the novel claire

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Title:Claire
TheBlindLoveofaBlindHero,ByaBlindAuthor
Author:LeslieBurtonBlades
ReleaseDate:October15,2009[EBook#30261]
Language:English

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Claire


by
LeslieBurtonBlades
THEBLINDLOVEOFABLINDHERO
BYABLINDAUTHOR

[Transcriber'sNote:Thisnovelwasoriginallyserializedinfourinstallmentsin
All-StoryWeeklymagazinefromOctober5,1918,toOctober26,1918.The
originalbreaksintheserialhavebeenretained,butsummariesofprevious
eventsprecedingthesecondandthirdinstallmentshavebeenmovedtotheend

ofthise-book.TheTableofContentswhichfollowstheintroductionwascreated
forthiselectronicedition.]

Ontheeditorialpageoflastweek'sALL-STORYWEEKLYweannouncedanew
serialbyanewauthor."Claire"isastoryofsuchsubtleinsight,ofso
compassionateanunderstandingofhumannature,andofsohonestanattackon
theeternalproblemofloveandliving,thatitcanwellaffordtotakeitschances
onitsownmerits.ButLawrenceGordon,theblindheroofthetriangletragedy,
whichrunsitsinevitablecourseinthemountaincabinofPhilipOrtez,takesona
newinterest,whenwelearnthathiscreatorishimselfablindman.
BornofminingpeopleinColorado,Bladeslosttwofingersandthesightofboth
eyeswhenasaladofnineyearsherefusedtotakethedareofsomeplaymates
andsetoffagiantfirecracker.WhilestillayouthheenteredtheColoradoState
SchoolfortheBlind.Herehespentsixyears.InthecrashatCreede,whenthe
bottomfelloutofsomanyminingfortunes,theBladesfamilylosttheirall.Then
youngBladestookuptheburdenofhisownkeep.Fortwosuccessfulyearshe
maintainedhimselfattheUniversityofColoradobyteachingmusic.Whenthe
familymovedtoOregon,theindomitableLesliefollowed.AtEugeneheentered
theStateUniversityandcontinuedtosupporthimselfbymusicandlectures.


AfterreceivinghisdegreesofB.A.andM.A.hewasasubstituteteacherinthe
EnglishDepartment.
ForsometimehehasmadehishomeatSanDimas,wherehisregular
contributionsonavarietyofthemestothemagazinesectionofTheExpresshave
broughthimsomethingmorethanlocalprestige.Heisdeeplyinterestedinthe
drama,andhasseveralplaystohiscredit."WhenHeCameHome,"aplayofhis
dealingwiththereturnofablindsoldierfromthewar,hasbecomeafavorite
withoneoftheCaliforniacircuits.
"Claire"ishisfirstnovel,andthoughheisstillonthesunnysideofthirty,this

arrestingstoryisapromisingportentofwhatwemayexpectfromthepowerful
penofthisblindmanwithanartist'svision.—THEEDITOR.


TABLEOFCONTENTS
October5,1918
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

DISASTER.
THEWATEROFLIFE.
THEWAYOFTHEPRIMITIVE.
MUTUALDISLIKE.
THEFACEOFDEATH.
THESTONETHREAT.

256
260
262
266
269
274

October12,1918
VII.
VIII.

IX.
X.
XI.

PLAYINGWITHFIRE.
THETIGHTENINGNET.
CLAIRE'SABASEMENT.
HOWSIMPLETHESOLUTION!
THEMAKINGOFAKNIGHTERRANT.

498
501
505
509
513

October19,1918
XII.
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
XVI.

THEUNHORSINGOFAKNIGHTERRANT.
FAINTHEARTANDFAIRLADY.
PHILIPTOTHERESCUE.
UTTEREXHAUSTION.
THEQUESTIONANSWERED.

697

702
706
711
714

October26,1918
XVII.
XVIII.
XIX.
XX.
XXI.

ANGLESOFATRIANGLE.
THEROMANTICREALIST.
THELASTDISCUSSION.
THELAWOFLIFE.
INTOTHESUNLIGHT.

151
155
160
164
168



CHAPTERI.
DISASTER.
IntheconfusionLawrencestoodstill.Overthehowlingwindandsmashingsea,
heheardthinvoicesshoutingorders.Anothermassofwatersweptoverthe

