nst his own. "Through
the grave--and Gate of Death--" she said.

That aroused him. A strength that was titanic entered into him.
Why should they wait here for Death? At least they would make a
fight for it, however small their chance. He suddenly realized
that mortal life had become desirable again--a thing worth fighting
for--a precious gift.

He bent, as he had bent on that first night at the farm--how long
ago!--and gathered her up into his arms.

A rush of water swirled about his knees as he made for the dim
opening. The bank had gone. Yet the rise in the ground would give
them a few seconds. He counted upon the chance. Out into the open
he stumbled.

The water was up to his waist here. He floundered on the yielding
ground.

"Don't carry me!" she said. "I can wade too. Let me hold your
hand!"

But he would not let her go out of his arms. His strength in that
moment was as the strength of ten. He knew that unless the flood
actually overwhelmed him, it would not fail.

So, slipping, struggling, fighting, he forced his way, and, like
Diamond, he was guided by an instinct that could not err. Thirty
seconds after they left it, the hut on the sand was swept away by
the hungry waters, but those thirty seconds had been their
salvation. They had reached the point where the ground began to
rise towards the _kopje_, and though the water still washed around
them the force of it was decreasing at every step,

As they reached the foot of the _kopje_ itself, a stream of
moonlight suddenly rushed down through the racing clouds, revealing
the whole great waste of water like a picture flung upon a screen.

Burke's breath came thick and laboured; yet he spoke. "We are
saved!" he said.

"Put me down now!" she urged. "Please put me down!"

But still he would not, till he had climbed above the seething
flood, and could set her feet upon firm ground. And even then he
clasped her still, as if he feared to let her go.

They stood in silence, holding fast to one another while the
moonlight flickered in and out, and Burke's heart gradually
steadied again after the terrific struggle. The rain had almost
ceased. Only the sound of the flood below and the gurgle of a
hundred rivulets around filled the night.

Sylvia's arm pressed upon Burke's neck. "Shall we go--right to the
top?" she said.

"The top of what?" He turned and looked into her eyes as she stood
above him.

She bent to him swiftly, throbbing