The sick man sat up suddenly and laughed wildly. "Blood of my soul!"
he ejaculated, and laughed again.
Roubeau Island swayed to the first shock, and the ice was rocking under
their feet. Frona seized a paddle and smashed the Scotsman's knuckles;
and the instant he loosed his grip, Corliss carried the canoe up in a
mad rush, Frona clinging on and helping from behind. The rainbow-wall
curled up like a scroll, and in the convolutions of the scroll, like a
bee in the many folds of a magnificent orchid, Tommy disappeared.
They fell, breathless, on the earth. But a monstrous cake shoved up
from the jam and balanced above them. Frona tried to struggle to her
feet, but sank on her knees; and it remained for Corliss to snatch her
and the canoe out from underneath. Again they fell, this time under
the trees, the sun sifting down upon them through the green pine
needles, the robins singing overhead, and a colony of crickets chirping
in the warmth.
CHAPTER XXVI
Frona woke, slowly, as though from a long dream. She was lying where
she had fallen, across Corliss's legs, while he, on his back, faced the
hot sun without concern. She crawled up to him. He was breathing
regularly, with closed eyes, which opened to meet hers. He smiled, and
she sank down again. Then he rolled over on his side, and they looked
at each other.
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