Hungerford worked with an almost fierce persistence.
Once he said: "By God, I will bring him back, Marmion, to face that woman
down when she thinks she has got the world on the hip!"
I cannot tell what delight we felt when, after a little time, I saw a
quiver of the eyelids and a slight motion of the chest. Presently a
longer breath came, and the eyes opened; at first without recognition.
Then, in a few moments, I knew that he was safe--desperately against his
will, but safe.
His first sentient words startled me. He gasped, "Does she think I am
drowned?"
"Yes."
"Then she must continue to do so!"
"Why?"
"Because"--here he spoke faintly, as if sudden fear had produced
additional weakness--"because I had rather die a thousand deaths than
meet her now; because she hates me. I must begin the world again. You
have saved my life against my will: I demand that you give that life its
only chance of happiness."
As his words came to me, I remembered with a start the dead lascar, and,
leading Hungerford to my cabin, I pointed to the body, and whispered that
the sailor's death was only known to me.
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