deck.Nearhimawomanscreamedpiteously.Instinctively,themasculinedesire
toprotectwomanhoodmadehimachetohelpher,buthebithislipandclungto
therail.Ifhecouldonlysee!Neverbeforeinhisfiveyearsofblindnesshadhe
feltthefullhorrorofit.Hehadtaughthimselftoforgethislossofsight.Itis
uselesstowastetimeinsentimentalmoping,hewouldsay,butnow—
"God,whenwillitend?"hemutteredsavagely.
TheCityofPanamalurchedbackandforthlikearocking-horse.Somewhere
forwardtheymustbeloweringtheboats.Hestumbledalongthedeck,holdingto
therailforsupport.Thespraydashedinhisface,andhecouldfeelthewater
fromhishairtricklingintohisears.Heshookhisheadandlaughedgrimly,but
hecouldnothearhisownlaughter.Theterrificnoiseofthewinddrowned
everythingelse.Itbecameincreasinglydifficulttokeephisholdontherail.He
waswettothewaist.Eachtimethewavestruckhimhigher,andhenoticedthat
thelurchinggrewheavier.Hewasstrong,sixfeetofhardmuscle,butthewater
wasstronger.Hismouthwasfilledwithit,andhisearsseemedbursting.His
ruggedfeaturestwistedintohardlines.Ashestruggledforward,heragedatthe
blindnessthatkepthimfromseeing.
"Notachance,notachance,"herepeatedoverandover,ashestrainedtohold
thedeck.Therewasalullinthewind,andhemarveledattheabsenceofhuman
sound.Suddenlyhedivinedthecause.Hismindbecameachaosofrageand
fear.
"Theyhaveleftme,"hecried;"leftmewithoutathought."Heshuthisteeth
hard,thenduckedasanotherheavybeatingweightofwatercrashedoverhim.It
seemeditwouldneverliftandleavehimfreetobreathe.Hisarmsandfeetno
longerseemedapartofhim.Hewonderedifthevesselwereunderthesurface,


andnervedhimselftoletgo.Buthecouldnot.Therailwashisonlyhopeoflife.
Slowlythewaterbegantodrawhisfingersawayfromit.Thenextsurgesenthis
bodyout—somewhere.Hestruckforwardwithbothhandsandkickedhisfeet

mechanically.Wasittheroarofthewindortheweightofthewateritselfthat
beatintohisears?Thesuddenpaininhislungs,toldhimthathehadreachedthe
surface.Howgoodtheairfelt!Shakingthewateroutofhisears,helistened.
Nothingbutthewindwasaudible.
Itseemedtohimthathehadbeenswimmingforhoursintheicywaves.Events
ontheship,theshockoftheboilerexplosion,therushforthedeck,allseemedto
havehappenedlongago.
"IfIcouldonlysee,"hethought,"Imightfindtheshipagain."Itoccurredtohim
thathemightbeswimminginacircle,andheresolvedtokeepinonedirection,
buthow?Herememberedthathehadalwaystendedtoswimtotheleft,sohe
increasedhisright-armstroke.Suddenlyaheavytimberstruckhim.Hegasped
withpain,andsankunderthesurface.Whenhecameup,hishandstruckthe
samepieceofwood.Withadesperateeffort,hedraggedhimselfuponit,
twistinghisarmsandlegsaboutittomaintainhishold.
Thewater,swirledbythewind,lashedhimashelayonthetimber."Landmay
bewithinsight,"hethought,"andIshallneverknow."Hisfearandthecold
begantoworkuponhisimagination.Hehadaclearmentalpictureofasandy
beachbackedwithtrees.Hefeltsurehewasbeingcarriedpastitintotheopen
sea.
Hourspassed.Hebegantoraveatthewater,atlife,ateverything.Mixed,
tangledmassesofimagesheapedthemselvesinutterdisorderinhisbrain:
passagesofverse,bitsofhistrainedlaboratoryjargon,phrasesfromhalfforgottenbooks,thedelicatecurvesoftheWaterSpriteattheexposition,and,
aboveall,afiercegnawingpaininhisside.
Overtheroarofthewindheheardsomethingelse.Wasitthetumblingof
breakers?Helistened,thenconcludedthatitwashisimagination.Buttheycame
nearer,louder;hesatuponhisplank,hisnervestense.Theboardlurched
sidewise,spurnaround,andtheswellitwasridingbrokeoverhimwithaforce
thatknockedhimfromhisposition.Overandoverherolled,until,almost
unconscious,hefelthisbodydraggingalongthesand.Theundertowwaspulling
athim.Hefoughtfuriously,digginghishandsintothesand,andclawing

desperatelyupthesteepslopingbeach.Thenextbreakercaughthimandrolled


himpastthewater-line.Hescrambledtohisfeet,andranshakilyahead,neither
knowingnorcaringwhatwasbeforehim.
Behindhimheheardthewatersweepingin.Hewasoutofitsreach,butstillhe
ran.Arockcaughthimabovethekneesandsenthimheadlongintothesand.He
becameunconscious,andlaystill,halfdoubledup.
Whenherecoveredconsciousnessandsatup,afiercesunwasbeatingdown
uponhim.Hisheadached,andhewashungry."Theremaybepeoplewithin
call,"hethought.Risingunsteadily,thesorenessofhismusclescominghometo
him,hegaveaprolonged"Hello-o."Afaintechowashisanswer.Heformeda
trumpetofhishandsandshoutedlouder.Theechocamebackstronger."Only
cliffs,"heconcluded.
Thegnawofhungerincreased."Clamsaremybestchance,"hereasoned,and,
turning,hegropedhiswaytothewater.Whentheincomingbreakerswashedhis
knees,hestopped.Theintensedreadthathisexperiencehadgivenhimwas
cryingretreat,buthestoodhisground.Stoopingover,hebegandigginginthe
sand.Hiscutandbleedinghandsburnedwiththesaltwater,buthedugsteadily,
movingrapidlyalongthebeach.Atlasthisfingersturneduparound,ridged
object.Feelingtheedgeofitheknewthathehadfoundwhathesought.He
wantedtoeattheclamatonce,butreluctantlydroppeditintohispocket,and
wentondigging.
Whenhehadfilledhispockethestraightenedupandstartedtowardtheshore.
Ashewadedthroughthelastshallowwashofthewave,hisfootcaughtin
somethingsoft,andhefell.Herose,andthenonsecondthoughtstoopedtofeel
whathadtrippedhim.Hishandtouchedamassofwet,tangledhair.Hejerkedit
backhurriedlyandscreamed.Thestrainhehadbeenunderwastelling.Nerving
himself,hereachedagain,andtouchedaface.
"Awoman!Anotherhumanbeing!ThankGod!"

