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K.V. Raghavan · Purnendu Ghosh
Editors

Energy
Engineering
Proceedings of CAETS 2015 Convocation
on Pathways to Sustainability
Energy Engineering
K.V. Raghavan Purnendu Ghosh

Editors

Energy Engineering
Proceedings of CAETS 2015 Convocation
on Pathways to Sustainability

123
Editors
K.V. Raghavan Purnendu Ghosh
Indian National Academy of Engineering Birla Institute of Scientific Research
Gurgaon, Haryana Jaipur, Rajasthan
India India

ISBN 978-981-10-3101-4 ISBN 978-981-10-3102-1 (eBook)


DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-3102-1
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016957491

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017


This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part
of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations,
recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission
or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar
methodology now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this
publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from
the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this
book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the
authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or
for any errors or omissions that may have been made.

Printed on acid-free paper

This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature


The registered company is Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #22-06/08 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore
Foreword

I am delighted that the Post Proceedings of the International Council of Academies


of Engineering and Technological Sciences (CAETS) 2015 Convocation on
“Pathways to Sustainability: Energy, Mobility and Healthcare Engineering” held in
New Delhi, India on 13–14 October, 2015, are being brought out. CAETS, being a
nongovernmental international organization of Academies of Engineering from 26
countries, which has the broad objective of advising governments and providing an
international forum for addressing all issues of concern pertaining to engineering
and technology, plays a vital role in promotion of the engineering profession.
Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), a Member Academy of CAETS,
is proud to have had the opportunity of hosting the CAETS 2015 Annual Meeting
and Convocation at New Delhi, India.
The CAETS event brought together eminent engineering luminaries and bright
young engineers from 24 countries on a single platform who shared their
country-specific knowledge on the themes of the Convocation. The CAETS 2015
Convocation focussed on the topics of Energy, Mobility and Healthcare
Engineering which are of topical interest all over the world in recent times. Energy
security, provision of economical modes of transport and mobility and affordable
and high quality facilities for health care are necessary for the citizens of the world

v
vi Foreword

in order to lead comfortable and secure lives. It is indeed apt that the Convocation
addressed key issues in the fields of Energy, Mobility and Healthcare Engineering
that play a vital role in the lives of mankind.
It is a matter of pride that the Convocation had representation of eminent
engineers from academia, R&D and industry from over 24 countries from across the
globe who shared their valuable experience and expertise and enriched the delib-
erations with their thought-provoking presentations. These presentations were
indeed brilliant and stimulating and have resulted in interesting papers which are
showcased in the Post Proceedings. I thank all the authors for devoting their pre-
cious time for contributing papers for the proceedings.
I express my sincere thanks to the editors of the CAETS 2015 Convocation Post
proceedings for their untiring efforts at every stage of planning of the event and in
publication of the Post Proceedings. The assistance and initiative taken by Springer
in bringing out the publication is deeply appreciated.
On behalf of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), it is my
proud privilege to express my deepest gratitude to the CAETS organization for
giving us an opportunity to host this event of international repute for the first time in
India.
I sincerely hope that the event left many pleasant and memorable memories for
all the delegates and am certain that the Post Proceedings of the CAETS 2015
Convocation on “Pathways to Sustainability: Energy, Mobility and Healthcare
Engineering” shall be well accepted in the Engineering realm and by the
Engineering community.

Dr. B.N. Suresh


President, INAE
Honorary Distinguished Professor
Former Member, Space Commission
Former Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Trivandrum
Founder Director, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
ISRO Headquarters, Antariksh Bhawan
Bangalore, India
Preface

Preamble

The CAETS CONVOCATION-2015, hosted by the Indian National Academy of


Engineering (INAE), was held on 13–14 October, 2015, at New Delhi, India.
The CAETS Governing Council had chosen the theme on sustainable engineering
pathways for energy, mobility and healthcare sectors for the conference attended by
250+ delegates comprising of the fellowship of CAETS member academies, senior
engineering experts, scientists, thought leaders, policy makers and industry exec-
utives from Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan,
Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, USA, Uruguay and
other countries. This international event was formally inaugurated by Dr. Harsh
Vardhan, Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Government of India,
and he assured that the recommendations of the CAETS Convocation will be acted
upon by the government. Prof. Asutosh Sharma, Secretary, Department of Science
and Technology, Government of India addressed the gathering and highlighted the
importance of the selected themes for developing nations.
The two unique features of CAETS-2015 were the special gesture made by the
INAE (a) to provide 50 % international travel support and complimentary
accommodation to encourage young engineers below 45 years of age to deliver
lectures in the technical sessions along with eminent senior engineers and (b) to
organize poster sessions and awards to encourage very young engineers and
research scholars from CAETS member academies to present their research work.
These initiatives paid rich dividends by attracting the participation of 30+ young
engineers in CAETS Convocation. Another major initiative is the formal launching
of the electronic version of the CAETS report on “Transitioning to Lower Carbon
Economy: Technological and Engineering Considerations for Building and
Transportation Sectors” during the inaugural function of CAETS
CONVOCATION-2015 by the Chief Guest. This is a joint initiative of 12 CAETS
member academies from Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea,
South Africa, Switzerland and UK. The experts from these academies met at Cape

vii
viii Preface

town (South Africa), Beijing (China), Berlin (Germany) and London (UK) during
2013–15 to identify technological and engineering priorities and emerging options
for transition to lower carbon economy in building and transportation sectors.

Recommendations

Energy

Global energy consumption will grow from 524 to 820 quadrillion BTU between
2010 and 2040 leading to GHG emission increase by more than 40 % from the
present level under business as usual scenario. Since the dynamics of energy growth
is driven by the population and wealth enhancements, it is important to keep track
of these growth dynamics in different countries. Energy resources sustainability as
well as their cost efficiencies would dictate as rapid shift as possible to lower carbon
nonfossil energy systems. Since under this context, recent developments in three
stage thorium-based nuclear energy, large capacity solar thermal power plants, fuel
cell-based independent propulsion systems for strategic and civilian applications,
wind generated hydrogen as a renewable energy carrier and unconventional gas
from coal seams, underground coal gasifications and biohydrogen from waste
resources provide potential lower carbon energy options. A joint voluntary initiative
by CAETS member academies from Argentina, Australia, Canada, China,
Germany, South Africa, Switzerland and UK on unconventional gas involving
basic and social scientists, engineers and economists on unconventional gas pro-
vides a new model for CAETS member academies to emulate in the future.
Developing energy scenarios under various application modes is a powerful
mechanism for devising future energy-efficient systems. A typical example is the
highly interconnected electricity, transport and heating sectors. The coal-based
energy continues to attract engineers to develop cleaner process options and min-
imize GHG emissions keeping in mind the transitional priorities. The actions
include upgradation of beneficiation, ultra supercritical combustion and integrated
gas combined cycle concept for gasification and co-firing of coal and biomass.
China’s achievements in some of these areas are noteworthy. In energy materials, in
which significant developments are taking place worldwide, we have to look
beyond silicon for next generation solar cells by adopting conjugate organics,
inorganic quantum dots and mixed semiconductor oxides/peroxides. Similar chal-
lenges are foreseen in high energy density battery and membrane materials for fuel
cells. Light-based technologies can play a major part in developing future
energy-efficient systems. There is a need to integrate photonic and biophotonic
technologies. In this international year of light technologies, such initiatives have to
be taken to achieve multi-functionality, tunability, low power for fast operations,
reconfigurability and cost-effectiveness so much necessary for energy, mobility and
healthcare sectors.
Preface ix

The transition to lower carbon regime require a careful assessment of current


energy and emission loads at national level for setting energy/emission reduction
targets and timelines. Selection of cost-effective technology and engineering
options and their incentivization for creating new markets are the major challenges.
The expert panel, which deliberated on these issues, stressed the need to develop
high strength light weight materials including nano composites and nano structured
steels and bio, electrochemical and catalytic options for hydrogen generation
adaptable for building and transportation sectors. CAETS need to work closely with
related international bodies such as World Economic Forum, International Panel on
Climate Change and allied agencies.

Mobility

The future engineering challenges lie in the development of semi- and fully auto-
mated transport vehicles, intelligent driver–vehicle interface and innovative
multi-axle hydraulic trailers for heavy loads. The fast changing digital technology
has opened up new avenues for electrifications of rail, air and marine transport
vehicles. The five digital forces, viz. cloud computing, mobile technologies, social
networks, big data and robotics, will make high impact on these developments.
Exciting developments are taking place in bridge design and construction
technologies with urban and rural transport restructuring, virtual mobility and
carbon foot print minimization during their construction as defining factors. Novel
retrofit technologies are needed for their restoration. A life cycle approach
embracing bridge design, construction, maintenance, restoration and dismantling is
a future priority area for civil engineers.
The recent developments in rapid urban rail transportation systems in China,
India and Japan have demonstrated the new engineering skills acquired in the
planning, design and execution of underground tunnels and structures. From
material engineering point of view, material recycle and functionalized material
applications are high priority areas in evolving sustainable roadways.
The dilemmas in mass transportation in emerging economies are many. It is
important to consider seamless connectivity, smart mobility, enforcement of
advanced safety measures, equitable allocations of road space for multiple type of
vehicles and time variant traffic demands.

