“Antitoxine, seven thousand units,” she read.  Then she took up a small glass syringe armed with a bright steel needle, and stared at it.

“You have given it to the child?” she asked.

“Yes, just a few minutes ago,” he answered.  “We only left Edward’s Bay at sunrise.  The man is getting well.  I was told of this case and went up to Sammy’s for the antitoxine.”

“But it was the last you had!” she cried, “and Atkins has only been able to start this morning for more, and the wind is very bad for him.  It may be days before he returns.”

The man shrugged his shoulders, very slightly, and Helen went up to him, scrutinizing his face, silently.  Then she put her fingers on the wrist that was supporting his hand on the back of the chair.

“I am not well,” he said, “and I wish you would leave.  I think I will have to let Mrs. Barnett into this mess.  She’s away at Goslett’s house, where they expect a baby.”

“How long have you known that you had diphtheria too?” asked Helen, and I could detect in her voice an intensity of reproof that was wonderful, for she was scolding the man, just as excited mothers sometimes scold a little one that has fallen down and hurt itself.

“I was beginning to feel it last night,” he answered, “but please go away now, for it is dangerous.”

Then he addressed me.

“Mr. Jelliffe, do take her away.  I hear that she was here last night and remained for hours.  You will take her away to St. John’s at once, and have her given a preventive injection.  Now please hurry off.”

I could see that the poor chap’s voice rasped his throat painfully.  His two hands dropped to his side, with the palms turned forward, in a feeble gesture of entreaty.

“You knew this morning that you had it,” said Helen again.  “And you only had that vial and used it all for the boy.”

He nodded, with another slight shrug of his shoulders.

“I see that you have been playing the game!” she said quietly.

Then she turned to me, seizing one of my arms.

“Hurry!” she cried.  “You must hurry, Daddy.  Why don’t you go on?  He has diphtheria, and perhaps half the people here will have it now.  Perhaps he is going to die!  Come, Daddy, you must hurry.  The Snowbird will take you to St. John’s and you must buy antitoxine, a lot of it, and come back with it at once.  And you should get a doctor, and a nurse or two, and I will stay here, and please don’t look at me that way!  Do hurry, Daddy!  Oh!  I was forgetting your poor leg.  Never mind, take your time, Daddy, but as soon as you are on board make them hurry.  Susie will stay with me.  A few days won’t matter, Daddy!”

“Oh!  Daughter.  Please come,” I implored her.  “I promise that I will send the yacht back at once with a doctor and everything.”

She looked at me in amazed surprise.

“But how can I leave now, Dad?” she asked.  “Don’t you understand that a lot of people may die if you don’t get help at once, and of course I must stay.  You will do your best, won’t you?  Come, dear, and let me help you down the path.  You can be gone in a few minutes.”