ut reason could not
sufficiently uphold it against his dire need of the gold. He promised.

'I take it,' said Philip carelessly, 'that your boat would be the easier
to handle. Mine is over heavy for two.'

'I cannot risk what is not wholly mine.'

'The League makes good all loss. And remember,' he looked away, and his
voice had a strange note, 'if we do not come back--for long--or ever--the
League sees to it that our folk do not want.'

Christian looked at him hard.

'Agreed,' he said first; and then, 'You think that likely?'

'A venture is a venture; and, well, I may say that two ventures have
miscarried, so many and brisk are the chasers; and I know of some who
have fought shy of this one. I volunteered,' he said with pride.

So they went their ways, Philip bidding his conscience lie still and
mute, Christian questioning his.

Save Giles, never had any man put out in that boat with the Alien. As the
two slid out under early night, Philip looked at him, wondering if his
wits were sound enough to tell him this, himself misliking the instance
overmuch now. The sea was black and sullen, and the wind chill;
Christian, silent and indifferent, was no heartening mate; and the shadow
of night brought out a lurid streak in the venture that viewed under
daylight had been but dull and faint.

The stealthy boat crept on till midnight; now and then from the cusp of a
bay floated out the faint cry of a quail. Then thrice it sounded, when
the boat swooped in, touched, and with a third aboard, sprang away swift
as a fishing gull.

About to the west, then, Christian steered as Philip gave word; still
west and west. He did not scan the stranger with natural interest, nor
had he yet asked one question on their goings, though they were
stretching for a coast known to him by fatal influence. When the very
roar of evil waters sounded, and through it the first expostulation of a
buoy bell, Philip's scrutiny could still detect no reluctance.

Oh! fain now would he see a touch of human infirmity for fellowship;
night had entered his blood, and shocks of horrid fear coursed; too stark
and dreadfully mute was the figure at the helm for him to be void of
apprehension. And the terrors of the sinister place, that his venture was
to set at nought, according to a daylight mind, came beating in against
unstable defences, entered, and took possession.

Christian stooped over the gunwale, peering into the dark water. At
that, Philip's hand