Health Care

Multitude of engineering challenges await healthcare sector in terms of new


diagnostic tools, next generation medical devices and application of informatics and
analytics. The recent advances in nano and point of care diagnostic, scalable
medical and remote neonatal monitoring systems have enhanced the chances
of early and accessible diagnosis. Structural process concept has greatly helped in
developing groundbreaking technologies for these systems in advanced nations
x Preface

with the help of multi-disciplinary teams comprising engineers, product designers,


business analysts and clinicians.
The concept of regenerative engineering which combines tissue engineering,
material science, cell physics and developmental biology has enabled the tech-
nologies for next generation medical devices. Groundbreaking bionic ear and eye
technologies have enabled notable progress against hearing and visual impairments.
The recent advances in sensors, telecommunication and mobility engineering will
play a major role in evolving next generation device technologies for both com-
municable and noncommunicable diseases. Sensing and data analytic skills provide
new transformational material opportunities in intensive health care. Advanced
computer aided tools based on big data analytics are needed for biologically
meaningful insights into the enormous volume of microbiome data generated from
sequencing platforms.
A panel of experts examined the issue of convergence of engineering and
healthcare sciences. They are certain that the convergence is occurring impressively
due to application of ICT and big analytics in healthcare systems. Several key
issues including affordability of well engineered systems in rural and urban envi-
ronments and engineers role in new drug discovery came up for discussion.
The major takeaways from CAETS Convocation are many. Achieving long-term
sustainability under business as usual mode is virtually impossible in energy,
mobility and healthcare sectors. Major emphasis has to be placed on energy con-
sideration, expanded use of nonfossil primary energy, decarbonisation of existing
energy sources and enhancing the energy efficiency of individual systems. Higher
investment in R&D and demonstration is essential for technologies which are close
to market maturity and those requiring scale up. Commitment from policy makers,
different stakeholders, academic community and market leaders is very essential for
the commercial realization. Ethical practices in Engineering are vital for achieving
high level of successes in every application field particularly so in creating human
artefacts that are nonexistent in nature. Gender enhancement in engineering design
endeavours is essential for developing rational systems. Younger Engineers have to
be given increased responsibilities in evolving innovative engineering systems. The
demand for novel engineering solutions will increase exponentially while devel-
oping smart energy, mobility and healthcare systems. Research, prototyping and
technology transfers in such systems have to be pathbreaking in nature.
The CAETS Engineering Community is committed to create a conducive envi-
ronment for open access information sharing in the above sectors between the
member academies.

Gurgaon, India K.V. Raghavan


Jaipur, India Purnendu Ghosh
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Contents

Low Carbon Pathways for India and the World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1


Anil Kakodkar
Fuel Cell Technologies for Defence Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
J. Narayana Das
Wind Energy for Buildings and Transport Sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
S. Arunachalam
Waste to Biohydrogen: Addressing Sustainability with Biorefinery . . . . 29
S. Venkata Mohan and Omprakash Sarkar
Indian Advances in Fast Breeder Nuclear Reactor Engineering . . . . . . . 39
Baldev Raj and P. Chellapandi
China’s Long Road to the High-Efficiency, Clean and Low-Carbon
Energy Transition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Suping Peng
The Possible Rate of Transition to Lower-Carbon Housing . . . . . . . . . . 59
Philip Lloyd
Solar Cells: Materials Beyond Silicon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Soumyo Chatterjee, Uttiya Dasgupta and Amlan J. Pal
Nano-Bio-Photonics: Integrating Technologies to Meet Challenges
in Energy, Mobility and Healthcare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Sukhdev Roy
Carbon Dioxide to Energy: Killing Two Birds with One Stone . . . . . . . . 93
Samuel A. Iwarere and Deresh Ramjugernath
Multi Scale Optimization of Building Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Stephane Ploix

xi
xii Contents

Emerging Construction Materials for Energy Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . 113


V.K.R. Kodur, M.Z. Naser and P.P. Bhatt
Energy Efficient Power Generation and Water Management
Through Membrane Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
S. Sridhar
Transition to Lower Carbon Energy Regime: Engineering Challenges
in Building and Transportation Sectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
K.V. Raghavan
Energy Options and Scenarios for Transitioning to a Lower Carbon
Economy: An Indian Perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Ajit V. Sapre
Mixed Culture Chain Elongation (MCCE)—A Novel Biotechnology
for Renewable Biochemical Production from Organic Residual
Streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
W.S. Chen, M. Roghair, D. Triana Mecerreyes, D.P.B.T.B. Strik,
Carolien Kroeze and C.J.N. Buisman
Bio-energy and Bio-refinery: Advances and Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Akshat Tanksale
Sulfonated Polyethersulfone/Torlon Blend Membrane Incorporated
with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Energy Production from
Kitchen Wastewater Using Microbial Fuel Cell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Harsha Nagar, G. Anusha and S. Sridhar
Development of Sulfonated Polyethersulfone/Matrimid Acid-Base
Blend Membrane for Energy Production Through Fuel Cells . . . . . . . . . 169
Harsha Nagar, G. Anusha and S. Sridhar
Adaption of a Green Technology (Friction Stir Welding)
to Join Fusion Energy Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Vijaya L. Manugula, Koteswararao V. Rajulapati, G. Madhusudhan Reddy
and K. Bhanu Sankara Rao
Advanced Materials for Indian Future Nuclear Energy Systems . . . . . . 179
G.V. Prasad Reddy, R. Sandhya and K. Laha
Mitigating Embrittlement in Structural Steels of Power Plants
by Grain Boundary Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
T. Karthikeyan, Saroja Saibaba and M. Vijayalakshmi
Author Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
About the Editors

K.V. Raghavan received his B.Tech from Osmania University in 1964 and a MS
and Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, India. He is a
fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), the Indian Institute
of Chemical Engineers (IIChE) and the A. P. Akademi of Sciences (APAS) and is a
distinguished fellow of the University of Grants Commission (UGC). Dr. Raghavan
took up the distinguished professorship of the INAE at the Indian Institute of
Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, in 2008. He became the vice president
(International Cooperation) of the INAE in 2011.
He has held various levels of scientific positions in three national laboratories
of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of India. He was
appointed as the Director of Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai in 1994,
and in 1996, he took over the Directorship of the Indian Institute of Chemical
Technology, Hyderabad. On successful completion of this tenure, he was appointed
as the Chairman of Recruitment and Assessment Centre of DRDO, Ministry of
Defence, Government of India, in May 2004. In addition, Dr. Raghavan chairs
scientific committees of public and private sector bodies on clean technologies,
catalytic ethanol reforming, biorefining and allied areas. The recipient of six
national awards, Dr. Raghavan has published more than 150 papers, filed 45 patents
and edited five books. Chemical process development and design, reaction engi-
neering, simulation and modelling and chemical hazard analysis are his areas of
specialization. His basic research contributions cover the simulation of complex
reactions in fixed bed reactors, hydrodynamics of multi-phase reaction systems,
envirocatalysis for clean processing, zeolite catalysis for macromolecules, ther-
mochemistry and kinetics of charge transfer polymerization and modelling of
chemical accidents. His current research activities are in process intensification of
water–gas shift reaction, catalytic CO2 decomposition, analysis of CO2 capture
technologies and characterization of the reactivity of ionic liquids.
Purnendu Ghosh is the Executive Director, Birla Institute of Scientific Research,
Jaipur. Prior to this, he was Professor at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He
worked at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Zurich, Switzerland;

xiii
xiv About the Editors

University of Melbourne, Australia; National Research Centre for Biotechnology


(GBF), Braunschweig, Germany. He has taken a lead role in augmenting bioprocess
engineering and biotechnology activities in the country as a member of several task
forces of the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. He is currently
the Chief Editor of Publications of Indian National Academy of Engineering. He is
a columnist of a leading newspaper group. Besides technical publications, he has
written books of different genre.
Low Carbon Pathways for India
and the World

Anil Kakodkar

Abstract Despite global consensus on the urgent need to limit global warming,
firm actions to cap and reverse the level of greenhouse gases in earth’s atmosphere
are still eluding us. The large scale developmental needs of the developing world
and the little carbon space that is available to accommodate them in the business as
usual mode clearly requires immediate actions on facilitation and adoption of low
carbon pathways by both the developed and the developing countries. In the Indian
context, it appears that meeting the anticipated very large growth in energy needs
using energy re-sources available within the country, in a sustainable way, would
also require adoption of non-fossil energy pathways on a relatively urgent basis.
The presentation discusses some approaches towards ensuring sustainable energy
supply for meeting development aspirations of a large developing country like India
through non-fossil means.

