Humphrey saw nothing of this, only that they were saved; for, dropping his sword, he sank on his knees by the side of her who lay back with her eyes fixed upon him, full of a longing, imploring look, whose import he read too well.
He bent down closely to her to take her hand in his, and started to find that it was cold; but there was vitality in it enough for the fingers to close upon his hand tightly, while the lips he kissed moved slightly, and he heard as faintly as if just breathed—
“It is better so.”
“No, no!” he panted. “We are saved! Mary—dearest—”
He said no more, for the longing look in those eyes seemed intensified, and the pupils dilated slowly to remain fixed and stern.
It was the buccaneer’s last look on earth.