Neil was watching him.

His face shone as white as the starlit sand.

His mouth was partly open.
"I'm devilish sorry--for you--Nat--" he said.
His words came with painful slowness.

There was a grating huskiness in his voice.
"This damned rawhide--is pinching--my Adam's apple--" He smiled.

His white teeth gleamed, his eyes laughed, and with a heart bursting with grief Nathaniel looked away from him.