Keywords Nuclear energy  Solar energy  Non-fossil energy  Sustainable


energy supply

1 Introduction

International Energy Agency’s recently released report, “World Energy Outlook


2015” projects that in the new policies scenario (the central scenario), the global
energy demand would grow by nearly one-third between 2013 and 2040, with all of
the net growth coming from non-OECD countries and OECD demand ending 3 %
lower. Despite signs that a low-carbon transition is underway, energy-related CO2
emissions are projected to increase to 36.7 Gt in 2040, 16 % higher than in 2013.
Climate pledges for COP21, if fully realized including through projected investment
needs of $13.5 trillion in low-carbon technologies and efficiency by 2030, could

A. Kakodkar (&)
INAE Satish Dhawan Chair of Engineering Eminence, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre,
Trombay, India
e-mail: kakodkaranil@gmail.com

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017 1


K.V. Raghavan and P. Ghosh (eds.), Energy Engineering,
DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-3102-1_1
2 A. Kakodkar

possibly mean a temperature rise of 2.7 °C [1]. The efforts thus are not yet enough
to move the world onto a pathway consistent with the 2 °C climate goal.
Current total Indian energy use stands at around 0.8 Btoe per year. India’s
energy demand during this period would see a large rise driven by new infras-
tructure, an expanding middle class and 600 million new electricity consumers. By
2040, India would close in on United States in terms of energy demand even though
demand per capita would remain 40 % below the world average [1]. India is set to
contribute more than any other country to the projected rise in global energy
demand, around one-quarter of the total. To reach a human development index
(HDI) comparable with that in advanced countries (*0.92), India’s energy con-
sumption needs to rise to around 4 Btoe per year. Although the total primary energy
resources (coal, oil and gas) in India are estimated at around 360 Btoe, actual
minable resource (particularly coal) is likely to be much less. The desirable level of
energy use to sustain a decent human development index (*0.9+) is unlikely to be
sustained (see Table 1) on the basis of available fossil energy resources in the

Table 1 Indian energy resources


Sr. Parameter Total Per capita Remarks
No.
1 Current (2015) 0.820 Btoe 640 Kgoe Most of oil and some
energy use per gas and coal imported.
year Import of energy likely
to rise steeply (>5–7
times in 15–20 years)
2 Desirable 4.125 Btoe 2500 Kgoe To reach HDI of 0.9+
energy use per
year
3 Total primary 361.8 Btoe Actual mineable is
energy reserves much less. Need
(coal, oil, gas) technology to make
better use of available
resource
4 Total *300,000 MW (peak) *5 % of requirement
renewable
potential (incl.
hydro, excl.
solar)
0.2 Btoe/year
5 Solar resource *45,000 km2 which Needs emphasis on
corresponds to a fourth solar thermal (for both
of barren and electricity and
uncultivable land in hydrogen)
India would be
sufficient to meet entire
electricity requirements
(*20 % of total energy
requirement)
6 Nuclear Uranium *87 Btoe On the basis of nuclear
resource Thorium >600 Btoe recycle
Low Carbon Pathways for India … 3

country for a long enough time. Already India imports nearly a third of its energy
requirement. Projections are that the energy imports would grow by 5–7 times in
next 15–20 years mostly in the form of fossil energy. This clearly would have
serious implications in terms of balance of payments. Not only the import bill in
absolute terms would be large but the implications of potential volatility would be
even larger. Thus quite apart from concerns related to climate change and energy
resource sustainability, the implications related to large scale import of fossil energy
would also dictate a rather rapid shift to non-fossil energy.

2 Non-fossil Energy

The Table 1 above which has been put together on the basis of available data from
different sources also indicates that renewable energy excluding solar but including
hydro would constitute about 5 % of the total requirement of 4 Btoe per year. Thus
while all these energy sources are important in the short run, we need to aggres-
sively develop solar energy and nuclear energy, both of which are available on the
Indian land mass in abundant measure, to ensure sustainable high quality of life of
our people.
India’s ‘intended nationally determined contribution’ (INDC) announced before
Paris Conference (CoP 21) clearly states the intention to reduce the emissions
intensity of its GDP by 33–35 % from 2005 level and to achieve about 40 %
cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy
resources, by the year 2030, with the help of transfer of technology and low cost
international finance, including from Green Climate Fund. An assessment of our
current non-fossil electricity generation indicates a generation capacity of
81,757 MWe as on August 2015. By the year 2030, the electricity generation
capacity is likely to be around 746 GWe [2]. Thus around 215 GWe non-fossil
energy based generation capacity would need to be added in next fifteen years.
Government of India has already set a target of generating 175 GWe of renewable
energy by the year 2022. Taking this and the expected contributions from nuclear
and hydro sector into account, there should be no difficulty in realising the
non-fossil energy based generation target as spelt out in our INDC. Looking at the
larger problem discussed earlier, we could perhaps do much more.
A question may be raised on the need to pursue both solar and nuclear energy. In
this context, it is important to recognise the need to have a basket of energy supply
with built in diversity. As it is, in the long run, we have only two options as of now.
Besides the two sources have different but complimentary features. One available
24  7, the other intermittent. One suitable for decentralised generation, the other
for central generation. To en-sure stable operation of the grid in a cost effective
way, there should be a minimum base load generation which can more easily be
from nuclear plants while distributed solar generation closer to load can help reg-
ulation. Concurrent use of both solar and nuclear is therefore inevitable.
4 A. Kakodkar

There are however challenges that we need to recognise and overcome. For large
scale deployment both solar and nuclear energy, establishment of competitive
domestic supply chain is a must. In case of nuclear energy, the technology for
manufacture of required materials and equipment has been developed for reactor
systems like PHWRs and FBRs developed locally. We need to be doing similar
thing for reactors based on imported technology. Thus while availability of tech-
nology may not be a big issue, the program deployment rate is rather slow. On the
other hand, in case of solar, the deployment rate has really picked up but there are
difficulties in sustaining manufacturing supply chain with basic raw material
manufacture in the country practically non-existent. Since large investments are
involved in such programmes, it is important that good part of that money is spent
in the country to support local industry and related job creation.

3 Solar Energy

While deploying solar energy, we must invariably attend to specific Indian


requirements such as high temperature, high dust level, water scarcity, possibility of
abrasion in case of installations located in desserts, uneven terrain in case of
installation located in hilly areas and mountains, (both these location choices are
otherwise attractive in view of high insolation and relative freedom from land use
conflicts) etc. There is also merit in revisiting DC end use appliances running on
photovoltaic sources because of their significant potential in terms of better eco-
nomics as well as better energy efficiency. Cost effective energy storage continues
to be the biggest challenge in large scale penetration of solar power.
In case of solar thermal technology, it’s potential for competitive 24  7 elec-
tricity generation through large capacity plants has not yet been fully recognised.
Further, solar thermal technology is inevitable for realising the role of solar energy
as primary energy that can be used for both production of electricity as well as for
pyro-processes including for production of hydrocarbon substitutes or even
hydrogen. An added advantage with solar thermal technology is the possibility of
near full indigenisation relatively easily. There is also the possibility to realise
viability even with small solar thermal installations with the developments like
Brayton cycle and related equipment.
In order to demonstrate solar thermal power generation technologies on MWe
scale from where credible extrapolations for viability of large capacity plants can be
made, two projects are currently being worked upon. BARC and ONGC are
developing a 2 MWe solar thermal beam down facility. Such a facility, since its
receiver furnace is located on ground, can also be used to explore the use of solar
energy for other pyro-chemical or pyro-metallurgical processes. The other project is
being developed by IIT Bombay and NTPC for setting up a 3.5 MWe plant capable
of round the clock operation.
Development of solar technology products consistent with specific Indian needs
including technologies for their manufacture needs much greater attention. An
Low Carbon Pathways for India … 5

important strategy could be to promote such technology product development in a


demand driven mode by selecting and supporting a few of proposals made jointly
by an industry and a laboratory against the requests issued for the purpose. We also
need to develop policies that encourage market entry of duly qualified products so
developed.

4 Nuclear Energy

The three stage nuclear power programme of our country is well on its way in
technological terms. The international embargos that the programme was facing are
largely gone without our having to compromise on our strategic autonomy. While
we continue to pursue further advancing the technology, the need of the hour is to
accelerate programme deployment overcoming the barriers faced. While large scale
thorium utilisation remains the key long term objective, there are also possibilities
of a more rapid global deployment of nuclear energy leveraging some of the
attributes of thorium [3]. Use of thorium matrix fuels in most of existing reactors
could well address the concerns related to nuclear proliferation as well as safety and
long term waste management without adversely impacting on energy use and
economy. India with her advancement in the area of thorium is well placed to take a
lead in this context.
Accelerator driven sub-critical reactor systems have the potential to efficiently
transmute long lived radio-active species and also permit some growth with thorium
fuelled systems. This along with partitioning technologies could also virtually
eliminate the long term waste problem. In addition to the technologies related to the
three stages of our nuclear power programme, we also need to develop technologies
for use of nuclear energy as primary energy source providing high temperature to
permit pyro processes as mentioned earlier. We need high temperature reactors for
this purpose. Development on these fronts is well underway.

