that after to-night we shall never see each other again, although my life
does belong to you--that is if we escape."

Just then the tempest which had lulled a little, came on again in fury,
accompanied by a hurricane of wind and deluge of rain, through which the
lightning blazed incessantly. The thunderclaps too were so loud and
constant that the sound of them, which shook the earth, made it impossible
for Richard and Rachel to hear each other speak. So they were silent
perforce. Only Richard rose and looked out of the cave, then turned and
beckoned to his companion. She came to him and watched, till suddenly a
blinding sheet of flame lit up the whole landscape. Then she saw what he
was looking at, for now nearly all the island, except that high part of it
on which they stood, was under water, hidden by a brown, seething torrent,
that tore past them to the sea.

"If it rises much more, we shall be drowned," he shouted in her ear.

She nodded, then cried back:

"Let us say our prayers and get ready," for it seemed to Rachel that the
"glory" of which her father spoke so often was nearer to them than ever.

Then she drew him back into the cave and motioned to him to kneel beside
her, which he did bashfully enough, and for a while the two children, for
they were little more, remained thus with clasped hands and moving lips.
Presently the thunder lessened a little so that once more they could hear
each other speak.

"What did you pray about?" he asked when they had risen from their knees.