"I love you better than all else in the world. You are a part of my life, all of my joy. Do you think I can give you up now that I have found the courage to begin the struggle? I'll win my way and I'll win your love. Nothing but death can stop me now. Come! Don't look as though you hate me for it." "I do not hate you," she said humbly, almost glaring into his bright eyes, unable to turn from the love which governed them so completely. "But you must not talk like this. I cannot listen to you. Mr. Veath, there is no possible hope." "The hope to win and the will to win are two different propositions, and it is the latter under which I am enlisted. To me it is worth fighting for to the end of time." "Oh, you must not say these things to me," she cried fiercely, trying to escape from his eyes. "I shall not say another word to you after to-night until I am sure I have won the victory. Then I shall ask you to be my wife. To-morrow I'll tell your brother I am bound to win. He must know my honest intentions." "My brother!" she gasped. Her knees grew weak and a faintness assailed her heart, almost to overpowering. "You--you must not--shall not say a word to Hugh. I forbid you--I--" "Why are you so agitated? Why am I not to speak to him? He is fair-minded, and I know he likes me." "You don't know what it would mean to me. There is something you do not know. No, no! You shall not speak to Hugh." It was her turn to command, and he wavered. "Your will is the law which I obey. He shall not know--not now, at least," he said. "There are to be but two factions in the struggle, then, your love against mine." "You forget the--the other man," she said, sudden tears springing to her eyes. "I think only of one woman," he said softly, lovingly. She leaned wearily against the staircase, her hands clasping the railing. There was a piteous, hopeless entreaty in the dimming eyes as she turned them to his and tried to speak calmly. "I have something to say to you--to-morrow. Let us say good-night." "Nothing you can say will alter my love. When the storm to-night is at its worst remember that I will give my life for your sake." She did not answer, but her hand clasped his arm impulsively. In the doorway they met Hamilton and Gregory, just from the captain, their faces white and fear-stricken. Hugh and Lady Huntingford were hurrying toward them. CHAPTER XV THE WRECK OF THE "TEMPEST QUEEN" "What's wrong?" asked Veath, alarmed by the agitation of the two soldiers. "Captain Shadburn estimates that we are two hundred miles out of our course, away to the south. It's impossible to get our bearings without the sun, and the Lord only knows where we're running to," said Hamilton, holding to the door casing. Hugh and Lady Huntingford had joined the others by this time and were listening with blanched faces to the men in uniform.