5 Role of Solar and Nuclear Energy as Primary Energy

Apart from developing these two primary energy resources for production of
electricity, a major thrust would be needed to produce non-fossil
hydrocarbons/hydrogen from these primary resources, so that all segments of
energy demand can be addressed. Thus apart from building high temperature
capability in solar and nuclear energy technologies, one would require several other
technologies such as for production of hydrogen in a more economical way, use of
bio-mass and hydrogen for production of hydrocarbon substitutes for use in
transportation and other sectors, possibility of recycle of CO2 through biomass and
other modes [4] of CO2 sequestration, appliances/equipment that can use alternate
fluid fuel forms such as hydrogen and a host of such other technologies. Following
6 A. Kakodkar

Fig. 1 Transition to fossil carbon free energy cycle

such a strategy, one can indeed make a transition to nonfossil carbon energy cycle,
a matter of crucial importance to limiting the global warming. Such a programme
needs to be pursued with a time bound mission mode approach (Fig. 1).

6 Concluding Remarks

India’s energy challenges are very large with ramifications not just for India but for
the whole world. Fortunately the challenge of climate change, sustainability and
finance all point towards a common solution. However intense R&D in a mission
mode is necessary to develop appropriate solutions and put them in place.

References

1. World Energy Outlook (Executive Summary, Fact Sheet, Presentation to Press), International
Energy Agency, 2015
2. India Energy Outlook—World Energy Outlook special report, International Energy Agency
2015
Visit https://textbookfull.com
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collection of eBooks, textbook
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Low Carbon Pathways for India … 7

3. Anil Kakodkar, in Towards Sustainable Secure and Safe Energy Future Leveraging.
Opportunities with Thorium” Thorium Energy Conference 2013 (ThEC 13) CERN Geneva
28–31 Oct 2013
4. C. Graves, S.D. Ebbesen, M. Mogensen, K.S. Lackner, Sustainable hydrocarbon fuels by
recycling CO2 and H2O with renewable or nuclear energy. Renew. Sustain. Energ. Rev. 15, 1
(2011)
Fuel Cell Technologies for Defence
Applications

J. Narayana Das

Abstract By virtue of their distinct features like autonomy, low signatures, no


emissions, high specific energy etc., fuel cells could find a number of applications
in the defence sector. Depending on the specific context, the requirement could be
for a wearable, portable or distributed power supply. Powering unmanned aerial
vehicles, ground vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles form a separate
regime. High levels of efficiency, reliability, reproducibility, robustness to meet the
MIL standard environmental tests etc., are the prerequisites for military hardware.
The salient features of fuel cells are touched upon in this context and design
approach for a fuel cell based AIP system for submarines is discussed in brief.

 
Keywords Fuel cells Soldier power Portable power  Auxiliary power 

Unmanned vehicle propulsion AIP for submarines

1 Introduction

Defence forces look forward to self sufficiency in every situation and location.
Power and energy supply must be robust, reliable and versatile. Batteries of several
types and specifications have been specially engineered and are in wide use by the
Army for their forward area detachments and by the Air force and Navy for
autonomous vehicles and remote operation fields. The concept of fuel cell
demonstrated by Dr. William Grove in 1839, has undergone numerous innovative
up gradations and has got adapted and diversified into several types. Low acoustic
signature, low thermal signature, practically no chemical emission, improved
specific energy, high energy density, reduced recharging cycle times etc., are
important features of fuel cells weighing against the best of battery choices, as far as
the military segment is concerned. These features are of significance to the civil
sector as well. Still the industry has not been able to penetrate the market, to the

J. Narayana Das (&)


NPOL, Trikkakara, Kochi 682021, India
e-mail: jpndas@gmail.com

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017 9


K.V. Raghavan and P. Ghosh (eds.), Energy Engineering,
DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-3102-1_2
10 J. Narayana Das

extent it should have; despite the global green energy campaign. According to a
2015 review, cumulative installed capacity of fuel cells since 1995 is just about
1 GW [1] and the shipment of units forecast for 2015 is around 160,000, all
categories included.
Batteries and Fuel cells are both power on demand devices based on electro-
chemical energy conversion. In batteries the stored chemical energy is released as
electrical energy as a result of reactions between the electrodes and the electrolyte.
Once the reactants are consumed, the battery stops delivering power and needs to be
recharged using electrical energy from external sources. In fuel cells, though
electrical energy is generated through electrode reactions, the reactants per say are
not stored in the cells and can continue to give rated power output as long as supply
of the fuel and oxidant could be maintained.
Polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) uses a solid polymer electrolyte membrane
for exchange of the H+ ion facilitating the anode and cathode reactions of Hydrogen
and Oxygen, using Platinum and alloy catalysts. Relatively lower service life,
stringency of material specifications and the need for extremely high purity of
Hydrogen, etc., are the limiting factors. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are made up
of ceramic and cermet electrodes and electrolyte systems such as Yttria Stabilized
Zirconia (YSZ). They are robust in nature. No gel or liquid or polymer membrane is
involved. However, the engineering challenges are several, since the operating
temperatures are as high as 800–1000 °C. Handling Hydrogen gas at such high
temperatures is a safety critical issue. In stationary systems SOFC is finding large
scale application, primarily due to the flexibility in fuel choice. Ni-cermet anode
used in SOFCs, has very poor sulfur tolerance below 800 °C. To be successful in
automobiles, PEFC system must operate at 110–120 °C, which causes associated
performance and degradation issues [2].
In Phosphoric acid fuel Cell (PAFC), phosphoric acid spread over a porous
supporting substrate forms the basic electrolyte layer. Platinum and platinum alloys
on Carbon form the catalysts. Handling the corrosive acid, maintaining its con-
centration and choice of acid resistant materials are the critical engineering chal-
lenges. Though the operating temperature is higher in comparison with PEFC,
better tolerance to impurities in the reactants is a specific advantage. Overall power
to weight ratio is lower than that of PEFC. But PAFC has much longer service life.
Alkaline Fuel Cells (AFC) have the fastest kinetics. The electrode support is typ-
ically Ni mesh or foam. The separator media is alkali (typically KOH) soaked
asbestos membrane. Such systems can use metallic bipolar plates, and thereby
reduce cost. However, their vulnerability to poisoning by CO2, corrosion of the
electrodes, dilution of alkali in the cell etc., are issues that restrict the use of AFC.
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFC) use fused alkali carbonates as primary
electrolyte and bipolar plates are of metal alloys. Since operating temperature is
high, faster kinetics is possible. Major problem encountered is the corrosion of
electrodes.
In all of the above cases hydrogen fuel is supplied externally, either as stored
gas/liquid, or through reforming hydrocarbons. Alternately decomposition of per-
oxides is also practiced as an option. In Direct Fuel Cells (DFC) hydrogen
Fuel Cell Technologies for Defence Applications 11

containing materials like methanol or sodium borohydride is directly used as the


fuel, rather than using an external fuel processor or reformer, to generate hydrogen
online. Such fuel cells are more compact though they suffer from much slower
kinetics.

2 Potential Defence Applications

Simplicity, durability, ruggedness and high level of autonomy, are essential features
of any military hardware. Systems should have fault diagnostics and self protection
features. Detailed maintenance plans, mean time between failures (MTBF), mean
time to repair (MTTR), etc. are important statistical parameters of interest to the
military customer.
Air force bases in forward areas and remote locations need assured electric
power for battery charging, auxiliary power for surveillance and regular power for
communication equipment. Long endurance unmanned aerial vehicles also need
agile power sources. Navy’s strategic need of electrical power is for running the
unmanned underwater vehicles and air independent propulsion systems for non
nuclear submarines. The land forces cannot be confined to pre chartered fields and
terrains. Power supply would have either been destroyed or had never existed in the
new posts they occupy. Based on the typical operating environment and user
perspectives, army’s power requirements can be classified into soldier power,
auxiliary power units (APU), autonomous systems, distributed power plants etc.
[3]. US department of defence has carried out a comprehensive study and has
identified the distinct areas, as soldier wearable and portable power, auxiliary power
units for ground vehicles, ships, and aircrafts, non-tactical light-duty vehicles,
propulsion power for ships, submarines, autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs)
and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) [4].

2.1 Soldier Power

Portable high density power source is vital for the modern war fighter to meet his
C4I system needs. Apart from the communication equipment, power is required for
helmet mounted displays, mobile computer, data modems etc. Primary challenge is
to keep the system weight low. High temperature PEFC with methanol reformer is a
choice for 25–55 W systems. Portable model JENNY 600 S from M/s. SFC Energy
can directly power electrical devices or recharge secondary batteries. The fuel
cartridge contains methanol and has a capacity of 400 Wh each. Ultracell has been
able to pass several models of their reformed methanol fuel cells (RMFC) through
the rigorous test procedures of the US army. PEFC based prototypes developed by
M/s Ballard power systems is using sodium borohydride as the primary fuel. Naval
Materials Research Laboratory, (NMRL), India has developed a 100 W system
12 J. Narayana Das

based on PEFC technology, integrated with online hydrogen generator, for man
portable field power applications. The system can provide 100 W power for 10 h
for every 1 l of liquid fuel.
Operation at low ambient temperatures of the order of −20 °C, as well as per-
formance at low ambient oxygen levels, typical of the high altitudes has to be
specially factored in the design of fuel cells for such applications. For use in desert
regions, the system should take care of high temperature autocatalysis of hydrogen
donor materials employed. Similarly, if liquid fuels like methanol is used, due
consideration should be given to the fuel’s flash point. Air breathing systems should
employ dust filters engineered to take care of the desert storms. Practically no repair
is possible in the field. Systems should have long enough MTBF. Power condi-
tioning to meet the input requirement of specific devices and qualification of system
to MIL standards of EMI/EMC are other engineering challenges.
Lower end of soldier power, say around 20 W, can be met by direct ethylene
glycol—anion exchange membrane based fuel cell. Ethylene glycol being an
anti-freeze material is suitable for low temperature locations like northern sectors of
India. Direct Methanol Fuel cells are also showing high potential for such low
power applications. A wearable fuel cell together with disposable fuel cartridge can
provide higher energy density than the best of the lithium primary cells.

