THE GREATER LOVE


Through a labyrinth of many passages he led her, over ground that was
often rough and slimy with that sound of running water in their ears,
sometimes near, sometimes distant, but never wholly absent. Now and then
a gleam of light would come from some distant crevice, and Dot would
catch a glimpse of the rocky corridor through which they moved--catch a
glimpse also of her companion walking with his free stride beside her,
though occasionally he had to stoop when the roof was low. He did not
look at her, seldom spoke to her, but the grasp of his hand held her up
and kept all fear at bay. Somehow fear in this man's presence seemed
impossible.

A long time passed, and she was sure that they had traversed a
considerable distance before, very far ahead of them at the end
of a steep upward slope, she discerned a patch of sky.

"Is that where we are going?" she asked.

"Yes," he said.

She gazed before her, puzzled. "But where are we? Are we still in the
mine?"

"No. This is the smugglers' warren." She caught a hint of humour in his
voice. "The stream flows underground all through here--and very useful we
have found it."

She gave a great start at his words. "You--you are not a smuggler!" she