She glanced back at him, and smiled at his precaution; then faced resolutely toward the distant shore, swimming easily.

He followed closely, timing his strokes to her own, confident, yet watchful still, while behind them, now but a dim speck in the grey sea, wallowed the deserted raft.
The distance was greater than it had seemed, the twilight deceiving their eyes, while their clothing had a tendency to retard progress.

Weakened by lack of food, and buffetted by cross currents, both were decidedly exhausted by the time their lowering feet finally touched bottom.

Natalie staggered, faint and dizzy from the exertion, but West grasped her in his arms before she could fall, and carried her across the sand beach to the foot of the cliff.

She laughed as he laid her gently down in the soft sand, putting up her arms to him like a child, and drawing his face down until their lips met.
"Oh," she exclaimed breathlessly, "That was glorious, but I hardly had enough strength left to make it.