2.2 Auxiliary Power Units (APU)

Field deployed vehicles and battle tanks of army need on-board power for electrical
and electronic devices in use. Auxiliary power required during ‘silent watch’ should
leave absolutely low signatures. Such systems should be capable of autonomous
operation without operator intervention. The system should be engineered to give
high levels of reliability under extreme environments of temperature, dust,
humidity, shock and vibrations. Processes should not leave observable emissions of
chemicals, smoke, light or sound. Ideally their thermal signatures should also be
very low. Power conditioners and associated electrical circuitry should conform to
MIL standard EMI/EMC specifications. This is a specific application where the
conventional diesel power generators can be replaced with fuel cell generators for
significant strategic advantages. Weight and volume considerations are important;
but not as critical as in the case of man portable systems. However, the systems
need to be all weather resistant, robust and highly reliable. Operator intervention
and maintenance requirements should be minimal.
NMRL has developed a PAFC based 10 kW generator car that uses an inte-
grated methanol reformer for in situ hydrogen generation. This power source can be
used with advantage for ad hoc repair facilities for field equipment. They are also
handy for enhancing relief operations in distress management and for providing
emergency medical assistance camps in the remote locations.
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V
THE OUTLAW

By Hamlin Garland
From “They of the High Trails,” copyright, 1916, by Harper
& Brothers. By special permission of the author.

Freeman Ward, geologist for the government, was not altogether


easy in his mind as he led his little pack-train out of Pinedale, a
frontier settlement on the western slope of the Rocky Mountain
divide, for he had permitted the girl of his deepest interest to
accompany him on his expedition.
Alice Mansfield, accustomed to having her way, and in this case
presuming upon Ward’s weakness, insisted on going. Outwardly he
had argued against it, making much of the possible storms, of the
rough trails, of the cold and dampness. But she argued that she was
quite as able to go as Mrs. Adams, the wife of the botanist of the
expedition. So Ward had yielded, and here these women were
forming part of a cavalcade which was headed for Frémont Peak,
concerning whose height and formation the leader wished to inform
himself. Alice was, however, a bit dashed by Ward’s change of
manner as he laid upon his train his final instructions.
“There is to be no skylarking,” he said, “and no back-tracking.
Each one is to exercise great care. We cannot afford to lose a horse
nor waste our provisions. This is not a picnic excursion, but a serious
government enterprise. I cannot turn back because of any discomfort
you may encounter in camp.”
“I am ready for what comes,” Alice answered, smilingly.
But she rode for the rest of the day remarkably silent. There had
been times when she was certain that Ward cared a great deal for
her—not in the impersonal way indicated by his reprimand—but in
the way of a lover, and she was very fond of him, had indeed looked
forward to this trip in his company as one sure to yield hours of
delightful intimacy. On the train he had been very devoted, “almost
lover-like,” Peggy Adams insisted. But now she was dismayed by his
tone of military command.
Their first day’s march brought them to a beautiful water called
Heart Lake, which shone dark and deep amid its martial firs at the
head of one of the streams which descended into the East Fork, and
there the guides advised a camp. They were now above the hunters,
almost above the game, in a region “delightfully primeval,” as the
women put it, and very beautiful and peaceful.
After the tents were in order and the supper eaten, Alice, having
tuned up her little metal banjo, began to twitter tender melodies (to
the moon, of course), and the long face of the man of science
broadened and he seemed less concerned about rocks and fauna
and flora.
The camp was maintained at Heart Lake for a day while Ward and
his men explored the various gorges in order to discover a way into
Blizzard Basin, which was their goal. They returned to camp each
time more and more troubled about the question of taking the
women over the divide into the “rough country” which lay to the
north.
“It is a totally different world,” Adams explained to his wife. “It is
colder and stormier over there. The forest on the north slopes is full
of down-timber and the cliffs are stupendous. I wish you girls were
back in the settlement,” and in this wish Ward heartily joined.
However, the more they talked the more determined the women
were to go.
It was like a May day the following noon as they left timber-line
and, following the row of tiny monuments set up by the foresters,
entered upon the wide and undulating stretch of low edges which led
to the summit. The air was clear and the verdureless shapes of the
monstrous peaks stood sharp as steel against the sky. The tender
grass was filled with minute glistening flowers. The wind was gentle,
sweet, moist, and cool.
“Pooh!” said Alice, “this is absurdly easy. Freeman has been
telling us dreadful tales all along just to be rid of us.”
But she began to admit that her escort of four strong men was a
comfort, as the guide explained that this “rough country” had long
been known as the retreat of cattle-thieves and outlaws.
“Do you think there are any such men in here now?” asked Mrs.
Adams.
“Undoubtedly,” Ward said; “but I don’t think, from the condition of
this trail, that they come in on this side of the range. I suspect it’s too
lonely even for a cattle-thief.”
They unsaddled that night on the bank of a stream near a small
meadow, and around the camp-fire discussed the trail which they
were to take next day. The guides agreed that it was “a holy terror,”
which made Alice the more eager to traverse it.
“I like trails that make men quake. I welcome adventure—that’s
what I came for,” she said.
Early the next forenoon, as they were descending the steep north-
slope trail, Alice gave out a cry of pain, and Adams called to Ward:
“Hold on! Allie’s horse is down.”
Ward was not surprised. He rode in continual expectation of
trouble. She was forever trying short cuts and getting snared in the
fallen logs. Once she had been scraped from her saddle by an
overhanging bough, and now, in attempting to find an easier path
down a slippery ridge, her horse had fallen with her. Ward was
ungracious enough to say:
“Precisely what I’ve warned her against,” but he hurried to her
relief, nevertheless.
“Are you badly hurt?” he asked, as she stood before him, striving
to keep back her tears of pain.
“Oh no, not at all badly. My foot was jammed a little. Please help
me on to my horse; I’ll be all right in a minute.”
She put so good a face on her accident that he helped her into her
saddle and ordered the train to move on; but Peggy perceived that
the girl was suffering keenly.
“Sha’n’t we stop, Allie?” she called, a few minutes later.
“No. I’ll be all right in a few minutes.”
She rode on for nearly half an hour, bravely enduring her pain, but
at last she turned to Mrs. Adams and cried out: “I can’t stand it,
Peggy! My foot pains me frightfully!”
Adams again called to Ward and the procession halted, while
Ward came back, all his anger gone.
“We’ll go into camp,” he said, as he examined her bruised foot.
“You’re badly hurt.”
“It’s a poor place to camp, Professor,” protested Gage. “If she can
go on for about fifteen minutes—”
“I’ll try,” she said; “but I can’t bear the stirrup, and my shoe is full of
blood.”
Ward, who was now keenly sympathetic, put her on his own horse
and walked beside her while they slowly crawled down into the small
valley, which held a deep and grassy tarn. Here they went into camp
and the day was lost.
Alice was profoundly mortified to find herself the cause of the
untimely halt, and as she watched the men making camp with
anxious, irritated faces she wept with shame at her folly. She had
seized the worst possible moment, in the most inaccessible spot of
their journey, to commit her crowning indiscretion.
She was ill in every nerve, shivering and weak, and remained for
that day the center of all the activities of the camp. Ward, very tender
even in his chagrin, was constantly at her side, his brow knotted with
care. He knew what it meant to be disabled two hundred miles from
a hospital, with fifty miles of mountain trail between one’s need and a
roof, but Alice buoyed herself up with the belief that no bones were
broken, and that in the clear air of the germless world her wound
would quickly heal.
She lay awake a good part of that night, hearing, above the roar of
the water, the far-off noises of the wild-animal world. A wolf howled,
a cat screamed, and their voices were fear-inspiring.
She began also to worry about the effect of her mishap on the
expedition, for she heard Ward say to Adams: “This delay is very
unfortunate. Our stay is so limited. I fear we will not be able to
proceed for some days, and snow is likely to fall at any time.”
What they said after that Alice could not hear, but she was in full
possession of their trouble. It was not a question of the loss of a few
days; it meant the possible failure of the entire attempt to reach the
Summit.
“Peggy,” she declared, next morning, “the men must push on and
leave you with me here in the camp. I will not permit the expedition
to fail on my account.”
This seemed a heroic resolution at the moment, with the
menacing sounds of the night still fresh in her ears, but it was the
most natural and reasonable thing in the world at the moment, for
the sun was rising warm and clear and the valley was as peaceful
and as beautiful as a park.
Mrs. Adams readily agreed to stay, for she was wholly free from
the ordinary timidities of women, but Ward, though sorely tempted,
replied:
“No. We’ll wait a day or two longer and see how you come on.”
At this point one of the guides spoke up, saying: “If the women
would be more comfortable in a cabin, there’s one down here in the
brush by the lake. I found it this morning when I was wranglin’ the
horses.”
“A cabin! In this wild place?” said Alice.
“Yes, ma’am—must be a ranger’s cabin.”
Ward mused. “If it’s habitable it would be warmer and safer than a
tent. Let’s go see about it.”
He came back jubilant. “It doesn’t seem to have been occupied
very recently, but is in fair shape. We’ll move you right down there.”
The wounded girl welcomed the shelter of a roof, and it was good
to feel solid logs about her helpless self. The interior of the hut was
untidy and very rude, but it stood in a delightful nook on the bank of
a pond just where a small stream fell into the valley, and it required
but a few minutes of Mrs. Adams’ efforts to clear the place out and
make it cozy, and soon Alice, groaning faintly, was deposited in the
rough pole bunk at the dark end of the room. What an inglorious end
to her exalted ride!
Ward seemed to understand her tears as he stood looking down
upon her, but he only said: “I dislike leaving you, even for the day. I
shall give up my trip.”
“No, no! you must go on!” she cried out. “I shall hate myself if you
don’t go on.”
He reluctantly yielded to her demand, but said: “If I find that we
can’t get back to-morrow I will send Gage back. He’s a trusty fellow. I
can’t spare Adams, and Smith and Todd—as you know—are paying
for their trip.”
Mrs. Adams spoke up firmly. “You need not worry about us. We
can get along very well without anybody. If you climb the peak you’ll
need Gage. I’m not afraid. We’re the only people in this valley, and
with this staunch little cabin I feel perfectly at home.”
“That’s quite true,” replied Ward in a relieved tone. “We are above
the hunters—no one ever crosses here now. But it will be lonely.”
“Not at all!” Alice assured him. “We shall enjoy being alone in the
forest.”
With slow and hesitating feet Ward left the two women and swung
into his saddle. “I guess I’ll send Gage back, anyhow,” he said.
“Don’t think of it!” called Peggy.
As a matter of fact, Alice was glad to have the men pull out. Their
pity, their reproach, irritated her. It was as if they repeated aloud a
scornful phrase—“You’re a lovely and tempting creature, but you’re a
fool-hen just the same.”
The two women spent the day peacefully, save now and then
when Alice’s wounded foot ached and needed care; but as night
began to rise in the cañon like the smoke of some hidden, silent,
subterranean fire, and the high crags glowed in the last rays of the
sun, each of them acknowledged a touch of that immemorial awe of
the darkness with which the race began.
Peggy, seating herself in the doorway, described the scene to her
patient, who could see but little of it. “Oh, but it’s gloriously uncanny
to be here. Only think! We are now alone with God and His animals,
and the night.”
“I hope none of God’s bears is roaming about,” replied Alice,
flippantly.
“There aren’t any bears above the berries. We’re perfectly safe.
My soul! but it’s a mighty country! I wish you could see the glow on
the peaks.”
“I’m taking my punishment,” replied Alice. “Freeman was very
angry, wasn’t he?”
“If it breaks off the match I won’t be surprised,” replied Peggy, with
resigned intonation.
“There wasn’t any match to break off.”
“Well!” replied the other, and as she slowly rose she added: “I
won’t say that he is perfectly distracted about you, but I do know that
he thinks more of you than of any other woman in the world, and I’ve
no doubt he is worrying about you this minute.”

