And somewhere along it, or on the river beyond, or the third river still beyond that, he would find her.

In the long, tense wait between the hours of nine and ten he brought the girl back into his room again.

He recalled every gesture she had made, every word she had spoken.

He felt the thrill of her hand on his forehead, her kiss, and in his brain her softly spoken words repeated themselves over and over again, "I think that if you lived very long I should love you." And as she had spoken those words SHE KNEW THAT HE WAS NOT GOING TO DIE! Why, then, had she gone away?
Knowing that he was going to live, why had she not remained to help him if she could?
Either she had spoken the words in jest, or-- A new thought flashed into his mind.

It almost drew a cry from his lips.