iet and go on," she said. "Tommy is waiting. I hope the sun
takes the skin all off your back," she panted vindictively, as they
slid the canoe down the last shelf and dropped it into the water.

Ten minutes later they climbed the ice-wall, and on and up the bank,
which was partly a hillside, to where the signal of distress still
fluttered. Beneath it, on the ground, lay stretched the man. He lay
very quietly, and the fear that they were too late was upon them, when
he moved his head slightly and moaned. His rough clothes were in rags,
and the black, bruised flesh of his feet showed through the remnants of
his moccasins. His body was thin and gaunt, without flesh-pads or
muscles, while the bones seemed ready to break through the
tight-stretched skin. As Corliss felt his pulse, his eyes fluttered
open and stared glassily. Frona shuddered.

"Man, it's fair gruesome," McPherson muttered, running his hand up a
shrunken arm.

"You go on to the canoe, Frona," Corliss said. "Tommy and I will carry
him down."

But her lips set firmly. Though the descent was made easier by her
aid, the man was well shaken by the time they laid him in the bottom of
the canoe,--so well shaken that some last shreds of consciousness were
aroused. He opened his eyes and whispered hoarsely, "Jacob Welse . . .
despatches . . . from the Outside." He plucked feebly at his open
shirt, and across his emaciated chest they saw the leather strap, to
which, doubtless, the despatch-pouch was slung.

At either end of the canoe there was room to spare, but amidships
Corliss was forced to paddle with the man between his knees. La Bijou
swung out blithely from the bank. It was down-stream at last, and
there was little need for exertion.

Vance's arms and shoulders and back, a bright scarlet, caught Frona's
attention. "My hopes are realized," she exulted, reaching out and
softly stroking a burning arm. "We shall have to put cold cream on it
when we get back."

"Go ahead," he encouraged. "That feels awfully good."

She splashed his hot back with a handful of the ice-cold water from
over-side. He caught his breath with a gasp, and shivered. Tommy
turned about to look at them.

"It's a guid deed we'll 'a doon this day," he remarked, pleasantly.
"To gie a hand in distress is guid i' the sight of God."

"Who's afeared ?" Frona laughed.

"Weel," he deliberated, "I was a bit fashed, no doot, but--"

His utterance ceased, and he seemed sudd