II

It was deep moonless night when Alice woke with a start. For a
few moments she lay wondering what had roused her—then a bright
light flashed and her companion screamed.
“Who’s there!” demanded the girl.
In that instant flare she saw a man’s face, young, smooth, with
dark eyes gleaming beneath a broad hat. He stood like a figure of
bronze while his match was burning, then exclaimed in breathless
wonder:
“Great Peter’s ghost! a woman!” Finally he stepped forward and
looked down upon the white, scared faces as if uncertain of his
senses. “Two of them!” he whispered. As he struck his second match
he gently asked: “Would you mind saying how you got here?”
Alice spoke first. “We came up with a geological survey. I got hurt
and they had to leave us behind.”
“Where’s your party gone?”
“Up to the glaciers.”
“When did they leave?”
“Yesterday morning.”
“When do you expect them back?”
“Not for two or three days.”
He seemed to ponder a moment. “You say you’re hurt? Where?”
“My horse slipped and fell on my foot.”
“Wait a minute,” he commanded. “I’ll rustle a candle. I left one
here.”
When his form came out of the dark blur behind his candle Alice
perceived that he was no ordinary hunter. He was young, alert, and
very good-looking, although his face was stern and his mouth bitter.
He laid aside his hat as he approached the bunk in which the two
women were cowering as mice tremble before a cat. For a full
minute he looked down at them, but at last he smiled and said, in a
jocular tone:
“You’re sure-enough women, I can see that. You’ll excuse me—
but when a man comes back to a shack in the middle of the night in
a place like this and finds a couple of women in a bunk he’s likely to
think he’s seeing pictures in his sleep.”
“I can understand that,” Alice returned, recovering her self-
command. “You’re the ranger, I suppose? I told my friend here that
you might return.”
“I’m mighty glad I did,” he said, heartily.
“Thank you; you’re very kind.”
He bent a keen glare upon her. “What’s your name?”
“Alice Mansfield.”
“What’s your friend’s name?”
“Mrs. Adams.”
“Are you a missis, too?”
She hesitated. This was impertinent, but then she herself was an
intrusive guest. “No,” she answered, “I am not married.”
“Where are you from?”
“New York City.”
“You’re a long way from home.”
“Yes, I’m feeling that this minute.” She drew the coverlet a little
closer to her chin.
He quickly read this sign. “You needn’t be afraid of me.”
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. You’re both all of a tremble and white as two sheep
—”
“It isn’t that,” wailed the girl; “but I’ve twisted my foot again.” Her
moan of pain broke the spell that bound Peggy.
“Would you leave, please, for a moment?” she called to the owner
of the cabin. “I’ve got to get up and doctor my patient.”
“Sure!” he exclaimed, moving toward the door. “If I can do
anything let me know.”
As soon as her patient’s aching foot was eased Peggy opened the
door and peeped out. A faint flare of yellow had come into the east,
and beside the fire, rolled in his blanket, the ranger was sleeping.
Frost covered everything and the air was keen.
“He’s out there on the cold ground—with only one blanket.”
“What a shame! Tell him to come inside—I’m not afraid of him.”
“Neither am I—but I don’t believe he’ll come. It’s ’most morning,
anyway—perhaps I’d better not disturb him.”
“Take one of these quilts to him—that will help some.”
Mrs. Adams lifted one of the coverlets and, stealing softly up, was
spreading it over the sleeper when he woke with a start, a wild glare
of alarm in his eyes.
“Oh, it’s you!” he said in relief. Then he added, as he felt the extra
cover: “That’s mighty white of you. Sure you don’t need it?”
“We can spare it. But won’t you come inside? I’m sorry we drove
you out of your cabin.”
“That’s all right. I’m used to this. Good night. I’m just about dead
for sleep.”
Thus dismissed, Peggy went back and lay down beside Alice. “He
says he’s quite comfortable,” she remarked, “and I hope he is, but he
doesn’t look it.”
When she woke again it was broad daylight and Alice was turning
restlessly on her hard bed. In the blaze of the sun all the mystery of
the night vanished. The incident of the return of the ranger to his
cabin was as natural as the coming of dawn.
“He probably makes regular trips through here,” said Mrs. Adams.
But the wounded girl silently differed, for she had read in the
man’s eyes and voice a great deal more than belonged to the
commonplace character of a forest-ranger. That first vision of his
face burned deep.
She had seen on the wall of the station at “the road” the
description of a train-robber which tallied closely with this man’s
general appearance, and the conviction that she was living in the
hidden hut of an outlaw grew into a certainty. “I must not let him
suspect my discovery,” she thought.
Mrs. Adams (who had not read the placard) treated the young
fellow as if he were one of the forest wardens, manifesting complete
confidence in him.
He deftly helped her about breakfast, and when she invited him
into the cabin he came readily, almost eagerly, but he approached
Alice’s bed with a touch of hesitation, and his glance was softer and
his voice gentler as he said:
“Well, how do you stack up this morning?”
“Much better, thank you.”
“Must have been a jolt—my coming in last night the way I did?”
“I guess the ‘jolt’ was mutual. You looked surprised.”
He smiled again, a faint, swift half-smile. “Surprised! That’s no
name for it. For a minute I thought I’d fallen clear through. I hope you
didn’t get a back-set on account of it.”
“Oh no, thank you.”
“How many men are in your party?”
“Six, counting the guides.”
“Who are the men?”
She named them, and he mused darkly, his eyes on her face. “I
reckon I can’t wait to make their acquaintance. I’m going on down
the Green River to-day. I’m sorry to miss ’em. They must be a nice
bunch—to leave two women alone this way.”
He ate heartily, but with a nicety which betrayed better training
than is usual to men in his position. He remained silent and in deep
thought, though his eyes were often on Alice’s face.
As he rose to go he said to Peggy: “Would you mind doing up a
little grub for me? I don’t know just when I’ll strike another camp.”
“Why, of course! I’ll be glad to. Do you have to go?”
“Yes, I must pull out,” he replied, and while she was preparing his
lunch he rolled a blanket and tied it behind his saddle. At last he re-
entered the cabin and, again advancing to Alice’s bedside, musingly
remarked: “I hate to leave you women here alone. It doesn’t seem
right. Are you sure your party will return to-night?”
“Either to-night or to-morrow. Professor Ward intends to climb
Frémont Peak.”
“Then you won’t see him for three days.” His tone was that of one
who communes with himself. “I reckon I’d better stay till to-morrow. I
don’t like the feeling of the air.”
She explained that Gage, one of the guides, would return in case
the professor wished to remain in the heights.
“Well, I’ll hang around till toward night, anyhow.”
He went away for half an hour, and upon his return presented a
cleanly shaven face and a much less savage look and bearing. He
hovered about the door, apparently listening to Peggy’s chatter, but
having eyes only for the wounded girl. He seized every slightest
excuse to come in, and his voice softened and his manner changed
quite as markedly, and at last, while Mrs. Adams was momentarily
absent, he abruptly said:
“You are afraid of me; I can see it in your eyes. I know why. You
think you know who I am.”
“Yes; I’m sure of it.”
“What makes you think so?”
“I saw your picture in the railway station.”
He regarded her darkly. “Well, I trust you. You won’t give me away.
I’m not so sure of her.” He nodded his head toward the open door.
“What would be the good of my betraying you?”
“Two thousand dollars’ reward is a big temptation.”
“Nonsense! If I told—it would be for other reasons. If I were to
