t she wanted to speak with him, and they walked out on the porch
together.

"You say it will be six days before the _Henlopen_ leaves for New
York?" she asked.

"Yes, and no _Pleiad_ for you, Miss Mallory. There will be changes and
disorder down in the city.... I'll make you comfortable as I can."

"Oh, I'll like that! It's so still and restful--and--from here--last
night seems ages behind.... It would have been unbearable, but for what
you said about the other men's lives saved. Then the Glow-worm had told
me so much! He was unspeakable.... As for Sorenson, I just couldn't
have done that had I thought of sharks first!... I wonder what Rey
meant to do--just before ... yes, yes, let's forget him!... When you
are rested, there is something I have to tell you."

"And there is something for me to say--but now?" he questioned.

"I want you to let me take care of you--during the six days----"

The old feminine magnetism thrilled him again. It was so strange and
unexpected from Miss Mallory--a breath from the old Dream Ranges. It
quickened him to the race of women, even to the great work, as he had
not been quickened since the night he looked back at the empty open
door.... He did not speak, but held out both hands to her.

"I think you are living and moving at this moment," she went on
fervently, "upon some strange force that other people do not have.
Since we left New York, I have watched you--seen you almost every day.
You are like a traveler who has crossed some terrible and forbidden
land. You do not eat nor sleep. I must help you. Please let me.... Oh,
it isn't as if I were a girl! I've worked with men--done a man's work
among the newspapers. I'd call it bigger than all that has happened for
the good fortune of Equatoria--if I could make you look as----"

She checked the tumult of words. There was a misty look in her
eyes--and his. He smiled and held himself hard, to say steadily:

"A man doesn't often win so dear a friend----"

"You have found about me so much of humor and scheming," she said
pathetically, "but since I came to understand a little, I've wanted to
show you other things----"

"I could not have relished your humor, nor used your plans, had I not
felt so much besides." He pointed over the shining lands. "Great good
can come from all this--perhaps you'll help me--where the suffering is
blackest in New York. With that big tramp steamer in _The Pleiad_, and
Celestino in command, it would have been h