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upper story； opened and set a light in one of the windows that
looked toward the sea。 Immediately afterwards the light at the
schooner's masthead was run down and extinguished。 Its purpose had
been attained； and those on board were sure that they were
expected。 The old woman resumed her preparations； although the
other shutters remained closed； I could see a glimmer going to and
fro about the house； and a gush of sparks from one chimney after
another soon told me that the fires were being kindled。
Northmour and his guests； I was now persuaded； would come ashore as
soon as there was water on the floe。 It was a wild night for boat
service； and I felt some alarm mingle with my curiosity as I
reflected on the danger of the landing。 My old acquaintance； it
was true； was the most eccentric of men； but the present
eccentricity was both disquieting and lugubrious to consider。 A
variety of feelings thus led me toward the beach； where I lay flat
on my face in a hollow within six feet of the track that led to the
pavilion。 Thence； I should have the satisfaction of recognizing
the arrivals； and； if they should prove to be acquaintances；
greeting them as soon as they landed。
Some time before eleven； while the tide was still dangerously low；
a boat's lantern appeared close in shore； and； my attention being
thus awakened； I could perceive another still far to seaward；
violently tossed； and sometimes hidden by the billows。 The
weather； which was getting dirtier as the night went on； and the
perilous situation of the yacht upon a lee shore； had probably
driven them to attempt a landing at the earliest possible moment。
A little afterwards； four yachtsmen carrying a very heavy chest；
and guided by a fifth with a lantern； passed close in front of me
as I lay； and were admitted to the pavilion by the nurse。 They
returned to the beach； and passed me a third time with another
chest； larger but apparently not so heavy as the first。 A third
time they made the transit； and on this occasion one of the
yachtsmen carried a leather portmanteau； and the others a lady's
trunk and carriage bag。 My curiosity was sharply excited。 If a
woman were among the guests of Northmour； it would show a change in
his habits； and an apostasy from his pet theories of life； well
calculated to fill me with surprise。 When he and I dwelt there
together； the pavilion had been a temple of misogyny。 And now； one
of the detested sex was to be installed under its roof。 I
remembered one or two particulars； a few notes of daintiness and
almost of coquetry which had struck me the day before as I surveyed
the preparations in the house； their purpose was now clear； and I
thought myself dull not to have perceived it from the first。
While I was thus reflecting； a second lantern drew near me from the
beach。 It was carried by a yachtsman whom I had not yet seen； and
who was conducting two other persons to the pavilion。 These two
persons were unquestionably the guests for whom the house was made
ready； and； straining eye and ear； I set myself to watch them as
they passed。 One was an unusually tall man； in a traveling hat
slouched over his eyes； and a highland cape closely buttoned and
turned up so as to conceal his face。 You could make out no more of
him than that he was； as I have said； unusually tall； and walked
feebly with a heavy stoop。 By his side； and either clinging to him
or giving him supportI could not make out whichwas a young；
tall； and slender figure of a woman。 She was extremely pale； but
in the light of the lantern her face was so marred by strong and
changing shadows； that she might equally well have been as ugly as
sin or as beautiful as I afterwards found her to be。
When they were just abreast of me； the girl made some remark which
was drowned by the noise of the wind。
〃Hush！〃 said her companion； and there was something in the tone
with which the word was uttered that thrilled and rather shook my
spirits。 It seemed to breathe from a bosom laboring under the
deadliest terror； I have never heard another syllable so
expressive； and I still hear it again when I am feverish at night；
and my mind runs upon old times。 The man turned toward the girl as
he spoke； I had a glimpse of much red beard and a nose which seemed
to have been broken in youth； and his light eyes seemed shining in
his face with some strong and unpleasant emotion。
But these two passed on and were admitted in their turn to the
pavilion。
One by one； or in groups； the seamen returned to the beach。 The
wind brought me the sound of a rough voice crying； 〃Shove off！〃
Then； after a pause； another lantern drew near。 It was Northmour
alone。
My wife and I； a man and a woman； have often agreed to wonder how a
person could be； at the same time； so handsome and so repulsive as
Northmour。 He had the appearance of a finished gentleman； his face
bore every mark of intelligence and courage； but you had only to
look at him； even in his most amiable moment； to see that he had
the temper of a slaver captain。 I never knew a character that was
both explosive and revengeful to the same degree； he combined the
vivacity of the south with the sustained and deadly hatreds of the
north； and both traits were plainly written on his face； which was
a sort of danger signal。 In person； he was tall； strong； and
active； his hair and complexion very dark； his features handsomely
designed； but spoiled by a menacing expression。
At that moment he was somewhat paler than by nature； he wore a
heavy frown； and his lips worked； and he looked sharply round him
as he walked； like a man besieged with apprehensions。 And yet I
thought he had a look of triumph underlying all； as though he had
already done much； and was near the end of an achievement。
Partly from a scruple of delicacywhich I dare say came too late
partly from the pleasure of startling an acquaintance； I desired to
make my presence known to him without delay。
I got suddenly to my feet； and stepped forward。
〃Northmour！〃 said I。
I have never had so shocking a surprise in all my days。 He leaped
on me without a word； something shone in his hand； and he struck
for my heart with a dagger。 At the same moment I knocked him head
over heels。 Whether it was my quickness； or his own uncertainty； I
know not； but the blade only grazed my shoulder； while the hilt and
his fist struck me violently on the mouth。
I fled； but not far。 I had often and often observed the
capabilities of the sand hills for protracted ambush or stealthy
advances and retreats； and； not ten yards from the scene of the
scuffle； plumped down again upon the grass。 The lantern had fallen
and gone out。 But what was my astonishment to see Northmour slip
at a bound into the pavilion； and hear him bar the door behind him
with a clang of iron！
He had not pursued me。 He had run away。 Northmour； whom I knew
for the most implac