down, please," she whispered, "on the bench by the door"

Cardo did so, reluctantly loosing his grasp of the tender for loudly on the back door The sound seemed to

rouse the in, somebody shuffled down the stairs

"Go now, I am safe," said Valmai, in a whisper

And Cardo went, but not before he had stooped down and pressed an