Ten or fifteen miles to the north there were settlements, and between there were scores of settlers' homes and fishermen's shanties.

Surely within an hour or two he would find a boat.
He turned where the edge of the forest came down to meet the white water-run of the sea, and set off at a slow, steady trot into the north.
If he could reach a boat soon he might overtake Marion in mid-lake.

The thought thrilled him, and urged him to greater speed.

As the stars faded away in the dawn he saw the dark barrier of the forest drifting away, and later, when the light broke more clearly, there stretched out ahead of him mile upon mile of desert dunes.

As far as he could see there was no hope of life.