ful, glorious
dream. Death was being merciful, after all: in the moment of its
descent it was giving him the image of his fondest dream. It seemed to
him that soft, warm arms were about him, that his head was pillowed
against a tenderness, a holiness passing understanding. He didn't want
the dream to end. It would in a moment, the darkness would drop over
him; but even for the breath that it endured it almost atoned for the
full travail of his life.

There were kisses, too. They came so softly, so warm, just as he had
dreamed. "Virginia," he whispered. "Is it you, Virginia--come to
me----?"

Then, so clearly that he could no longer retain the delusion of dream,
he heard his answer. "Yes--and I've come to save you."

It was true. Her arms were about him; he was nestled against her
breast. Yet the kisses must have been only a dream that was worth death
to gain. She was at work on him now. He felt her swift motions; now
she was putting a flask to his lips. A burning liquid poured into his
throat.

There ensued a moment of indescribable peace, and then the flask was put
to his lips again. The inner forces of his body, fighting still for his
life even after he had given up, seized quickly upon the warming liquor,
forced it into his blood, and drove away the frost that was beginning to
congeal his life fluids. Already he felt a new stir in his veins. He
struggled to speak.

"No yet," the girl whispered. "Don't make any effort yet."

She gave him more of the liquor. He felt strength returning to his
muscles. He tried to open his eyes. The sharp pain was a swift
reminder of his blindness. "I'm blind----" he told her.

"No matter, I'll save you." Even his blindness would not put a barrier
between them. One glance at the inflamed lids, however, told her that
in all probability it was just a temporary blindness from some great
irritation, soon to be dispelled. "Can you eat?" she asked.

The man nodded.

"It's better to, if you can. The whisky is only a stimulant, and it
won't keep you alive." She thrust a fragment of sweet chocolate into
his mouth, permitting it to melt. "You'd better get to your feet as
soon as you can--and try to get the flood flowing right again. We're
only a few miles from the cabin--if you'll just fight we can make it
in."

He shook his head. "I can't--I can't go any farther. I can't see the
way."

"But I'll lead you." By her intuition she guessed his despair; and