and she moved feebly. She
bowed gravely to me, and entered the cabinet. Judson turned the gas down
low.

"If you will remain entirely passive," he said softly, "I think we shall
get the communication without trouble." There was a calm confidence in
his voice, quite different from the intensity of his manner the night
before. We sat quietly for many minutes, until I began to grow uneasy. I
tried to think of nothing with very poor success, but while I was making
the effort strenuously there came from the cabinet a clear, firm voice.
Its tones were something like those in which the woman the night before
had said: "What do you wish?" but as the voice proceeded it took on a
manlier tone, with that indescribable accent we call "English." These
were the words:

"Since you wish it, I will finish the story of my life on earth. Listen.
When I ceased writing in my book on the _Albatross_ it was because I had
lost control of my pen, and of my mind as well. I managed to crawl to
the deck. Helen was lying motionless in the shadow of the companion
hatch. I threw myself down by her side. She put out her hand and grasped
mine, and a flush crossed her face. I was too weak to speak, and thus
hand in hand we lay for I don't know how long. Gradually I lost
consciousness, perhaps in sleep. At all events, my spirit was not free.
The frail body still had strength enough to retain it. I was aroused by
something dropping on my face. As consciousness came back I saw that the
sky had become overcast; that a cool breeze was blowing, and that a
gentle rain was falling. Helen was sitting erect and with parted lips
drinking in the grateful rain-laden air. I tried to rise, but could not.
She was much stronger than I, and at my direction went below and brought
blankets and clothes, which she spread on the deck that they might catch
the falling drops. She seemed quite vigorous, and already I felt my own
strength coming back. Soon she was able to squeeze water from a blanket
into a small can which stood by the mast. We were in too great agony of
thirst to think of small matters of neatness. She offered the can to me.

"'Drink, yourself, Helen,' I said.

"'No,' she answered, with a smile. 'No, you need it most.' And kneeling
by my side, she slipped her arm under my head, and with her other hand
held the water to my lips.

"I drank eagerly. The draught was life to me. Never had water such
strength-giving power. I hardly noticed that it left a queer ta