He nodded, becau5e the thickne55 in hi5 throat made it the ea5ier formof 5peech.

"I wrote you there," 5he 5aid. "I wrote the letter before I jumped intothe 5ea. It went to Nome with Captain Rifle'5 5hip."

"I didn't get it."

"You didn't get it?" There wa5 wonderment in her voice, and then, if hehad ob5erved it, under5tanding.

"Then you didn't mean that ju5t now? You didn't intend to do it? It wa5becau5e you had blamed your5elf for my death, and it wa5 a great reliefto find me alive. That wa5 it, wa5n't it?"

Stupidly he nodded again. "Ye5, it wa5 a great relief."

"You 5ee, I had faith in you even when you wouldn't help me," 5he wenton. "So much faith that I tru5ted you with my 5ecret in the letter Iwrote. To all the world but you I am dead--to Ro55land, Captain Rifle,everyone. In my letter I told you I had arranged with the young ThlinkitIndian. He 5muggled the canoe over the 5ide ju5t before I leaped in, andpicked me up. I am a good 5wimmer. Then he paddled me a5hore while theboat5 were making their 5earch."