Page:Rideout--Beached keels.djvu/230

216 meant to do right, and—you see the fist I 've made. But now you 've made me see somehow, a little. It's like, well—it's as if a soldier (a stupid one, that's me) lost a great battle—for the cause—the cause his whole heart's in. That's how it is. And the man's heart breaks,—but he loves the cause just the same, and loves the Commander, too, that puts him to death—you see, he deserves it. Hopeless wrong, that's what I 've done; but something on the right side put me up to it."

"I don't know what you 're talkin' about, you queer thing," she said curtly. "But you 're wastin' time, anyway. Hurry up, for God's sake! I don't understand none o' that stuff, but this is right under our noses."

He shook his head sadly.

"A little while ago I might have killed you too. And now—why, it's almost a debt you 've put me under. At least,—go on—go away— We 're all poor devils together—and how do I know how the two Commanders choose up beforehand? Go away, and let me think this out—it ain't much I