betray your hiding-place it would be because society demands the
punishment of criminals.”
“I’m not a criminal. I never lifted a cent from any man. I didn’t get a
dollar from the express company—but I tried—I want you to know,
anyway,” he continued, “that I wouldn’t rob an individual—and I
wouldn’t have tried this, only I was blind drunk and desperate. I
needed cash, and needed it bad.”
“What did you need it for?” asked Alice, with a steady look.
He hesitated, and a flush crept across his brown face. His eyes
wavered. “Well, you see, the old home was mortgaged—and mother
was sick—”
“Oh, bosh! Tell me the truth,” she demanded. “The papers said
you did it for a girl. Why not be honest with me?”
“I will,” he responded, impulsively. “Yes, that’s right. I did it for a
girl—and afterward, when I was on the run, what did she do? Threw
me down! Told everything she knew—the little coyote—and here I
am hunted like a wolf on account of it.” His face settled into savage
lines for a moment. But even as he sat thus another light came into
his eyes. His gaze took account of Alice’s lips and the delicate
rounded whiteness of her neck and chin. Her like he had never met
before. The girls he had known giggled; this one smiled. His
sweetheart used slang and talked of cattle like a herder, but this
woman’s voice, so sweet and flexible, made delightfully strange
music to his ears.
Peggy’s return cut short his confidence, and while she was in the
cabin he sat in silence, his eyes always on the girl. He seized every
opportunity to speak to her, and each time his voice betrayed
increasing longing for her favor.
Mrs. Adams, who had conceived a liking for him, ordered him
about as freely as though he were a hired guide, and he made
himself useful on the slightest hint.
Alice, on her part, was profoundly interested in him, and whenever
her foot would permit her to think of anything else, she pitied him. In
the madness of his need, his love, he had committed an act which
made all the world his enemy, and yet, as she studied his form and
expression, her heart filled with regret. He was very attractive in the
Western way, with nothing furtive or evasive about him.
With a directness quite equal to his own she questioned him about
his reckless deed.
“Why did you do it?” she exclaimed in despair of his problem.
“I don’t know. Hanged if I do, especially now. Since seeing you I
think I was crazy—crazy as a loon. If I’d done it for you, now, it
wouldn’t have been so wild. You’re worth a man’s life. I’d die for you.”
This outburst of passion, so fierce and wild, thrilled the girl; she
grew pale with comprehension of his mood. It meant that the sight of
her lying there had replaced the old madness with a new one. She
was unprepared for this furious outflaming of primitive admiration.
“You mustn’t talk like that to me,” she protested, as firmly as she
could.
He sensed her alarm. “Don’t you be scared,” he said, gently. “I
didn’t mean to jar you. I only meant that I didn’t know such women
as you were in the world. I’d trust you. You’ve got steady eyes. You’d
stick by the man that played his whole soul for you, I can see that. I
come of pretty good stock. I reckon that’s why you mean so much to
me. You get hold of me in a way I can’t explain.”
“Why don’t you fly?” she asked him. “Every minute you spend
here increases your danger. The men may return at any moment.”
“That’s funny, too,” he answered, and a look of singular, musing
tenderness fell over his face. “I’d rather sit here with you and take my
chances.”
“But you must not! You are imperiling your life for nothing.”
“You’re mistaken there. I’m getting something every minute—
something that will stay with me all my life. After I leave you it
doesn’t matter. I came into the hills just naturally, the way the elk
does. After that girl reported me, life didn’t count. Seeing you has
changed me. It matters a whole lot to me this minute, and when I
leave you it’s stormy sunset for me, sure thing.”
Alice gazed upon him with steady eyes, but her bosom rose and
fell with the emotion which filled her heart. She debated calling for
Mrs. Adams, but there was something in the droop of the outlaw’s
head, in the tone of his voice, which arrested her. However sudden
and frenzied his admiration might seem to others, it was sincere and
manly, of that she was persuaded. Nevertheless, she was deeply
perturbed.
“I wish you would go,” she entreated at last, huskily. “I don’t want
to see you taken. You have made yourself a criminal and I ought not
to find excuses for you, but I do. You’re so young. It doesn’t seem as
if you knew what you were doing. Why don’t you ride away into the
wild north country and begin a new life somewhere? Can’t you
escape to Canada?”
He seized eagerly upon her suggestion. “Will you write to me if I
do?”
“No, I cannot promise that.”
“Why can’t I play the ranger here and wait upon you till the men
return?”
“Because Professor Ward read that placard with me. He will know
you instantly. I wish you’d go. Gage may come at any moment now.”
Peggy came in with a disturbed look. “It looks like rain,” she
announced; “the clouds are settling down all over the peaks.”
The outlaw sprang up and went to the door. “It looked bad when I
got up,” he said, as he studied the sky. “I guess we’re in for trouble. It
may be snow.”
His fears were soon realized. Rain began to fall in a thin drizzle,
and at four o’clock the first faint flakes of snow began to flash amid
the gray veils of the water-drops. The women looked at each other in
alarm as the cabin’s interior darkened with the ominous shadow of
the storm.
“I don’t like this a bit,” said Peggy, after a while. “This is no
mountain squall. I wish the men were here.”
“It can’t be anything that will last,” replied Alice. “It isn’t time for the
winter snows.”
“I know,” replied Peggy. “But it’s snowing perfect feather beds
now, and no wind. Lucky this forest-ranger is here. The men may get
lost in this storm.”
“Mercy! Don’t speak of such a thing!” exclaimed Alice; but she
knew, just the same, that Ward and his party were high in the peaks,
far, far above the cabin, and that the storm there would be
proportionately fiercer. She listened with growing thankfulness to the
outlaw’s blows upon the dry limbs of wood that he was chopping for
the fire. He was very capable and would not desert them—of that
she felt assured.
As the man worked on, the women both came to keen realization
of the serious view he took of the storm. He mounted his horse and
with his rope dragged great bundles of fagots from the thickets. As
he came up, laden with one of his bundles of hard-won fuel, Mrs.
Adams asked:
“You don’t think it will keep this up, do you?”
“You never can tell what will happen in these mountains. It doesn’t
generally snow much till later, but you can’t bank on anything in this
range.”
Alice called to him and he stepped inside. “What do you think we’d
better do?” she asked.
“There isn’t a thing you can do, miss. It’s just a case of stick it out.
It may let up by sundown; but, as it is, your party can’t get back to-
night, and if you don’t mind I’ll camp down just outside the door and
keep the fire going.”
“You will be a comfort to us,” she replied, “but I feel that—that you
ought to be going. Isn’t it dangerous for you? I mean you will be shut
in here.”
“If I’m shut in, others are shut out,” he answered, with a grim
smile. “My job is to keep fire.” With these words he returned to his
work of breaking limbs from the dead firs.
Alice said: “If it does turn out as this—this ranger says—if the
storm keeps up, you mustn’t let him sleep out in the snow.”
“Of course not,” said Peggy. “He can sleep inside. I trust him
perfectly—and, besides, you have your revolver.”
Alice smiled a little, wondering how Peggy’s trust would stand the
strain of a fuller knowledge concerning their guardian’s stirring
career.

