"The marsh you and Cal were on?" she asked breathlessly.
"Yes. Both of them were kneeling. They died with their hands clasped in prayer."
"And you saved Cal from that?" she gasped, and turning, fled into her stateroom.
He went in to change his clothes and help lift the bodies on deck. Through the panelled wall he heard Nan softly sobbing.
Bivens refused at first to believe the doctor's startling announcement. He hurriedly dressed, came on deck, and for five minutes stood staring into the white, dead faces.
Without a word he went below and asked the doctor to call Stuart.
When his old friend entered, he took his hand quietly and for once in his life the little, black, piercing eyes were swimming in tears as he spoke.
"You're a great man, Jim, and what's bigger, you're a good one. If God will forgive me for the foolish things I said and did yesterday, I'll try to make it up to you, old boy. Is it all right?"
Stuart's answer was a nod, a smile and a pressure of the hand.