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212 breathless and wild happiness, her voice smothered by his clothing.

"Why did n't you let me know?" she cried. "You 're so deep—I never guessed—not till I found him there—A-ah!" she shuddered, and clung to him as if she would have fallen.

"There was blood on him," she whispered brokenly. "And it's on me now—my sleeves. He was all wet when I—I dragged him into the bushes. It was in the dark— and O God, so heavy!—Let's go, let's go, let's go, quick!"

"Where? Go where?" Marden asked in amazement. He tried to raise her face, but could not, from where she held it buried against his side and in the crook of his arm.

"Across—over to the other side," she said. "Him an' I was goin' anyway to-night. That's why we— But that's before I knew what you— Come on, the boat's ready hid. Come along!"

Marden slowly drew near the brink of comprehension. The woman suddenly raised her head, seizing him anew and fiercely by the arm.