When you tell me that you no longer doubt--that you accept
me as the friend I would wish to be, I shall be more than
amply repaid for anything which it may have been my good
fortune to have been able to accomplish for your comfort and
safety."
"Then I may partially repay you at once," exclaimed the
girl with a smile, "for I can assure you that you possess my
friendship to the fullest, and with it, of course, my entire
confidence. It is true that I doubted you at first--I doubted
everyone connected with the Halfmoon. Why shouldn't I? But
now I think that I am able to draw a very clear line between
my friends and my enemies. There is but one upon the right
side of that line--you, my friend," and with an impulsive little
gesture Barbara Harding extended her hand to Theriere.
It was with almost a sheepish expression that the Frenchman
took the proffered fingers, for there had been that in the
frank avowal of confidence and friendship which smote upon
a chord of honor in the man's soul that had not vibrated in
response to a chivalrous impulse for so many long years that
it had near atrophied from disuse.
Then, of a sudden, the second officer of the Halfmoon
straightened to his full height. His head went high, and he
took the small hand of the girl in his own strong, brown one.
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