She came forth listlessly, and they prepared their poor meal over the fame of the little oil-burner, and ate it within the shelter of the skins which the man stretched to confine the heat from the stove. They divided their rations with Marcus, and girl and man and dog huddled at the side of the sledge, to sleep if they might until the time for the next setting forth along the terrible way. * * * * * Some hours later, when Polaris awakened her, ready for the next march forward, she shook her head wearily. "No, my dear friend, you will have to go on without me. No," as he opened his mouth in quick question, "listen to me. I have thought it all out. If we continue on in this way we can proceed but a few miserable miles at the best, and then perish in the snow. I am the handicap. Without me, you and the dog could leave the sledge and go on alone, and, perhaps, save yourselves. You were born and have lived in this land, and you could get through alone; where, with me to look after, you will not succeed." Polaris listened in silence, and a smile gathered at the corners of his mouth, as sad and wistful as any of Kalin's. "Too much has been done and suffered already on my account," the girl went on. "I cannot let you make this sacrifice. You are as brave and true a gentleman as lives in the world to-day. All that human being can do, you have done for me. You must not die for me. You must go on and leave me--" Her voice broke, and she hid her face in her hands. She felt the touch of Polaris's hand on her shoulder. "Lady," he began, and his strong voice quivered. "Lady, what has Polaris done that you judge him so." "Ah, no, no!" she sobbed, "you have been good and brave and true, even to the end--but the end is here. Oh, you _must_ go on--" For a moment the man stood and gazed down on her, as she sat with her head bent low. He started to hold out his arms toward her, then clenched his hands at his sides. Immediately he relaxed them, stooped, and swung her lightly from her seat on the furs, and tucked her tenderly in her place on the sledge. "Dear lady," he said softly, "never did Polaris think to quarrel with you, and here, least of all places, is fitting for it. Yet speak no more like this. Polaris will, he _must_ go on as he has gone. If he dies, it will be the death of an American gentleman, not that of a savage and a coward. Come, Marcus!" He slipped his shoulders into the harness with the dog, and again they went forward into the gray unknown. Through tears the girl watched the strong back bending to its task ahead of her. In her eyes a great light kindled and burned steadily. Not all the antarctic snows might quench it. They traversed four more laps across the snows, and were starting on their fifth when the final calamity fell.