"Is Bernel here?"
"Bernel, Nance? No, dear, he is not here. Why—"
"Did he not get here last night?" she jerked sharply.
"No. No one. I was hoping—"
But she had sunk down against the great stones of the shelter, with her hands before her face.
"Mon Gyu, mon Gyu! Then he is dead! Oh, my poor one! My dear one!"
"Nance! Nance! What is it all, dearest? Did Bernel try to come across last night—"
"Yes, yes! He would come. He said you must be starving. We were all anxious about you—"
"And he tried to swim across?"
"Yes, yes! And he is drowned! Oh, my poor, poor boy!"