we two-第50章
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〃Another like that will do for us；〃 Said Raeburn； in a quiet voice。
The boat was half full of water。 Erica began to bale out with her father's hat； and each knew from the other's face that their plight was hopeless。
Raeburn had faced death many times。 He had faced it more than once on a sick bed； he had faced it surrounded by yelling and furious mobs； but he had never faced it side by side with his child。 Again he looked at the angry gray…green waves； at the wreaths of curling white foam； again that awful vision rose before him； and； brave man as he was； he shuddered。
Life was sweet even though he was harassed； persecuted； libeled。 Life was sweet even though his child had deserted his cause； even though she had 〃cheated herself into a belief。〃 Life was infinitely worth living； mere existence an exquisite joy； blank nothingness a hideous alternative。
〃Bale out！〃 he cried； despair in his eyes； but a curve of resoluteness about his lips。
A few more strokes warily pulled； another huge wave sweeping along； rearing itself up； dashing down upon them。 The boat reeled and staggered。 To struggle longer was useless。 Raeburn threw his oars inboard； caught hold of Erica； and held her fast。 When they could see once more； they found the boat quite three parts full。
〃Child！〃 he said； 〃child！〃 But nothing more would come。 For once in his life words failed him； the orator was speechless。 Was it a minute or an eternity that he waited there through that awful pause waited with his arm round Erica； feeling the beating of her heart； the heart which must soon cease beating forever； feeling her warm breath on his cheek alas！ How few more breaths would she draw！ How soon would the cold water grave close over all that he
His thoughts were abruptly checked。 That eternal minute of waiting was over。 It was coming death was coming riding along with mocking scorn on the crest of a giant wave。 Higher and higher rose the towering； sea…green wall； mockingly it rushed forward； remorselessly swooped down upon them！ This time the boat was completely swamped。
〃I will at least die fighting！〃 thought Raeburn； a despairing； defiant courage inspiring him with almost superhuman strength。
〃Trust to me！〃 he cried。 〃Don't struggle！〃 And Erica who would naturally have fallen into that frantic and vain convulsion which seizes most people when they find themselves in peril of drowning； by a supreme effort of will made no struggle at all； but only clung to her father。
Raeburn was a very strong man； and an expert swimmer； but it was a fearful sea。 They were dashed hither and thither； they were buffeted； and choked； and blinded； but never once did he lose his presence of mind。 Every now and then he even shouted out a few words to Erica。 How strange his voice sounded in that chaos； in that raging symphony of winds and waves。
〃Tell me when you can't hold any longer；〃 he cried。
〃I can't leave go；〃 returned Erica。
And even then； in that desperate minute； they both felt a momentary thrill of amusement。 The fact was； that her effort of will had been so great when she had obeyed him； and clung with all her might to him； that now the muscles of her hands absolutely would not relax their hold。
It seemed endless！ Over the cold green and white of the waves Raeburn seemed to see his whole life stretched out before him； in a series of vivid pictures。 All the long struggles； all the desperate fights wreathed themselves out in visions round this supreme death struggle。 And always there was the consciousness that he was toiling for Erica's life； struggling； agonizing； straining every fiber of his being to save her。
But what was this paralyzing cold creeping over his limbs？ What this pressure at his heart？ This dimness of his eyes？ Oh！ Was his strength failing him？ Was the last hope； indeed； gone？ Panting； he struggled on。
〃I will do thirty more strokes！〃 he said to himself。 And he did them。
〃I will do ten more！〃
And he forced himself to keep on。
〃Ten more！〃
He was gasping now。 Erica's weight seemed to be dragging him down； down； into nothingness。
Six strokes painfully made！ Seven！ After all nothingness would mean rest。 Eight！ No pain to either； since they were together。 Nine！ He should live on in the hearts of his people。 Ten！ Agony of failure！ He was beaten at last！
What followed they neither of them knew； only there was a shout； an agony of sinking； a vision of a dark form and a something solid which they grasped convulsively。
When Erica came to herself they were by no means out of danger； but there was something between them and the angry sea。 She was lying down at the bottom of a boat in close proximity to some silvery…skinned fishes； and her father was holding her hand。
Wildly they tossed for what seemed to her a very long time； but at length fresh voices were heard； the keel grated on the shore； she felt herself lifted up and carried on to the beach。 Then； with an effort； she stood up once more； trembling and exhausted； but conscious that mere existence was rapture。
Raeburn paused to reward and thank the men who had rescued them in his most genial manner； and Erica's happiness would have been complete had not the coast guardsman stepped up in an insolent and officious way； and observed：
〃It is a pity； Mr。 Luke Raeburn； that you don't bring yourself to offer thanks to God almighty！〃
〃Sir；〃 replied Raeburn； 〃when I ask your opinion of my personal and private matters； it will be fitting that you should speak not before！〃
The man looked annihilated； and turned away。
Raeburn grasped the rough hands of his helpers and well…wishers； gave his arm to Erica； and led her up the steep beach。
Later on in the evening they sat over the fire； and talked over their adventure。 June though it was； they had both been thoroughly chilled。
〃What did you think of when we were in the water？' asked Erica。
〃I made a deep calculation；〃 said Raeburn； smiling； 〃and found that the sale of the plant and of all my books would about clear off the last of the debts； and that I should die free。 After that I thought of Cicero's case of the two wise men struggling in the sea with one plank to rescue them sufficient only for one。 They were to decide which of their lives was most useful to the republic； and the least useful man was to drop down quietly into the deep。 It struck me that you and I should hardly come to such a calculation。 I think we would have gone down together； little one！ What did you think of？〃
But Erica's thoughts could not so easily be put into words。
〃For one thing；〃 she said； 〃I thought we should never be divided any more。〃
She sighed a little； for； after all； the death they had so narrowly escaped would have been so infinitely easier than the life which lay before her。
〃Clearly we are inseparable！〃 said Raeburn。 〃In that sense； little son Eric； we can still say； 'We fear nae foe！'〃
Perhaps the gentle words； and the sadness which he could not entirely banish from his tone； moved Erica almost more than his passionate utterances in the morning。
The day was no bad miniature of her whole life。 Very sad； very happy； full of danger； conflict and strife； warmed by outside sympathy； wounded by outside insolence。
CHAPTER XXI。 What it Involved
Stronger than steel Is the sword of the spirit； Swifter than arrows The life of the truth is； Greater than anger Is love； and subdueth。 Longfellow
The two or three days at Codrington lengthened out into a week； for both Raeburn and Erica felt a good deal exhausted after the eventful Monday。 Raeburn； anxious to spare her as much as possible； himself wrote to Mrs。 Craigie； and told her of Erica's change of views。
〃It is a great grief；〃 he wrote； 〃and she will be a serious loss to our cause； but I am determined that we will not enact over again the course of action which drove both you and me from home。 Odd！ That she should just reverse our story！ Anyhow； you and I； Jean； have been too much persecuted to turn into persecutors。 The child is as much in earnest for her delusion as we for our truth。 Argument and remonstrance will do no good； and you must understand； and make Tom understand； that I'll