Thenheclutchedhisthroatindesperation.Shemightbedead.Hestoopedand
draggedthebodyuponthesand.Hewasafraidtofindoutifsheweredeador
alive,andsatbesideher,timidlytouchingherhair.
"Fool!"hemutteredatlast."Ifsheisnotdead,shesoonwillbe."Heleanedover,
listeningforherbreathing.Atfirsttherewasonlythesoundofthewaves,then
heheardherbreathingcomefaintly.Hetookoffhiscoat,emptiedouttheclams,
anddippeditintheocean.Comingback,hewrungitoutoverherface.Heknelt


besideher,andrubbedherarmsandthroat.
Hishandswerehistrainedobservers.Asheworkedoverher,theygavehima
detailedpicturewhichsankdeepintohismemory.Shewassplendidlymade.His
fingerscaughtthedelicatecurveofherthroatandshoulders.Herskinwassatin
tohistouch.Heknewthatthefinehair,thesmoothskin,thecurveandgraceof
herbodybelongedtoabeautifulwoman.
Takingherarms,heworkedthemvigorously.Whenhewasbeginningtodespair,
shecoughed,moanedalittle,andturnedoveronherside.
Hewonderedifshehadhereyesopen.Hedarednotfeeltosee,andsatsilent,
anxious,waitingforhertospeak.
Itseemedtohimthateternitypassedbeforeshemurmured,"Oh,oh!Wheream
I?"
"IdothankGod,"heexclaimedearnestly.
"WhereamI?"sherepeatedasshesatup.
"Idonotknow,"heanswered."PresumablysomewhereonthecoastofChile."
Hereyesopenedverywideandgazedathimasshesaid,"Arewetheonly
ones?"
"Icannottell,"hereplied,smilingalittle."Iamblind,yousee."
"Yes,Iknow,"shesaidsoftly."Isawyouonshipboard."
"ThefirstconsciousnessIhadofyou,"hecontinued,"waswhenIstumbledover
youwhilegettingmybreakfast."

"Breakfast?Whereisit?"
Helaidonehandonthepileofclams.Shelookeddownatthem,andburstout
laughing,uncontrollably.
"Itisnotmuch,"hesaid,"butweprimitivepeoplearesimpleinourneeds.I
workedtogetthem,goodnessknows."
Shewaslookingaroundher,twistingherlongbrownhairinherhands.Atlast
sheshuddered."It'sdesperatelylonely.Nothingbutseaandmountains.I'm
afraidIcan'twalk,"shesaid.


"GoodGod!"heexclaimed."Can'twalk?"
Sheturnedtowardhim,smilingfaintly."IwasstruckwhenIwashedoverboard,
andmyankle,Ithink,isbroken.Iamsorry,"sheadded.
Hertonewasslightlyapologetic,andhelaughednervously."Oh,that'sallright,"
hesaid,assuringly,thenstammered,"Imean—"Hehesitated,andshelaughed.
"Imeanthatwecangetalong,"hecontinued,stubbornly."HeavenknowsIam
sorry.Butyoucan'trealizewhatitmeanstohavesomeonenearyouwhocan
see."
Shedidnotanswerforaminute,thensaidquietly:"Shallwebreakfastbefore
beginninganythingelse?"
Hereachedinhispocketforhispenknife.Itwasgone.Theblankexpressionof
disgustonhisfacemadeherask:"Whatisit?"
"Myknife,"hesaid."Itisgone."
Theysatoppositeeachother,theclamsbetweenthem.Eachfollowedadifferent
trendofideas.Hewasragingatthislastmishap,andconsideringmeansof
openingtheclams.ShewasconjecturingoverthefateoftheCityofPanamaand
wonderingwhatshecoulddo,aloneherewiththisblindman.Hernight-gown
andaheavyskirthadbeenallshehadwornwhenshehadrushedondeckinthe
night.Shelookedaroundherattherocksandthoughthowfoolishshehadbeen
toleavehershoes.

Atlastheroseandbegantogropebackalongthebeach.
Noticingthathishandsweretornandbleeding,shesaid,hastily:"Don'tdothat.
Whatareyoulookingfor,anyway?"
"Stones,"heanswered,stopping.
"Iwilldirectyou,"shetohim."Left—right—alittleaheadnow."Guidedbyher,
hemoveduntilhishandtouchedasmallstone.Hefoundtwoofthemandcame
backtoherside.
Shewatchedhimwhilehetriedtobreakaclam-shellbetweenthetworocks.
"Letme,"shesaid,takingholdofoneofthem."Yourhandsaretoobadlycut."
Hehesitated.


