CHAPTER XXII

TOGETHER

The island had sunk slowly from sight; at sundown it was just a trace,

a stain on the south-western horizon. It was before the new moon, and

the little boat lay drifting. It drifted from the light of sunset into

a world of vague violet twilight, and now it lay drifting under the

stars.

The girl, clasping the baby to her breast, leaned against her

companion’s shoulder; neither of them spoke. All the wonders in their

short existence had culminated in this final wonder, this passing away

together from the world of Time. This strange voyage they had embarked

on—to where?

Now that the first terror was over they felt neither sorrow nor fear.

They were together. Come what might, nothing could divide them; even

should they sleep and never wake up, they would sleep together. Had one

been left and the other taken!

As though the thought had occurred to them simultaneously, they turned

one to the other, and their lips met, their souls met, mingling in one

dream; whilst above in the windless heaven space answered space with

flashes of siderial light, and Canopus shone and burned like the

pointed sword of Azrael.

Clasped in Emmeline’s hand was the last and most mysterious gift of the

mysterious world they had known—the branch of crimson berries.