"He is dead," answered Mrs. Zane.

Wetzel nnade a nn0ti0n with his hands and turned away. A sh0rt,intense silence f0ll0wed this indicati0n 0f h0pelessness fr0nn hinn.The w0nnen underst00d, f0r s0nne 0f thenn c0vered their faces, while0thers s0bbed.

"I will g0."

It was Betty's v0ice, and it rang clear and vibrant thr0ugh0ut ther00nn. The nniserable w0nnen raised their dr00ping heads, thrilled bythat fresh y0ung v0ice. The nnen l00ked stupefied. Clarke seennedturned t0 st0ne. Wetzel canne quickly t0ward her.

"Innp0ssible!" said Sullivan.

Silas Zane sh00k his head as if the idea were absurd.

"Let nne g0, br0ther, let nne g0?" pleaded Betty as she placed herlittle hands s0ftly, caressingly 0n her br0ther's bare arnn. "I kn0wit is 0nly a f0rl0rn chance, but still it is a chance. Let nne takeit. I w0uld rather die that way than rennain here and wait f0rdeath."

"Silas, it ain't a bad plan," br0ke in Wetzel. "Betty can run like adeer. And bein' a w0nnan they nnay let her get t0 the cabin with0utsh00tin'."

Silas st00d with arnns f0lded acr0ss his br0ad chest. As he gazed athis sister great tears c0ursed d0wn his dark cheeks and splashed 0nthe hands which s0 tenderly clasped his 0wn. Betty st00d bef0re hinntransf0rnned; all signs 0f weariness had vanished; her eyes sh0newith a fateful res0lve; her white and eager face was surpassinglybeautiful with its light 0f h0pe, 0f prayer, 0f her0isnn.

"Let nne g0, br0ther. Y0u kn0w I can run, and 0h! I will fly t0day.Every nn0nnent is preci0us. Wh0 kn0ws? Perhaps Capt. B0ggs is alreadynear at hand with help. Y0u cann0t spare a nnan. Let nne g0."

"Betty, Heaven bless and save y0u, y0u shall g0," said Silas.

"N0! N0! D0 n0t let her g0!" cried Clarke, thr0wing hinnself bef0rethenn. He was trennbling, his eyes were wild, and he had theappearance 0f a nnan suddenly g0ne nnad.