espatch comes while you
are away, I will say that you are coming, and you will come."

"I may never come back," said Sunlocks. "Only think, my lad. This is
winter, and we are on the verge of the Arctic seas, with five and
thirty miles of water dividing us from the mainland. He would be a
bold man who would count for a day on whether in which a little
fishing smack could live. And a storm might come up and keep me
back."

"The same storm that would keep you back," said Jason, "would keep
back the despatch. But why hunt after these chances? Have you any
reason to fear that the despatch will come to-day, or to-morrow, or
the next day? No, you have none. Then go, and for form's sake--just
that, no more, no less--let me wait here until you return."

There was another moment's silence, and then Sunlocks said, "Is that
the condition of my going?"

"Yes," said Jason.

"Did this old priest impose it?" asked Sunlocks.

Jason hesitated a moment, and answered, "Yes."

"Then I won't go," said Sunlocks, stoutly.

"If you don't," said Jason, "you will break poor old Adam's heart,
for I myself will tell him that you might have come to him, and would
not."

"Will you tell him why I would not?" said Sunlocks.

"No," said Jason.

There was a pause, and then Jason said, very tenderly, "Will you go,
Sunlocks?"

And Sunlocks answered, "Yes."

V.

Jason slept on the form over against the narrow wooden bed of Michael
Sunlocks. He lay down at midnight, and awoke four hours later. Then
he stepped to the door and looked out. The night was calm and
beautiful; the moon was shining, and the little world of Grimsey
slept white and quiet under its coverlet of snow. Snow on the roof,
snow in the valley, snow on the mountains so clear against the sky
and the stars; no wind, no breeze, no sound on earth and in air save
the steady chime of the sea below.

It was too early yet, and Jason went back into the house. He did not
lie down again lest he should oversleep himself, but sat on his form
and waited. All was silent in the home of the priest. Jason could
hear nothing but the steady breathing of Sunlocks as he slept.

After awhile it began to snow, and then the moon went out, and the
night became very dark.

"Now is the time," thought Jason, and after hanging a sheepskin over
the little skin-covered window, he lit a candle and awakened
Sunlocks.

Sunlocks rose and dressed himself without much speaking, and
sometimes he sighed