"Please,"shesaid."Icanatleastdothewoman'spartandpreparethemeal.
Especiallywhenyoubringittome."
Helaughedandgaveupthestones.
"Iamdesperatelythirsty,"shesaid,breakingopentheshells.
"Ifeelasthoughmytonguewereswellingfast,"headmitted.
Theydugthetinyclamsfromtheshells,andateforafewminutesinsilence,
thenshesaid:"Ican'tgoanymoreofthem."
Hewonderedifshewerenothungry,butsaidnothing.Aftereatingafewmore,
heunderstood.Thenhe,too,stopped.
"I'vegottofindwater,"hesaid.Hewaitedforhertospeak.
Atlastshesaid:"Icanseenothingthatmightindicatefreshwater.Wherewill
yougo?"
"Upthebeach,Isuppose."
"Therearemountainsupthebeach,andbackofus,too.Youcouldneverfind
yourwayout."Hertonewasdespairing.
"True,"headmitted.
Therewasalongpause.Thenshesaidslowly:"Itseemstobeyouronlyhope,
doesn'tit?Well,Iguessyouhadbettergo.Godblessyou!"sheconcludedas

thoughitwereherlastword.
Suddenlyitoccurredtohimthathehadbeenthinkingandtalkingofhimself
alone.Theideaofpartingfromthiswomanwhocouldsee,whomitseemedto
himhehadfoundashisownmeansofsalvation,immediatelybecame
impossible.
"Iamgoingtotakeyouwithme,"hestatedquietly.
"Youforget,"shesaid,"Icannotwalk."
Hehadforgottenitforthemoment.Nowitfilledhimwithnewterror.Helaid
hishandonhers."Ican'thelpit,"hesaidfinally,"Ican'tleaveyou.Iwillcarry
you."


"Oh,no!"Herprotestwasgenuine.
Hefeltherfearthatshewouldhamperhim."Don'tbefoolish,"hesaidasthough
hehadknownherforyears,"Iamnotbeinggallant.Thisisnotatimefor
gallantry.Iamsimplybeingsensible.Youcan'tsithere,canyou?"
"Ican'thelpmyself,canI?Ican'twalk."
"Icanhelpit,"heretorted.
"Itwouldsimplymakeyourchanceofescapeimpossible,"sheargued."Itis
preposterous.Whyshouldyou?Yourlifeisworthtoyouasmuchasmineisto
me.Iknowwhatthatmeans.IwouldnotstayhereifIcouldhelpit.Iwouldnot
sacrificemylifeforyours.Neithershallyousacrificeyoursformine."
"Seehere,"hedemanded,"whoareyouandwheredidyougetthatattitude
towardlife?"
Itwasoneheknew.Itwasthehard,relentlesstheoryofthestruggleofanimal
survivalwhichhisthinkingincollegehadledhimtoaccept.Therewasinitno
touchofduty,nosenseofobligation,andverylittlepity.Hehadcalledhimselfa
hardmaterialist,andhadneverliveduptohistheory.Nowherebesidehimin
thisoutlandishsituationwasawomanquietlyarguinghisownphilosophyoflife
tohimagainstherself.

Shelaughed."It'smywayofthinking,andImeanit,"shesaid,twistingherhair
uponherhead."Igotitoutoffouryearsofthoughtandreadinginacollege,
andIdonotthankthecollegeforit.Ifinditveryinconvenient,butitismy
belief.Ihavetriedtolivebyit."
"Soisitmine,"hesaid,"andImeantolivebyit."
"Verywell,"sheanswered."Thataggressivetoneagainstmeisnotnecessary.Go
aheadandgetthroughifyoucan.Good-by,myfriend."
"I'mafraidyoudonotunderstand,"heansweredhersteadily."Iwanttolive.To
doit,youarenecessarytome.Ineedyoureyes.Verywell,whetheryoulikeitor
not,youaregoingwithme."
Herosequickly,andstretchedhismuscles.Hisheadached,hiswholebeing
criedforwater.Heknewhecouldnotcarryherfar,butwithoutherhewas
powerless.


"Suppose,"shesuggested,hereyesflashingfromhazeltodeep-brown,"suppose
youdotakeme.Haveyouanyassurancethatmyeyeswillserveyourightly?"
"Yourownlife,whichispleasanttoyou,willdependuponyoureyesservingme
rightly,"hesaidcoldly,ashestoopedoverher.
Shelaidarestraininghandonhisarm."Andinthelongdaysthatwemayhave
togoontogether,whatwillyoudoinreturnformyeyes?"
"Carryyou,"heanswered.
"Verywell,buttherearetwothingsyoumustknow,"shesaidquietly."First,that
Iammarried;second,thatIamquiteassteadfastinmybeliefasIsaid.Ifyou
makeonesingleattempttoestablishmorethanafrankcomradeship,basedon
mutualsupportinourunforeseenpartnership,myeyeswillserveyoufalsely."
Helaughedalittleashepickedherup.Shegaspedwithpain.
"Ican'thelphurtingyou,"hesaidgently.
"It'sallright,"sheanswered,puttingherarmaroundhisnecksothathemight
themoreeasilybearher."Weareoffonourgreatadventure.Thehaltandthe

blind!Suchamadpair!"
Hesmiled,andstartedslowlyupthebeach.
"Ishallhavetodevelopasystemofonewordguides,"shemused.
"Left—right—slow—ahead—allright—andsoon,"headmitted.
Suddenlyshelaughedoutmerrily."Myfriend,astrangerpilgrimagetheworld
neverknew.Whatisyourname?"
"Lawrence,"hesaid.
"Mine,"sheanswered,"isClaire.Goalittletotheleft."
Heturnedslightly,andploddedthroughthesand.


