“Not now! My love!”
But he saw that panic had followed fear, that every nerve had slackened, that every muscle was unstrung. She swam, panting now,—he had never seen her do that,—and for a while conquered fear. She kept at his side. Now and then she touched him, and always she watched him piteously.
“Brassid—you are stronger—than I thought—stronger than I—as a man ought to be. I am—glad.”
“Yes,” gasped Brassid, “I am strong—and you are brave—”
“Brassid, I don’t mind being saved by you.”
“I should think not.”
“We will not forget the—Indian-fighter—Brassid.”
“Nor the whaler.”
“Yes; I want to live—to be—your—wife—Brassid.”
“My wife!”