“But no,” he said to himself, pulling himself together. “A supposition of that kind is absurd. A cataclysm? That only happens once in a thousand years. An oscillation of the ebb and flow? Fantasies in which I don’t believe. It can only be mere chance, a passing incident.” That might be so. But what was it that produced this passing incident? In spite of himself he felt a vague dread. He thought of the inexplicable absence of Talencay. He thought of the connection which might exist between this absence and the dull menace of the danger he did not yet fully grasp. He thought of the scuttled boat. “What’s the matter?” Aurelie asked. “You seem absent-minded.” “The fact is, I’m beginning to believe that we are wasting our time here,” he said. “Since your grandfather’s friend is not coming, we had better go to him. The interview can take place quite as well at his house at Juvains.” “But how are we to go? The boat seems useless.” “There is a road to the right, very difficult for a woman, but all the same practicable,—only you will have to let yourself be carried.” “Why shouldn’t I walk too?” “What point is there in your getting wet? It’s just as well that I should be the only one to get into the water.” He made this suggestion without any afterthought. But he saw that she was blushing. The idea of being carried by him, as she had been carried along the Beaucourt Road, must be hateful to her. They were silent, both of them embarrassed. Then the girl, who was standing on the edge of the lake, bent down and plunged her hand into it. “No—no—I couldn’t stand this icy water; I really couldn’t,” she said. She went back into the grotto, and he followed her. A quarter of an hour passed; and to Ralph it seemed a long quarter of an hour indeed. At last he said: “We ought to be going. The situation is becoming dangerous.” She followed him out of the grotto. But at the moment she mounted his back, there came the whine of a bullet and the shower of splinters from the face of the cliff. The report of the rifle rang. She dropped from his back. A second bullet whined and struck the cliff. He picked her up, carried her into the grotto, sat her down, and sprang out of it as if he were dashing to the assault. “Ralph! Ralph! I forbid you! They’ll kill you!” she cried, following him. He caught her up again, and forced her back into the grotto. But this time she did not let go of him, but clung to and held him back. “Stay here—please!” she cried. “No, no: you’re wrong. I must act!” “I won’t have it! I won’t have it!” she cried. She held him with trembling hands; and she, who had been so frightened of being carried by him a few moments before, held him clasped to her, with a grip there was no loosening. “Don’t be frightened,” he said quickly. “I’m not frightened,” she said. “But we must remain together. The same danger threatens us. Let’s stick to one another.”