Jeanne, without another word, had taken Virginie's hands and accompanied Harry forward to the fore part of the deck.
"Jeanne, I am going to try to save you and Virginie, but everything depends upon your being cool and brave. I need not urge you, because I am sure of you. Virginie, will you try to be cool for Jeanne's sake and your own? If you do not we must all die together."
"What are we to do, Harry?" Jeanne said steadily; while Virginie clung to her sister, sobbing bitterly.
"Fasten this bundle of corks between Virginie's shoulders, high up—yes, there."
THE WHITE SHIP.—III.
While Jeanne was doing this, Harry fastened a rope to a ring in the side of the hatch; then he tied the corks on to Jeanne's shoulders, and adjusted the third bundle to his own.
"Now, Jeanne," he said, "I will tell you what we are to do. You see this hatch; when the vessel sinks it will float, and we must float on our backs with our faces underneath it, so that it will hide us from the sight of the wretches on shore. Even if they put out in boats to kill any who may be swimming or clinging to spars, they will not suspect that there is anyone under this. We may not succeed; an accident may betray us, but there is a possibility. At any rate, dear, we shall live or die together."
"I am content," Jeanne said quietly.
"You know, Jeanne," Harry said, putting his hands on the girl's shoulders, "that I love you. I should never have told you so until we had got home if it hadn't been for this; but though I have never said it, you know I love you."
"I know, Harry; and I love you too with all my heart—so much, that I can feel almost happy that we are to die together."