find in him a son to the death. And even Huish showed a little

in that sacredness; by the tacit adoption of daily life they were

become brothers; there was an implied bond of loyalty in their

cohabitation of the ship and their passed miseries, to which

Herrick must be a little true or wholly dishonoured. Horror of

sudden death for horror of sudden death, there was here no

hesitation possible: it must be Attwater. And no sooner was

the thought formed (which was a sentence) than his whole

mind of man ran in a panic to the other side: and when he

looked within himself, he was aware only of turbulence and

inarticulate outcry.

In all this there was no thought of Robert Herrick. He had

complied with the ebb-tide in man's affairs, and the tide had

carried him away; he heard already the roaring of the maelstrom

that must hurry him under. And in his bedevilled and dishonoured

soul there was no thought of self.

For how long he walked silent by his companion Herrick had

no guess. The clouds rolled suddenly away; the orgasm was over;

he found himself placid with the placidity of despair; there

returned to him the power of commonplace speech; and he

heard with surprise his own voice say: 'What a lovely evening!'

'Is it not?' said Attwater. 'Yes, the evenings here would be

very pleasant if one had anything to do. By day, of course, one

can shoot.'

'You shoot?' asked Herrick.

'Yes, I am what you would call a fine shot,' said Attwater. 'It

is faith; I believe my balls will go true; if I were to miss

once, it would spoil me for nine months.'

'You never miss, then?' said Herrick.

<<BackPagesTo menuNext>>