They were brave boys.  Jock had collected himself again, and for some time they kept up a show of mirth in the shakings and buffetings they bestowed on one another, but they began to grow too stiff and spent to pursue this discipline.  Armine thought that the night must be nearly over, and Jock tried to see his watch, but decided that he could not, because he could not bear to believe how far it was from day.

Armine was drowsily rubbing the ankle, mechanically murmuring something to himself.  Jock shook him, saying—-

“Take care, don’t doze off.  What are you mumbling about leisure?”

“O tarry thou the Lord’s leisure.  Be strong and-— Was I saying it aloud?” he broke off with a start.

“Yes; go on.”

Armine finished the verse, and Jock commented—-

“Comfort thine heart.  Does the little chap mean it in a fix like this?”

“Jock,” said Armine, now fully awake, “I do want to say something.”

“Cut on.”

“If you get out of this and I don’t—-”

“Stop that!  We’ve got heat enough to last till morning.”

“Will they find us then?  These fogs last for days and turn to snow.”

“Don’t croak, I say.  I can’t face mother without you.”

“She’ll be glad enough to get you.  Please listen, Jock, while I’m awake.  I want you to give her and all of them my love, and say I’m sorry for all the times I’ve vexed them.”

“As if you had ever—-”

“And please Jock, if I was nasty and conceited about the champagne—-”

“Shut up, I can’t stand this,” cried Jock, chiefly from force of habit, for it was a tacit agreement among the elder brothers that Armine must not be suffered to “be cocky and humbug,” by which they meant no implication on his sincerity, but that they did not choose to hear remonstrances or appeals to higher motives, and this had made him very reticent with all except his sister Barbara and Miss Ogilvie, but he now persisted.

“Indeed I want you to forgive me, Jock.  You don’t know how often I’ve thought all sorts of horridness about you.”

Jock laughed, “Not more than I deserved, I’ll be bound.  How can you be so absurd!  If anyone wants forgiveness, it is I. I say, Armie, this is all nonsense.  You don’t really think you are done for, or you would not take it so coolly.”

“Of course I know Who can bring us through if He will,” said Armine.  “There’s the Rock.  I’ve been asking Him all this time-—every moment-—only I get so sleepy.”

“If He will; but if He won’t?”

“Then there’s Paradise.  And Himself and father,” said Armine, still in a dreamy tone.

“Oh, yes; that’s for you!  But how about a mad fellow like me?  It’s so sneaking just to take to one’s prayers because one’s in a bad case.”

“Oh, Jock!  He is always ready to hear!  More ready than we to pray!”

“Now don’t begin to improve the occasion,” broke out Jock.  “By all the stories that ever were written, I’m the one to come to a bad end, not you.”