Page:A Wild-Goose Chase - Balmer - 1915.djvu/254

240 other people. I had to do what I was to do at once, you see that, else I could have no chance of sending a ship for you that year."

"Of course I see, Margaret!"

"Then Price and Geoff came. They were against me, both of them, as I knew they'd be; but I was desperate. Eric, you see I thought of you starving, dying—perhaps dying a day before I could get a ship to you, because I delayed. I wasn't afraid to risk myself to save you."

She choked and halted again. "I must know it all now, Margaret!" he commanded her.

"Then Price made his offer to me. I didn't have the money; I couldn't get it. But he would give it to me that day, that moment, if I would give you up in case we sent a ship and couldn't find you. So we made the bargain."

"The bargain?"

"Yes. We arranged that he would give me a ship to send to you at once. I could have it and go in it myself to Mason Land; only, if I failed to find you there, I was to give you up and—and"

She faltered.