CHAPTERII.
THEWATEROFLIFE.
Stillexhaustedfromhisrecentbattlewiththewaves,Lawrencewasnotinthe
bestconditionforthisnewstruggle.Beforehehadgonefar,hewasforcedto
rest.HeloweredClairetothegroundcarefullyanddroppedbesideher.Hiseffort
incarryingherhadmadehimbreathehard,thesunwasbeatingdownonthem,
andhisthroatwasdryandparched.Speakingwasbecomingdifficult.
"Ifwedon'tfindwatersoon,we'reended,"hemanagedtosay.
"I'mafraidweare,"sheadmitted."Doyouknow,Lawrence,youshouldn'ttryto
carryme.Iweighoverahundredandthirtypounds.Thatistoomuchforany
man.Withoutme,youmightmakeit,eventhoughyoucouldn'ttravelsosteadily
ahead."
"Perhaps,"heagreed."I'vethoughtofthat.But,yousee,Iwouldhavetofeelmy
way.AtbestI'dgetalotoffalls.Imightwalkoffaprecipice.Thatdoesn't
appealtome,nowthatI'vesetmyselftowinning."
"Andyetyouarealmostcertaintowearyourselfouttonopurposeifyoucarry
me,"sherepeated."Ifyoucoulddoitandgetmethrough,I'dneverstopyou.
I'veahusbandinAmericawholovesme,andIwanttogetbacktohim,butyou
aren'tequaltoit.Iseenoadvantageindyingamileortenmilesinland.Forone's

grave,thisisasgoodaplaceasany."
Shespokeofdyinginamatter-of-factwaythatmadehimfeelstrange,thoughhe
thoughtofitinexactlythesamewayhimself.Hebelievedthathewasamere
animalandthatdeathwasamerecessationofenergy."Iwonderifshefeelsjust
asIdoaboutit,"hepondered."Perhapsnot.Butitcan'tmatteranyway.Herewe
are,anddeathdoesseemfairlycertain."
Hewasbreathingmoreregularlynow,thoughhisthroatburnedandhistongue
stucktohismouthdisagreeably.
"We'dbetterbemoving,"hesaid,risingwithaneffort.


"Asyouplease,"sheassented.
Then,asheliftedher:"Myankleisswollendreadfully.Ifwecouldfindwater,
I'dbatheitandputasticksplintonit."
Hedidnotanswer.Silencefellbetweenthemwhileheploddedahead.They
startedupthemountainside,andthewaybecameincreasinglydifficult.There
wasadenseundergrowththroughwhichhewascompelledtoshovehisfeet.
Therewererockswhichshecouldnotsee,downwhichhewasconstantly
slipping.Herdirectionsbarelykepthimfrombumpingintothetreesthatgrew
closerandclosertogether.Occasionallyshepushedabranchasidefrombefore
him,andlaughedashestoopedtopassunder,throwingherforwardsothatshe
hadtoclingtohisnecktokeepherposition.
Onandonheforcedhisway,histeethclenched,hisbreathbrokenbythestrain.
Shemadeherselfaseasytocarryasshecould,butbeyondthatsheshowedno
signofsympathy.Againandagainhewasobligedtostopandputherdown
whileherested.Hisheadwasthrobbingfrightfully.Hegaveuptryingtotalk.
Duringoneoftheirfrequentrestsshehadaskedhimquietly,hereyesfilledwith
asoft,calculativehaze:"Howmuchareyougoodfor,Lawrence?"
Hehadanswered:"Tillwefindwater."Shehadlaughedalittleatthat,andithad
soundedunpleasanttohim.

Nowshesaidagain:"Youdon'tfacefacts,doyou?"Hemadenoanswer.
Shecontinued:"It'sstrangehowwehumansarealwayssooverdetermined.One
oughttoknowbythetimeheisgrownthatheisapuppetinthehandsof
circumstance.NowIgoonhopingthatyoucancarrymeouttolifeandmy
husband,andyouploddeterminedlyonasifyouwerereallyabletodoit.Of
course,youmay,butitisentirelydependentuponoutsidethings."
Hewastootiredtoanswer,eventothink.Besides,thatwasexactlyhisviewof
thesituation.
"Yousee,"shewenton,"hereweare,twodistinctgroupsoflivingcells,each
lovinglifeandwantingit.Ourpastshavebeenverydifferent,ourfutureswould
havebeen;buthereweare.Iamresentful,becauseyouareblind,becauseyou
arenotstronger,becauseIcannotwalk.Youareprobablyresentingthesame
things.PerhapsyouresentmysayingwhatIdo.Youwantmetoreassureyou
andtopromisesuccess.IfIdid,youwouldknowinyourrealmindthatIwas


