she whispered fearfully.

He lifted her and carried her out into the sunlight.

She sat down on the ground and wept bitterly, while he sat silently
beside her, seeking to comfort her with his arms.

At last she said in an awed tone: "Lawrence, he is dead. Killed by his
own blow--with his own knife. But I might have done it. I--I thought of
it."

She remembered the touch of the knife in her hands, the sight of
Philip's blood seeping out around his own body.

"It is terrible," she moaned. "I--I might have done it."

Her lover's hands tightened spasmodically. His face went white, then
became normal again. She watched him, hypnotized. Would he tell her that
she was as good as a murderer, that he could not love her now?

He wet his lips, then suddenly laughed aloud. Claire could have screamed
at the sound. She clutched his arm and shook him.

"Stop it!" she commanded. "What is it, Lawrence?"

He stood up and lifted her beside him.

"I must have a drink," he said calmly.

She stared at him, then brought him some water from beside the cabin. He
drank it easily, but with some pain. Finally he dropped the cup at his
feet.

"Life is a wonderful thing, Claire."

She was still too shaken to do aught but gaze at him.

"What now?" she asked at last, falteringly.

He heard the fear, half anguish and half hope, in her voice, and
suddenly he caught her to him and cried buoyantly: "What now? Life,
Claire, life! We have the whole world before us. It was my life or his.
I am glad it was not mine." He smiled. "Well, we have staged the great
animal stunt. I have fought for the possession of life."

She let her head fall on his shoulder.

"Then--then I am not repulsive to you?" she choked.

"Repulsive! Why?" His voice was full of wonder.

"I--I thought of murdering him," she whispered.

"Claire," he answered tenderly, "human beings think many things they
don't and can't do. That is part of our old heritage. But let's get away
from here, Claire. Staying here won't do either of us any good. What is
done is done. We cannot help it. Very well, then the best thing to do is
to forget it. Shall we start?"

She stepped back and looked at him. He was all energy,
clear-countenanced, free, frank, and normal.

"Yes, I am ready."

She stooped and took up her pack from beside the door. He took his and
threw it over his shoulder. Hand-in-hand they started forward and out
toward civilization.

CHAPTER XXI.

INTO THE SU