marked him down jealously. The
only one to withstand the general verdict, to link him in, to persuade
some favour to his hands, was the unrewarded Philip, whose best endeavour
but won for him few, and brief, and ill-paid spells of labour. A many
there were who would not take his services at a gift, and he knew it.
Refuse, stranded out of touch of the human tide, he hung idle on the
quay, through shortening days from morn to night, resolutely patient of
the leaden hours and of the degradation on his famous strength.

Lois foresaw that bitter need might drive him away at last, but as yet
she could not bid him go, for Giles was slowly dying.

CHAPTER XII

Philip sought out Christian secretly, to hint that on a venture three
gold pieces might be his. Christian understood him well enough. In the
veiled language of the coast, a venture signified honourable service for
brave men, though the law of the land held otherwise, and rewarded it as
felony. A well-knit League carried on far and near a contraband trade in
the lives of proscribed men, and even the scrupulous honesty of Christian
brought no reluctance to engage.

'When, and with whom?' he asked.

'To-morrow, you and I,' said Philip, and watched him anxiously.

'Then are you of the League?' said Christian indifferently, nettling the
other, still in the young pride of a desired association. The Alien at
his best, he knew, would never have been reckoned fit; for though he
excelled in strength, he lacked head.

'You and I together,' he said, 'are fairly equal to any other three, and
so can our gains be the larger.'

Yet Christian would not readily close on the rich relief. He fixed on the
other a thoughtful eye, pondering a question of fairness that might not
be imparted. Philip flushed a little.

'I am answerable to the League,' he said nervously; 'and though from
outsiders we exact oaths, I will take it upon me to accept as sufficient
your bare word for good faith and secrecy.'

This was no more than Christian's credit had established; for from
boyhood, under the strict schooling of Lois, he had kept to his word as
sacredly as others to their oaths, and from pride and a scruple had ever
refused to be sworn.

Long seemed the pause and the trying scrutiny before Christian sighed and
said, 'So be it.'

'And secrecy?'

'I promise secrecy.'

'And you will not refuse a strict promise to obey orders--mine?'

A vague foreboding warned Christian to stay, b