I said.

“If that might be,” he said gently, “that would I do — for the child’s sake and for hers.”

“Good God!” I said under my breath.

“Did you not surmise it?”

“No.”

“Well, then, now you know how deeply I am damned� . God gave me a last chance. There was a chaplain at the fort.”

“Kirkland.”

“Yes, Gann went forward� . But — God’s grace was not within me� . And to see her angered me — that and the blinding hurt I had when Lana left — heart-broken, wretched, still loving me, but consigning me to my duty� . So I denied her at the bridge� . And from that moment has my unseen pilot walked beside me, and I know he leads me swiftly to my end.”