lyingtoyouforthesakeofgettingyoutodomore.Yetbothofuswouldfeel
happierifIcoulddoit.Ican't."
Hestoodupandtookherinhisarmswithoutaword.
"Wearegoingafewyardsfarther,"shelaughed."Well,ifeveranyanimal
deservedlife,youdo."
Hebithislipandclimbedonupthehill.Inhismindhewassayingoverand
over:"Justamereintellect,nothingmore.That'sallsheis."Yetinhisarmsshe
feltveryfeminine.Thesenseofherbodysoclosetohimseemedstrangelyout
ofkeepingwithhertalk.
Herememberedafewotherwomenofhertype;hewonderedwhattheendof
theirdailyassociationwouldbe.Thengraduallyhisthinkingceasedtobeclear.
Histhirstmoreandmorewoveitselfintohisconsciousnessuntilhismindwasa
blurredfantasmagoria,inwhich,repeatingitselfoverandoverinthemidstof
strangeideas,wouldcometheflashingsoundofunattainablewater.Hedidnot

talk,hedidnotthink.Throughthetreeshewoundhiswaywiththegrim
determinationofabeastfightingagainstdeath.
Thesunpasseditszenithandsankslowly.Itgrewcoolerintheforestthrough
whichhelurched,buthewashardlyawareofit.Claire,too,wasrapidlylosing
controloverherself.Shehadceasedtotalk,savetoutterdull,monosyllabic
commandstohim.Thepainfromherankleandherownthirstwereblending
intoadizzyingmazeoftorture.
Asdarknesssettledovertheforest,shegrewafraid.Ordinarilyitwouldhave
beenadelighttoher,hereamongthetrees,butnowtheshadowingnightfilled
herwithideasofhorror.Sheforgothertheories,andclungtohimsothathewas
themorehampered.Shegrewafraidlestheshoulddropher,lestheshouldgive
upthefight,andwiththatcameanoverwhelmingdesiretourgehimon.She
thoughtofwildtalesthatshemighttelltospurhisfalteringstrength.Atfirstshe
resisted,thenasherdesireforlifegrewwithinher,shebegantolietohim."It
isn'tfar,justalittlewaytowater,"shewhispered.
Hestruggledunsteadilyforward.Theyhadpassedthetopoftheridgeandwere
descendingtheotherside.Hewasscarcelyawareofhisownmotion.Hedidnot
hearherdirections,andstumbledagainstthetrees.Whenheranklestrucka
bough,sherealizedinaflashofpainthathewasnotlisteningtoher.Thenshe
felthimsinkingdown.


Grippinghisshoulder,sheshouted:"Goon!Waterahead!"Heheardher,his
mouthopened,andhegatheredhimselfuptostumbleafewstepsfartherthrough
thedarkness.Theyseemedtobedeepinawoodedravine.Hestaggeredagain
andfell.
Shewasthrownviolentlyforward,andflungoutahandtosaveherself.Asshe
laythere,half-dazed,suddenlyshefeltherfingersgrowcoldandwet.Water!A
smallstream,nolargerthanthatfromahydrant,wastricklingovertherock.
Draggingherselftoit,shedrankgreedily.Shedippedherhandsinit.She

laughedjoyouslyandsplashed.Forafewminutessheplayedlikeachild.Then
sherememberedLawrence.
Liftingherhandsfullofwater,shethrewitonhisface.Hismouthwasopen,and
afewdropsfelluponhisblacktongue.Shethrewanotherhandful,thentookher
skirtand,wettingit,wrungitintohismouth.Hetwistedoveronhissideand
muttered:"Water."
Shegavehimmore,andashesatup,shesaideagerly:"Here,Lawrence,here."
Takinghishand,shepulledhimtowardthestream.Hedrankravenously,
plunginghisfaceandhandsintothelittlelineofwater,makingqueernoises
overit.
Clairebegantogrowcold,andheranklepainedhertillsheshooklikeafevered
person.Heturnedandsatup.
"Youcold?"hemanagedtomutter.
Shewantedtosay"No,"butherwillwaswornout."Yes,"sheanswered,"very
cold."
Helaughedalittlegutturallaughashedrewoffhiscoat."Takeit,"hesaid,
droppingitnearherhand.
Shetookthecoatanddrewiton.Lawrencewasdrinkingagainfromthestream.
Shelistenedtohimforatime,asshelaythereinthedarkness,thengraduallyher
sufferingandthestrainunderwhichshehadbeen,wonthevictoryoverher
consciousness,andsheheardnomore.
Helaywherehewas,halfunconscious.Atlasthebegantofeelthechillofthe
placeanddrewhimselfuptowardClaire.Shedidnotmove."We'vegottodothe


bestwecan,"hethought,andmovedclosetohersothattheirbodiesmight
warmeachother.


CHAPTERIII.

