Undecided no longer, determined now on a course of definite action without further delay, the engineer turned back into the room. Upon his forehead stood a cold and prickling sweat, of horror and disgust. But to his lips he forced a smile, as, in the half light of the red and windy dawn, he drew close to Beatrice. Then all at once, to his unspeakable relief, he saw the girl was sleeping. Utterly worn out, exhausted and spent with the long strain, the terrible fatigues of the past thirty-six hours, she had lain down and had dropped off to sleep. There she lay at full length. Very beautiful she looked, half seen in the morning gloom. One arm crossed her full bosom; the other pillowed her cheek. And, bending close, Stern watched her a long minute. With strange emotion he heard her even breathing; he caught the perfume of her warm, ripe womanhood. Never had she seemed to him so perfect, so infinitely to be loved, to be desired. And at thought of that beast-horde in the wood below, at realization of what _might_ be, if they two should chance to be discovered and made captive, his face went hard as iron. An ugly, savage look possessed him, and he clenched both fists. For a brief second he stooped still closer; he laid his lips soundlessly, gently upon her hair. And when again he stood up, the look in his eyes boded scant good to anything that might threaten the sleeping girl. "So, now to work!" said he. Into his own room he stepped quietly, his room where he had collected his various implements and chemicals. First of all he set out, on the floor, a two-quart copper tea-kettle; and beside this, choosing carefully, he ranged the necessary ingredients for a "making" of his secret explosive. "Now, the wash-out water," said he, taking another larger dish. Over to the water-pail he walked. Then he stopped, suddenly, frowning a black and puzzled frown. "What?" he exclaimed. "But--there isn't a pint left, all together! Hem! Now then, here _is_ a situation." Hastily he recalled how the great labors of the previous day, the wireless experiments and all, had prevented him from going out to the spring to replenish his supply. Now, though he bitterly cursed himself for his neglect, that did no good. The fact remained, there was no water. "Scant pint, maybe!" said he. "And I've got to have a gallon, at the very least. To say nothing of drink for two people! _And_ the horde, there, camping round the spring. Je-ru-salem!" Softly he whistled to himself; then, trying to solve this vital, unexpected problem, fell to pacing the floor. Day, slowly looming through the window, showed his features set and hard. Close at hand, the breath of morning winds stirred the treetops. But of the usual busy twitter and gossip of birds among the branches, now there was none. For down below there, in the forest, the ghoulish vampire revels still held sway. Stern, at a loss, swore hotly under his breath. Then suddenly he found himself; he came to a decision.