She lay there with tightly closed eyes, the long lashes outlined against her cheek, breathing softly.  Between lips slightly parted her white teeth gleamed as she smiled from pleasant dreams.  It was a beautiful face into which I looked, the cheeks faintly tinted, the chin firm, the rounded throat white as snow—­the face of a pure, true woman, yet retaining its appearance of girlish freshness.  Whatever of hardship and sorrow the past days had brought her, had been erased by sleep, and she lay then utterly forgetful of danger and distress.  And she loved me—­loved in spite of all dividing us—­and in her rare courage had told me so.  The memory thrilled my blood, and I felt my arm close more tightly about her, as I gazed eagerly down into the unconscious features.  She was actually mine—­mine; not even death could rob me of the treasure of her heart, while life offered me every reward.  No doubt assailed me; I believed each whispered word from her lips, and the day dawned about us with rare hope.  Not now would I yield to despair, or question the future.

Some sudden plunge of the boat caused the girl to open her eyes, and gaze half frightened up into my face.  Then she smiled in swift recognition.

“Is it you, Geoffry?  We are still alone at sea?”

“Yes, the night is ending; you have slept well.”

She drew herself away from me gently, sat up and glanced about.  “How tired you must be.  I have been very selfish.  There is nothing in sight?”

“Nothing.”

“And the men are still asleep.  Who are they?”

I named them as best I could, pointing out each in turn.

“Are they reliable—­safe?” she asked.  “You know them?”

“Not well, but they were selected by Watkins, as among the best on board the Namur.  No doubt they will behave themselves.”

“But they are pirates; they cannot be trusted.”

“These fellows were not aboard the Namur from choice, but seamen captured on merchant ships and compelled to serve to preserve their lives.  They are as eager to escape as we.  Anyway I shall see to it that they do their duty.  Sam!”

The negro looked up quickly.

“Yas, sah!”

“Call the others.  Who knows where the food is stored?”

Watkins spoke up behind us.

“It’s stored forward, sir, an’ all safe; the water casks are lashed amidships.”

“I’ll see what we’ve got and serve out.”

I crept forward cautiously, because of the erratic leaping of the craft, the men yielding me room to pass, and soon had Sam busily engaged in passing out the various articles for inspection.  Only essentials had been chosen, yet the supply seemed ample for the distance I believed we would have to cover before attaining land.  But the nature of that unknown coast was so doubtful I determined to deal out the provisions sparingly, saving every crumb possible.  The men grumbled at the smallness of the ration, yet munched away contentedly enough, once convinced that we all shared alike.  Watkins relieved the Dutchman at the steering oar, and I rejoined Dorothy.  The silence was finally broken by one of the men forward asking a question.