Barbara was by his side now; with a bow he drew back. I traced him as he went towards where Lie stood, and I heard a murmur of voices as he and the helmsman spoke to one another. Then I heard no more, and lost sight of him in the thick close darkness. I put out my hand and felt for Barbara's; it came straight to mine. "You--you'll stay with me?" she murmured. "I'm frightened, Simon." As she spoke, I felt on my cheek the cold breath of the wind. Turning my full face, I felt it more. The breeze was rising, the sails flapped again, Thomas Lie's boat buffeted the waves with a quicker beat. When I looked towards her, I saw her face, framed in mist, pale and wet with tears, beseeching me. There at that moment, born in danger and nursed by her helplessness, there came to me a new feeling, that was yet an old one; now I knew that I would not leave her. Nay, for an instant I was tempted to abandon all effort and drift on to the French shore, looking there to play my own game, despite of her and despite of King Louis himself. But the risk was too desperate. "No, I won't leave you," I said in low tones that trembled under the fresh burden which they bore. But yes, the wind rose, the mist began to lift, the water was running lazily from under our keel, the little boat bobbed and danced to a leisurely tune. "The wind serves," cried Thomas Lie. "We shall make land in two hours if it hold as it blows now." The plan was in my head. It was such an impulse as coming to a man seems revelation and forbids all questioning of its authority. I held Barbara still by the hand, and drew her to me. There, leaning over the gunwale, we saw Thomas Lie's boat moving after us. His sculls lay ready. I looked in her eyes, and was answered with wonder, perplexity, and dawning intelligence. "I daren't let him carry you to Calais," I whispered; "we should be helpless there." "But you--it's you." "As his tool and his fool," I muttered. Low as I spoke, she heard me, and asked despairingly: "What then, Simon? What can we do?" "If I go there, will you jump into my arms? The distance isn't far." "Into the boat! Into your arms in the boat?" "Yes. I can hold you. There's a chance if we go now--now, before the mist lifts more." "If we're seen?" "We're no worse off." "Yes, I'll jump, Simon."