"I think not,"—she said—"There is life in them—yes, there is life, though for the time it is paralysed. But"—here she gave him the loveliest smile of tenderness—"You brave Giulio!—you are exhausted and wet through—attend to yourself first—then you can help me with these unhappy ones—and you Gaspard,—Gaspard!"
"Here, Madama!"
"You have done so well!" she said—"Without fear or failure!"
"Only by God's mercy!" answered Gaspard—"If the rope had broken; if the ship had lost balance—"
She smiled.
"So many 'ifs' Gaspard? Have I not told you it CANNOT lose balance? And are not my words proved true? Now we have finished our rescue work we may go—we can start at once—"
He looked at her.
"There is more weight on board!" he said meaningly, "If we are to carry two dead bodies through the air, it may mean a heavenly funeral for all of us! The 'White Eagle' has not been tested for heavy transport."
She heard him patiently,—then turned to Rivardi and repeated her words—
"We can start at once. Steer upwards and onwards."