THEWAYOFTHEPRIMITIVE.
Clairewasthefirsttowake.Shesatupandgazedaroundher.Themorningsun
wasjustbreakingthroughaheavyfogthathaddriftedinfromtheocean.Her
clothesweredamp,andshewaschilledthrough,whileherswollenand
discoloredanklethrobbedwithsteadypain.Shelookeddownatthesleeping
manbesideher,andherforeheadgatheredinalittlethoughtfulfrown.Thenshe
lookedaroundheragain.Despitetheknowledgeoftheirdesperatesituation,she
couldnothelpnoticingthebeautyofthescene.
Greattreesgrewinmassiveprofusionallaboutthem.Heavytropicalmosshung
fromthebranchesandtraileditsgreenmatoverthestones.Birdswerebeginning
tosing,theirnotesbreakingthesilenceoftheplaceinsharpthrills.Thenshe
studiedhercompanion.Finally,shelaughedaloud.
"Lawrence,"shesaidgaily.
Heturnedandsatup,yawningdrowsily."Whatisit?"hedemanded.
"Wearecertainlytheprimitivepair."
"H-m,Isuppose.Anyhow,Ifeelbetterformysleep."
"It'sbeastlycold,"returnedClaire,"andmyankleisplayingfitsandjerkswith
me."
"We'llhavetodosomethingaboutit,"hesaidearnestly.Shedidnotanswer.
"Wecanbinditup,Ipresume,"hewenton."Butit'safrightfulinconvenience."
"Admitted,"shesaidquickly."Itcan'tbehelped,however."
"I'mverymuchforafire,"hesuggested,asthoughhehadnotnoticedthehints
ofhardnessinhervoice.
"Sometwentyfeetaheadisaflatrock.Wemightbuildonethere.Haveyou


matches?"
Heshookhishead."We'llhavetogoitprimeval."
"ButIdon'tseehow,"shebegan.
"Nevermind,"heanswered,withamaliciousgrin."Idoknowsomefewthings."

"Perhapsyoualsoknowhowtofindfoodwhenthereisn'tany,"sheretorted.
Herosewithoutreplying.
"Well,"shecontinued,"Iseeplentyofrootsandstuff.Wemayaswellprepareto
eatthem.It'sunbelievablethatIshouldbehere,andwithyou.It'sahorrible
nightmare,thisbeingstrandedandlameoutheresomewherewithablindman."
Hewinced,butansweredquietly:"I'mnotespeciallycharmedmyself.Icould
preferotherthings."
Shelookedathimandsmiled."Don'teverletmerepeatthosesentiments,"she
said,simply."I'msorry.Ofcourseyouaren'ttoblame,andIshouldn'thavesaid
that."
Hesteppedforwardtimidly."Willyousuggestthebestmeansoffindingdry
wood?"heasked,asthoughthematterwereforgotten.
Shepursedherlipsandlookedaroundher."Thismossseemstobefeetdeep,"
shesaidatlast."Youmightdigupsomethatisdry,andwiththatasastarteryou
canaddtwigs."
Hestoppedandbegantotearawaythemoss.Hishandswerestiff,butheworked
rapidlyandbeforelonghehadaheapofthebrown,drystufffromunderneath.
Shewatchedhimsilently.Whenhestopped,shesaid:"Straighttoyourleftisthe
rock.Getthefirestarted.Thenyoucanmovetheinvalid."
Hetookthemossandfelthiswaytotherock,whichwaseightortenfeetsquare
andpracticallyflat,standingupalmostafootfromtheground.
"Now,foradrystickortwo,"hesaid,cheerily.
Shedirectedhim,andatlasthefoundwhathethoughtwoulddo.Thenbeganthe
age-oldprocedureoftwistingapointedstickbetweenone'shands,thepoint
restingonanotherpieceofwood,untilfrictionbroughtaflame.Itwasalong,


hardexperiment;severaltimeshestoppedtorest;buttheconsciousnessofthe
skepticalexpressionheknewtobeonherfacesenthimquicklybackagainto
histask.Atlastthemossbegantoburn.True,itsmokedmuchandflamedlittle,

buthegatheredtwigsfromtheshrubsnearbyandintimehadagoodfire.Then
hecarriedClairetotherockandsetherdownbesideit.Sheleanedherelbowon
theedgeandsaid,happily:"It'squiteasuccess,Lawrence.Ireallyfeelasthough
wewereprogressing."
"Ourwoodcraftwilldoubtlessimprovewithexperience,"heanswered.
"Next,Iguesswehadbetterbatheyourankle,"heobserved,asthoughgiving
duecaretotheorderofprocedure.
"Verywell,"shereplied.
Athersuggestionhegatheredmossandwetitinthetinystream.Shewoundit
aboutherankleandheldittightly.
"Nowthesurgeonorderssplintsandbandages,"shesaid.
Hebroughtseveralsticks,andwithastripwhichshetorefromtheliningofhis
coat,sheboundthemfast.
"There,"shesaid,sighing,forthepainwaswearing."Thatoughttohelp.I
wonderwhatourdistantgrandparentsdidinsuchcases."
"Madethebestofit,"hesaidcheerfully."Manyofthemdied,Isuppose."
"Andwearebackagainattheirgame.Whetherwecanoutwitthemaster
strategistandsurvive,isatleastinterestingtotry."
"Inanyevent,we'llhavetoeattodoit,"hesaidshortly.
Shestudiedthegreeneryabouther,meditatively."It'sprobablethatmostanyof
thesethingsareedible,butaretheynourishing?"
"We'lltrythem.WhichshallIget?"heasked.
"Ihatetostartinonrootsorleaves.Ifweonlyhadsomeberries!"
Hegotupdeterminedly."I'llgodowntheravineandhunt.IfIgetmixedin
directions,I'llshout."
Shewatchedhimgo,andwhenhehaddisappearedthroughthetreesshefelt


