Only when two hands came quivering out of the enveloping blanket and
pushed him desperately away did he desist. He straightened himself then
and turned away.

"You'll be--all right," he said in his deep voice.

Then Columbine started up on her elbow, clutching wildly at the blanket,
drawing it close about her. The cold stillness of her was gone, as
though a sudden flame had scorched her. Her face, her neck, her whole
body were burning, burning.

"What--what happened?" she gasped. "You--why have you brought me--here?"

He did not look at her.

"It was the nearest place," he said. "The Death Current caught you, and
you were stunned. I got you out."

"You--got me--out!" she repeated, saying the words slowly as if she
were teaching herself a lesson.

He nodded his great head.

"Yes. I came up in time. I saw what would happen. There's often a tidal
wave about now. I thought you knew that--thought Adam would have told
you. He"--his voice suddenly went a tone deeper--"knew it. I told him
this morning."

"Ah!" She uttered the word upon a swift intake of breath; her startled
eyes suddenly dilated. "Where is he?" she said.