第54章

Nataline Fortin has the key.Will she give it?""Give it?" growled Thibault."Name of a name! of course she will give it.She must.Is not a life, the life of all of us, more than a light?"A self-appointed committee of three, with Thibault at the head, waited upon Nataline without delay, told her their plan, and asked for the key.She thought it over silently for a few minutes, and then refused point-blank.

"No," she said, "I will not give the key.That oil is for the lamp.

If you take it, the lamp will not be lighted on the first of April;it will not be burning when the supply-boat comes.For me, that would be shame, disgrace, worse than death.I am the keeper of the light.You shall not have the oil."They argued with her, pleaded with her, tried to browbeat her.She was a rock.Her round under-jaw was set like a steel trap.Her lips straightened into a white line.Her eyebrows drew together, and her eyes grew black.

"No," she cried, "I tell you no, no, a thousand times no.All in this house I will share with you.But not one drop of what belongs to the light! Never."Later in the afternoon the priest came to see her; a thin, pale young man, bent with the hardships of his life, and with sad dreams in his sunken eyes.He talked with her very gently and kindly.

"Think well, my daughter; think seriously what you do.Is it not our first duty to save human life? Surely that must be according to the will of God.Will you refuse to obey it?"Nataline was trembling a little now.Her brows were unlocked.The tears stood in her eyes and ran down her cheeks.She was twisting her hands together.

"My father," she answered, "I desire to do the will of God.But how shall I know it? Is it not His first command that we should love and serve Him faithfully in the duty which He has given us? He gave me this light to keep.My father kept it.He is dead.If I am unfaithful what will he say to me? Besides, the supply-boat is coming soon--I have thought of this--when it comes it will bring food.But if the light is out, the boat may be lost.That would be the punishment for my sin.No, MON PERE, we must trust God.He will keep the people.I will keep the light."'

The priest looked at her long and steadily.A glow came into his face.He put his hand on her shoulder."You shall follow your conscience," he said quietly."Peace be with you, Nataline."That evening just at dark Marcel came.She let him take her in his arms and kiss her.She felt like a little child, tired and weak.

"Well," he whispered, "you have done bravely, sweetheart.You were right not to give the key.That would have been a shame to you.

But it is all settled now.They will have the oil without your fault.To-night they are going out to the lighthouse to break in and take what they want.You need not know.There will be no blame--"She straightened in his arms as if an electric shock had passed through her.She sprang back, blazing with anger.

"What?" she cried, "me a thief by round-about,--with my hand behind my back and my eyes shut? Never.Do you think I care only for the blame? I tell you that is nothing.My light shall not be robbed, never, never!"She came close to him and took him by the shoulders.Their eyes were on a level.He was a strong man, but she was the stronger then.

"Marcel Thibault," she said, "do you love me?""My faith," he gasped, "I do.You know I do.""Then listen," she continued; "this is what you are going to do.

You are going down to the shore at once to make ready the big canoe.

I am going to get food enough to last us for the month.It will be a hard pinch, but it will do.Then we are going out to the island to-night, in less than an hour.Day after to-morrow is the first of April.Then we shall light the lantern, and it shall burn every night until the boat comes down.You hear? Now go: and be quick and bring your gun."IV

They pushed off in the black darkness, among the fragments of ice that lay along the shore.They crossed the strait in silence, and hid their canoe among the rocks on the island.They carried their stuff up to the house and locked it in the kitchen.Then they unlocked the tower, and went in, Marcel with his shot-gun, and Nataline with her father's old carabine.They fastened the door again, and bolted it, and sat down in the dark to wait.

Presently they heard the grating of the prow of the barge on the stones below, the steps of men stumbling up the steep path, and voices mingled in confused talk.The glimmer of a couple of lanterns went bobbing in and out among the rocks and bushes.There was a little crowd of eight or ten men, and they came on carelessly, chattering and laughing.Three of them carried axes, and three others a heavy log of wood which they had picked up on their way.

"The log is better than the axes," said one; "take it in your hands this way, two of you on one side, another on the opposite side in the middle.Then swing it back and forwards and let it go.The door will come down, I tell you, like a sheet of paper.But wait till I give the word, then swing hard.One--two--""Stop!" cried Nataline, throwing open the little window."If you dare to touch that door, I shoot."She thrust out the barrel of the rifle, and Marcel's shot-gun appeared beside it.The old rifle was not loaded, but who knew that? Besides, both barrels of the shot-gun were full.

There was amazement in the crowd outside the tower, and consternation, and then anger.

"Marcel," they shouted, "you there? MAUDIT POLISSON! Come out of that.Let us in.You told us--""I know," answered Marcel, "but I was mistaken, that is all.Istand by Mademoiselle Fortin.What she says is right.If any man tries to break in here, we kill him.No more talk!"The gang muttered; cursed; threatened; looked at the guns; and went off to their boat.

"It is murder that you will do," one of them called out, "you are a murderess, you Mademoiselle Fortin! you cause the people to die of hunger!""Not I," she answered; "that is as the good God pleases.No matter.

The light shall burn."