He could not believe there was no hope.

But what to do appeared beyond his power to tell.
Duane had intelligence and keenness enough to see his peril--the danger threatening his character as a man, just as much as that which threatened his life.

He cared vastly more, he discovered, for what he considered honor and integrity than he did for life.

He saw that it was bad for him to be alone.

But, it appeared, lonely months and perhaps years inevitably must be his.