in friendship."

As Artois said this his eyes rested upon Hermione with an expression
in them that revealed much that he never spoke in words. She put out
her hand, and took his, and pressed it, holding hers over it upon the
oar.

"Emile," she said, "sometimes you make me feel unworthy and ungrateful
because--because I still need, I dare to need more than I have been
given. Without you I don't know how I should have faced it."

"Without me you would never have had to face it."

That was the cry that rose up perpetually in the heart of Artois, the
cry that Hermione must never hear. He said to her now:

"Without you, Hermione, I should be dust in the dust of Africa!"

"Perhaps we each owe something to the other," she said. "It is blessed
to have a debt to a friend."

"Would to God that I could pay all my debt to you!" Artois exclaimed.

Again the cavern took up his voice and threw it back to the sea in
confused and hollow mutterings. They both looked up, as if some one
were above them, warning them or rebuking them. At that instant they
had the feeling that they were being watched. But there was only the
empty gray sea about them, and over their heads the rugged, weary rock
that had leaned over the sea for countless years.