strangelysadderandverymuchalone.Shefelltowonderingifhewerereallyso
necessarytoher.Soonerorlaterwouldcometheinevitableproblembetween

them.Wouldhefallinlovewithher,andwouldshe,inthedaysthattheymight
bealonetogether,findhiscompanionshipgrowingintoanyreallyvital
proportioninherlife?Thatshe,ClaireBarkley,richandindependent,whoselife
hadbeenselfishtoamarkeddegreeandwhohadneverconsideredanything
exceptfromthepointofviewofvigor,perfection,orbeauty,shouldeverlovea
blindmanwasincredible.
"No,"shethought,"noteventheclosestofdailyrelationshipswithhimcould
evermakemereallycare.Heisnotofmylife."Shewonderedhowmuchshe
wouldsacrificeforhimifitwerenecessaryintheirpilgrimagetoward
civilization,andsheansweredherself,frankly:"NomorethanImusttomaintain
abalanceinourforcedbusinesspartnership."Sheknewthatwasallthismeant
toher.
Fromdowntheravinesheheardhimshoutinglustily,andsheanswered,her
clear,richvoicewakingpleasantechoesasshecalled.Shewaitedforsometime
beforehecame.Inhisarmshecarriedabundleofbranchesloadedwithred
berries,whileinonehandwasaclumpoflargemushrooms.
Clairewatchedhimasheapproached,andwassurprisedattheeasewithwhich
hewalked.Therewaslesshesitationinhisstridethanshehadthought,andhe
camebrisklythroughthetrees,dodgingasthoughbyinstinct.
Whenhereachedtherock,itwascharacteristicofherthatshesaid:"Youcame
throughthosetreesremarkablywell."
Helaughed."Ihaveanuncannywayoffeelingthingsonmyfacebeforethey
touchme.Iexperimentedsomewhatwithitinthelaboratoryatcollege.It'sasort
oftropism,perhaps,suchasbugshave,thatenablesthemtokeepbetweentwo
planksorthatturnsplant-rootstowardthesun.Anyway,I'vebroughtsome
breakfast.Theseberriesmaybegood,andtheseotherthingsmaybetoadstools.I
broughtthemalong."
"Howdoesonetell?"sheasked.
"Oh,mushroomsarepinkunderneathandribbedlikeafan."
Sheexaminedthemandsaidtheymightbemushrooms,theylookedit.Hesat

downagain,butnotuntilhehadreplenishedthefire.


"Theymaybepoison,bothofthem,"hehazarded."That'soursportingchance.
Willyoutrythem?"
Clairetooksomeoftheberriesandatethem."Idon'tfeelanythingyet,"she
announcedafteraminute'ssolemnmunching.
"Oh,youprobablywon'tforseveralhoursanyway,"hesaidlightly.Thenhe
continued:"Ifwecoulddeviseaway,wemightheatwaterandcookthe
mushrooms.Then,too,I'vebeenthinkingwemightevencatchabird."
"Neithersoundsverysimple."
"Nothinginlifeissimple,"hereplied."Athome,inAmerica,whereweleave
food-gettingtothefarmer,dressfromastore,andgotoheavenbywayofa
minister,thingsarefairlywellarranged,butherewearen'tevensureofsalvation
unlesswemindthebusinessofthinking."Hecontinuedafterapause."Of
course,Idon'tespeciallyrememberthatIcountedonheaven.Italwaysseemeda
bitdistantinthefaceoflivingandworking.Perhaps,however,youcounteditas
vital."
"Iwasfairlyoccupiedwithmoreimmediatethings,"sheanswered."However,
thatisadifferentworldfromthis.Whatwedidthencan'tespeciallymattertous
here.Thisisourplaceofbusiness,sotospeak,andsociallifedoesn'tfactor."
"Isee."Heacceptedthesnubthoughtfully."Butthisbusinessofourswillgrow
exceedinglyirksomewithouttalk.Idoubtifwecanfindthemeansofescapean
all-sufficienttopic."
"Wehaven'tboiledourwateryet,"shesaid."Andthebirdisstillfreetoroam."
Hedidnotcarryonhislineofthoughtaloud.Ifshehadknownwhatwasgoing
oninhismind,shemighthavebeenangered.Hewaswonderingjusthowmuch
thinkingshewascapableof.Certainthatshewasbeautiful,hehadscarcely
allowedthattooccupyhim.Hisexperiencehadledhimtoestimatepeople
almostwhollybytheirabilitytobeopen-minded.Inhisstruggleagainst

blindness,hehadconcludedthatopenmindswererareindeed,andpersonswho
limitedhisfreedomofactionortendedtobabyhimhehadgrowntodismiss
withashrug.Clairedidnotbelongtothatclass."Shehasshownremarkable
willingnesstoletmegomyownpace,"hethought,"butisthisduetohermind
ortomereindifference?"Hedecidedatlastthattherelationshipwouldbe
tiresomeforbothofthem,andthatshewasnotespeciallyeagertopreventit