But far distant though Ben was and deep as he slept--just outside the dark portals of death itself--those sounds went down to him. He heard them dimly at first, like a far-distant voice in a dream, but as the moments passed he began to recognize their nature and their source. Sobs of exhaustion and distress--from the girl that was in his charge. He lay a long time, trying to understand. On her knees beside him Beatrice saw the first flutter of his eyelids. In awe, rather than rapture, her arms crept around him, and she kissed his rain-wet brow. His eyes opened, looking wonderingly into hers. She saw the first light of recognition, then a half-smile, gentle as a girl's, as he realized his own injuries. Of course Ben Darby would smile in such a moment as this; his instincts, true and manly, were always to try to cheer her. Presently he spoke in the silence. "The tree got me, didn't it?" he asked. "Don't try to talk," she cautioned. "Yes--the tree fell on you. But you're not going to die. You're going to live, live--" He shook his head, the half-smile flickering at his lips. "Let me talk, Beatrice," he said, with just a whisper of his old determination. "It's important--and I don't think--I have much time." Her eyes widened in horror. "You don't mean--" "I'm going back in a minute--I can't hardly keep awake," he said. His voice, though feeble, was preternaturally clear. She heard every kind accent, every gentle tone even above the crackle of the fire without and the beat of the rain. "I think it's the limit," he went on. "I believe the tree got me--clear inside--but you must listen to everything I say." She nodded. In that eerie moment of suspense she knew she must hear what he had to tell her. "Don't wait to see what happens to me," he went on. "I'll either go out or I'll live--you really can't help me any. Where's the rifle?" "The rifle was broken--when the tree fell." "I knew it would be. I saw it coming." He rested, waiting for further breath. "Beatrice--please, please don't stay here, trying to save me." "Do you think I would go?" she cried. "You must. The food--is about gone. Just enough to last one person through to the Yuga cabins--with berries, roots. Take the pistol. There's six shots or so--in the box. Make every one tell. Take the dead grouse too. The rifle's broken and we can't get meat. It's just--death--if you wait. You can just make it through now." "And leave you here to die, as long as there's a chance to save you?" the girl answered. "You couldn't get up to get water--or build a fire--" He listened patiently, but shook his head at the end. "No, Bee--please don't make me talk any more. It's just death for both of us if you stay. The food is gone--the rifle broken. Your father's gang'll be here sooner or later--and they'd smash me, anyway. I could hardly fight 'em off with those few pistol shells--but by God I'd like to try--"