Page 136 (1/2)

The impulse of La Tribe's foot as he landed had driven the boat into the

streaht intervened, would take

the ground on Count Hannibal's side, a hundred and fifty yards below hi pace with it, while the

Countess sat ers

strained about the fatal packet The slow glide of the boat, as almost

imperceptibly it approached the low bank; the stillness of theonly the faintest ripple behind

it; the silence--for under the influence of emotion Count Hannibal too

was ed in

her breast

Should she--should she even noith his eyes on her, drop the letters

over the side? It needed but a movement She had only to extend her

hand, to relax the tension of her fingers, and the deed was done It

needed only that; but the golden sands of opportunity were running

out--were running out fast Slowly and more slowly, silently and more

silently, the boat slid in towards the bank on which he stood, and still

she hesitated The stillness, and the waiting figure, and the watching

eyes now but a few feet distant, weighed on her and seemed to paralyze

her will A foot, another foot! A moment and it would be too late, the

last of the sands would have run out The bow of the boat rustled softly

through the rushes; it kissed the bank And her hand still held the