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He will be forced to halt for fuel and for food； and the launch must follow
the windings of the river； we can take short cuts while they are traversing
the detour。 I have my mapthank God！ I always carry it upon my
personand with that and the compass we will have an advantage over
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them。〃
My words seemed to cheer them both； and they were for starting off at
once in pursuit。 There was no reason why we should delay； and we set
forth down the river。 As we tramped along； we discussed a question that
was uppermost in the mind of eachwhat we should do with Snider when
we had captured him； for with the action of pursuit had come the
optimistic conviction that we should succeed。 As a matter of fact； we had
to succeed。 The very thought of remaining in this utter wilderness for the
rest of our lives was impossible。
We arrived at nothing very definite in the matter of Snider's
punishment； since Taylor was for shooting him； Delcarte insisting that he
should be hanged； while I； although fully conscious of the gravity of his
offense； could not bring myself to give the death penalty。
I fell to wondering what charm Victory had found in such a man as
Snider； and why I insisted upon finding excuses for her and trying to
defend her indefensible act。 She was nothing to me。 Aside from the
natural gratitude I felt for her since she had saved my life； I owed her
nothing。 She was a half…naked little savageI； a gentleman； and an
officer in the world's greatest navy。 There could be no close bonds of
interest between us。
This line of reflection I discovered to be as distressing as the former；
but； though I tried to turn my mind to other things； it persisted in returning
to the vision of an oval face； sun…tanned； of smiling lips； revealing white
and even teeth； of brave eyes that harbored no shadow of guile； and of a
tumbling mass of wavy hair that crowned the loveliest picture on which
my eyes had ever rested。
Every time this vision presented itself I felt myself turn cold with rage
and hate against Snider。 I could forgive the launch； but if he had
wronged her he should diehe should die at my own hands； in this I was
determined。
For two days we followed the river northward； cutting off where we
could； but confined for the most part to the game trails that paralleled the
stream。 One afternoon； we cut across a narrow neck of land that saved us
many miles； where the river wound to the west and back again。
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Here we decided to halt； for we had had a hard day of it； and； if the
truth were known； I think that we had all given up hope of overtaking the
launch other than by the merest accident。
We had shot a deer just before our halt； and； as Taylor and Delcarte
were preparing it； I walked down to the water to fill our canteens。 I had
just finished； and was straightening up； when something floating around a
bend above me caught my eye。 For a moment I could not believe the
testimony of my own senses。 It was a boat。
I shouted to Delcarte and Taylor； who came running to my side。
〃The launch！〃 cried Delcarte； and； indeed； it was the launch； floating
down…river from above us。 Where had it been？ How had we passed it？
And how were we to reach it now； should Snider and the girl discover us？
〃It's drifting；〃 said Taylor。 〃I see no one in it。〃
I was stripping off my clothes； and Delcarte soon followed my
example。 I told Taylor to remain on shore with the clothing and rifles。
He might also serve us better there； since it would give him an opportunity
to take a shot at Snider should the man discover us and show himself。
With powerful strokes we swam out in the path of the oncoming
launch。 Being a stronger swimmer than Delcarte； I soon was far in the
lead； reaching the center of the channel just as the launch bore down upon
me。 It was drifting broadside on。 I seized the gunwale and raised
myself quickly； so that my chin topped the side。 I expected a blow the
moment that I came within the view of the occupants； but no blow fell。
Snider lay upon his back in the bottom of the boat alone。 Even before I
had clambered in and stooped above him I knew that he was dead。
Without examining him further； I ran forward to the control board and
pressed the starting button。 To my relief； the mechanism respondedthe
launch was uninjured。 Coming about； I picked up Delcarte。 He was
astounded at the sight that met his eyes； and immediately fell to examining
Snider's body for signs of life or an explanation of the manner in which he
met his death。
The fellow had been dead for hourshe was cold and still。 But
Delcarte's search was not without results； for above Snider's heart was a
wound； a slit about an inch in length such a slit as a sharp knife would
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make； and in the dead fingers of one hand was clutched a strand of long
brown hairVictory's hair was brown。
They say that dead men tell no tales； but Snider told the story of his
end as clearly as though the dead lips had parted and poured forth the truth。
The beast had attacked the girl； and she had defended her honor。
We buried Snider beside the Rhine； and no stone marks his last resting
place。 Beasts do not require headstones。
Then we set out in the launch； turning her nose upstream。 When I had
told Delcarte and Taylor that I intended searching for the girl； neither had
demurred。
〃We had her wrong in our thoughts；〃 said Delcarte； 〃and the least that
we can do in expiation is to find and rescue her。〃
We called her name aloud every few minutes as we motored up the
river； but； though we returned all the way to our former camping place； we
did not find her。 I then decided to retrace our journey； letting Taylor
handle the launch； while Delcarte and I； upon opposite sides of the river；
searched for some sign of the spot where Victory had landed。
We