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LICE was leading Lan Blake and Bill Fraser and the others who were helping with the boat. It was a row-boat, as that was the heaviest craft which they could drag over the hummocks. Alice carried a torch and she guided them in the little valleys of ice and snow which were like those in which Fidelia and Dave had played after watching the sunrise.

Myra was with Alice, holding her hand. Sometimes when Lan and his crew rested, Myra spoke to them. Alice said nothing to them; she merely showed them the way with her light when they were ready to go on.

She was weak and shaking. "You ought to go back and go to bed," Myra pleaded with her.

Alice said: "I'm all right. How long is it?"

Myra knew what she meant; how long was the time during which Fidelia and Dave had been together. Myra shortened it as much as she dared and said: "Half an hour." Myra bared her hand and felt up Alice's sleeve, making sure that Alice's body was warm and that the shock of her plunge into the water had passed.

"Maybe he hasn't found her," Myra said.

"No," Alice denied. "He has."

In her soul, she was sure of it; David and Fidelia were together and it was all over with herself.