a success.

Yours ever,

KLAUS BROCK.

P.S.--Of course you'll understand that now my friend has been thrown
overboard it will very likely be my turn next. But I can't leave now--to
try would rouse suspicion at once. We foreigners have some difficult
balancing to do, to escape a fall. Well, if by chance you don't hear
from me again, you'll know something has happened!

Outside, the water was streaming down the channels into the fall. Peer
lay still for a while, only one knee moving up and down beneath the
clothes. He thought of his two friends. And he thought that he was now a
poor man--and that the greater part of the burden of the security would
fall now on old Lorentz D. Uthoug.

Clearly, Fate has other business on hand than making things easy for
you, Peer. You must fight your fight out single-handed.

Chapter XI

One evening in the late autumn Merle was sitting at home waiting for her
husband. He had been away for several weeks, so it was only natural that
she should make a little festivity of his return. The lamps were lit in
all the rooms, wood fires were crackling in all the stoves, the cook was
busy with his favourite dishes, and little Louise, now five years old,
had on her blue velvet frock. She was sitting on the floor, nursing two
dolls, and chattering to them. "Mind you're a good girl now, Josephine.
Your grandpa will be here directly." Merle looked in through the kitchen
door: "Have you brought up the claret, Bertha? That's right. You'd
better put it near the stove to warm." Then she went round all the rooms
again. The two youngest children were in bed--was there anything more to
be done?

It would be an hour at least before he could be here, yet she could not
help listening all the time for the sound of wheels. But she had not
finished yet. She hurried up to the bathroom, turned on the hot water,
undressed, and put on an oilskin cap to keep her hair dry, and soon
she was splashing about with soap and sponge. Why not make herself as
attractive as she could, even if things did look dark for them just now?

A little stream of talk went on in her brain. Strange that one's
body could be so great a pleasure to another. Here he kissed you--and
here--and here--and often he seemed beside himself with joy. And do
you remember--that time? You held back and were cold often--perhaps too
often--is it too late now? Ah! he has other things to think of now. The
time is gone by when you could be comfort