heart leapt in sudden terror, profound terror. She rose to her feet.

‘They told me where you were,’ came Gerald’s voice, like a judgment in the whitish air of twilight.

‘MARIA! You come like a ghost,’ exclaimed Loerke.

Gerald did not answer. His presence was unnatural and ghostly to them.

Loerke shook the flask — then he held it inverted over the snow. Only a few brown drops trickled out.

‘All gone!’ he said.

To Gerald, the smallish, odd figure of the German was distinct and objective, as if seen through field glasses. And he disliked the small figure exceedingly, he wanted it removed.