ed to
say, but it was only a whisper through her sobs.

"I'm sorry I was gone so long," said Hand, touching her timidly on the
shoulder.

"Tell the doctor to take care of him," she begged in the faintest of
voices; and then she crept away, thinking to hide her nerves until she
should come to herself again. But Hand followed her to the niche in
the rocks where she fled, covered her with something big and warm, and
before she knew it he had made her drink a cup that was comforting and
good. Then he gave her food in little bits from a basket, and sweet
water out of a bottle. Agatha's soul revived within her, and her heart
became brave again, though she still felt as if she could never move
from her hard, damp resting-place among the rocks.

"You stay there, please, Mademoiselle," adjured Mr. Hand. "When we get
the boat ready, I'll come for you." Then, standing by her in his
submissive way, he added a thought of his own: "It's very hard,
Mademoiselle, to see you cry!"

"I'm not crying," shrieked Agatha, though her voice was muffled in her
arms.

"Very well, Mademoiselle," acquiesced the polite Hand, and departed.

Two men could not have been found who were better fitted for managing a
relief expedition than Hand and Doctor Thayer. Agatha found herself,
after an unknown period of time, sitting safe under the canvas awning
of the launch, protected by a generous cloak, comforted with food and
stimulant, and relieved of the pressing anxiety, that had filled the
last hours in the cove.

She had, in the end, been quite unable to help; but the immediate need
for her help was past. Doctor Thayer, coming with his satchel of
medicines, had at first given his whole attention to James, examining
him quickly and skilfully as he lay where Agatha had left him. Later
he came to Agatha with a few questions, which she answered clearly; but
James, left alone, immediately showed such a tendency to wander around,
following the hallucinations of his brain, that the doctor decided that
he must have a sedative before he could be taken away. The needle,
that friend of man in pain, was brought into use; and presently they
were able to leave the cove. Doctor Thayer and Mr. Hand carried James
to the rowboat, and the engineer, who had stayed in the launch, helped
them lift him into the larger boat. "No more walking at present for
this man!" said the doctor.

They were puffing briskly over the water, with the tiny rowboat from
the