III

In spite of her knowledge of the mountains and her natural


intrepidity of character the wounded girl’s heart sank as the snow
and the night closed down over the tiny cabin in its covert of firs. To
be on foot in such gloom in the heart of such a wilderness, was
sufficiently awe-inspiring, but to be helpless on a hard bed was to
feel the utter inconsequence of humankind. “Suppose the storm
blocks the trails so that the men cannot return for a week? What will
we do for food?”
Each time she heard the outlaw deliver his burden of wood her
heart warmed to him. He was now her comfort and very present stay.
“If it should happen that the trails become impassable he alone will
stand between us and death,” she thought.
The outlaw came in to say, abruptly, “If you weren’t hurt and if I
weren’t in such a hurry I’d rather enjoy this.”
He slashed his sombrero against his thigh as he spoke, and Mrs.
Adams answered his remark without knowledge of its inner meaning.
“You mustn’t think of sleeping outdoors to-night—Mr.——?”
“Smith. I belong to the big family, the Smiths,” he promptly replied.
“Why don’t you take away that improvised table by the wall and
make your bed there?”
“We’ll need the table,” he responded in a matter-of-fact tone. “I’ll
just crawl under it. What’s giving me most trouble is the question of
grub. They didn’t leave you any too much, did they?”
“But you can kill game, can’t you?” asked Peggy.
“We’re pretty high up for elk, and the blue grouse are scarce this
year, but I reckon I can jump a deer or a ground-hog. We won’t
starve, anyway.”
Alice perceived in his voice a note of exultation. He was glad of
his reprieve, and the thought of being her protector, at least for the
night, filled him with joy. She read his mind easily and the romance
of this relationship stirred her own heart. The dramatic possibilities of
the situation appealed to her. At any moment the men might return
and force her into the rôle of defender. On the other hand, they might
be confined for days together in this little cabin, and in this enforced
intimacy Peggy was sure to discover his secret and his adoration.
The little hovel was filled with the golden light of the blazing
fagots, and through the open door Alice could see the feathery
crystals falling in a wondrous, glittering curtain across the night. The
stream roared in subdued voice as though oppressed by the snows,
and the shadow of the fugitive as he moved about the fire had a
savage, primal significance which awed the girl into silence.
He was very deft in camp work, and cooked their supper for them
almost as well as they could have done it themselves, but he refused
to sit at the table with Peggy. “I’ll just naturally stick to my slicker, if
you don’t mind. I’m wet and my hands are too grimy to eat with a
lady.”
Alice continued to talk to him, always with an under-current of
meaning which he easily read and adroitly answered. This care, this
double meaning, drew them ever closer in spirit, and the girl took an
unaccountable pleasure in it.
After supper he took his seat in the open doorway, and the girl in
the bunk looked upon him with softened glance. She had no fear of
him now; on the contrary, she mentally leaned upon him. Without
him the night would be a terror, the dawn an uncertainty. The brave
self-reliance of his spirit appeared in stronger light as she considered
that for weeks he had been camping alone, and that but for this
accident to her he would be facing this rayless wintry night in
solitude.
He began again to question her. “I wish you’d tell me more about
yourself,” he said, his dark eyes fixed upon her. “I can’t understand
why any girl like you should come up here with a bunch of rock-
sharps. Are you tied up to the professor?”
If Peggy expected her patient to resent this question she must
have been surprised, for Alice merely smiled as if at the
impertinence of a child.
Mrs. Adams replied: “I can tell you that she is—and a very
fortunate girl her friends think her.”
He turned to her with unmoved face. “You mean he’s got money, I
reckon.”
“Money and brains and good looks and a fine position.”
“That’s about the whole works, ain’t it—leastwise he will have it all
when he gets you. A man like that doesn’t deserve what he’s got.
He’s a chump. Do you suppose I’d go off and leave you alone in a
hole like this with a smashed leg? I’d never bring you into such a
country, in the first place. And I certainly wouldn’t leave you just to
study a shack of ice on the mountainside.”
“I urged him to go, and, besides, Peggy is mistaken; we’re not
engaged.”
“But he left you! That’s what sticks in my crop. He can’t be just
right in his head. If I had any chance of owning you I’d never let you
out of my sight. I wouldn’t take a chance. I don’t understand these
city fellows. I reckon their blood is thinned with ice-water. If I had you
I’d be scared every minute for fear of losing you. I’d be as dangerous
to touch as a silver-tip. If I had any place to take you I’d steal you
right now.”
This was more than banter. Even Mrs. Adams perceived the
passion quivering beneath his easy, low-toned speech. He was in
truth playing with the conception of seizing this half-smiling, half-
musing girl whose helpless body was at once a lure and an
inspiration. It was perfectly evident that he was profoundly stirred.
And so was Alice. “What,” she dared ask herself, “will become of
this?”

IV

To the outlaw in the Rocky Mountain cabin in that stormy night it


was in every respect the climax of his life. As he sat in the doorway,
looking at the fire and over into the storm beyond, he realized that he
was shaken by a wild, crude lyric of passion. Here was, to him, the
pure emotion of love. All the beautiful things he had ever heard or
read of girlhood, of women, of marriage, rose in his mind to make
this night an almost intolerable blending of joy and sorrow, hope and
despair.
To stay time in its flight, to make this hour his own, to cheat the
law, to hold the future at bay—these were the avid desires, the
vague resolutions, of his brain. So sure as the day came this
happiness would end. To-morrow he must resume his flight,
resigning his new-found jewel into the hands of another. To this
thought he returned again and again, each time with new adoration
for the girl and added fury and hate against his relentless pursuers
and himself. He did not spare himself! “Gad! what a fool I’ve been—
and yet, if I had been less a fool I would not be here and I would
never have met her.” He ended with a glance toward Alice.
Then he arose, closed the door of the cabin, and stood without
beside the fire, so that the women might prepare for bed. His first
thought of suicide came to him. Why not wait with his love as long as
possible—stay till the law’s hand was in the air above his head,
uplifted to strike, and then, in this last moment, die with this latest,
more glorious passion as climax to his career? To flee meant
endless fear, torment. To be captured meant defeat, utter and final
dismay.
A knock upon the door startled him, and Peggy’s voice cut short
his meditation. “You can come in now, Mr. Smith,” she said.
The broad crystals were still falling thickly and the fire was hissing
and spluttering around a huge root which he had rolled upon it. In its
light the cabin stood hardly higher than a kennel, and yet it housed
the woman whose glance had transformed his world into something
mystical. A man of commonplace ancestry would have felt only an
animal delight in shelter and warmth, but this youth was stirred to a
spiritual exaltation. The girl’s bosom, the rounded beauty of her
neck, appealed to him, but so also did the steady candor of her gaze
and the sweet courage of her lips. Her helplessness roused his
protective instinct, and her words, the sound of her voice, so precise,
so alien-sweet, filled him with bitter sadness, and he re-entered the
house in such spirit of self-abasement as he had never known
before.
He lay down upon the hard floor in silence, his audacity gone, his
reckless courage deep-sunk in gloomy foreboding.
Alice, on her part, could not free her mind from the burden of his
crime. He was so young, and so handsome, to be hunted like a
noxious beast! She had at the moment more concern of him than of
Ward, and in this lay a certain disloyalty. She sighed deeply as she
thought of the outlaw resuming his flight next day. Would it not be
better for him to sacrifice himself to the vengeance of the state at
once and so end it? What right had she to shield him from the law’s
demand? “He is a criminal, after all. He must pay for his rash act.”
She could not sleep, and when he rose to feed the fire she softly
asked, “Does it still storm?”
“No,” he answered in a tone that voiced disappointment; “the sky
is clear.”
“Isn’t that cheering!” she exclaimed, still in the same hushed
voice.
“For you,” he replied. “For me it’s another story.” He felt the desire
for a secret consultation which moved her, and on his way back to
his corner he halted and fixed his eyes upon her in hungry
admiration of her fire-lit face. Then he spoke. “I should have pulled
out before the storm quit. They can trail me now. But no matter; I’ve
known you.”
She still kept to ambiguous speech. “Wouldn’t it be better to give
up and take your—misfortune, and begin again? Professor Ward and
I will do all we can to help you.”
“That’s mighty white of you,” he responded, slowly. “But I can’t
stand the thought of confinement. I’ve been free as an Injun all my
life. Every way of the wind has been open to me. No; just as long as
I can find a wild spot I must keep moving. If it comes to ‘hands up!’ I
take the short cut.” He tapped his revolver as he spoke.
“You mustn’t do that,” she entreated. “Promise me you won’t think
of that!”
He made a stride toward her, but a movement of her companion
checked him.
“Is it morning?” Peggy sleepily asked.
“Not quite,” answered the outlaw, “but it’s time for me to be
moving. I’d like to hear from you sometime,” he said to Alice, and his
voice betrayed his sadness and tenderness. “Where could I reach
you?”
She gave her address with a curious sense of wrongdoing.
He listened intently. “I’ll remember that,” he said, “when I’ve
forgotten everything else. And now—” He reached his hand to her
and she took it.
“Poor boy! I’m sorry for you!” she whispered.
Her words melted his heart. Dropping on his knees beside her
bed, he pressed her fingers to his lips, then rose. “I’ll see you again
—somewhere—sometime,” he said, brokenly. “Good-by.”
No sooner had the door closed behind the outlaw than Peggy rose
in her place beside Alice and voiced her mystification. “Now what is
the meaning of all that?”
“Don’t ask me,” replied the girl. “I don’t feel like talking, and my
foot is aching dreadfully. Can’t you get up and bathe it? I hate to ask

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