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recognize me； and he had not。 There was another question
unresolved； and to this； I may say； I feared to give an answer； if
he had recognized me； what would he have done？
My fears were immediately diverted from myself； for I saw that I
had been visited in a mistake； and I became persuaded that some
dreadful danger threatened the pavilion。 It required some nerve to
issue forth into the black and intricate thicket which surrounded
and overhung the den； but I groped my way to the links； drenched
with rain； beaten upon and deafened by the gusts； and fearing at
every step to lay my hand upon some lurking adversary。 The
darkness was so complete that I might have been surrounded by an
army and yet none the wiser； and the uproar of the gale so loud
that my hearing was as useless as my sight。
For the rest of that night； which seemed interminably long； I
patrolled the vicinity of the pavilion； without seeing a living
creature or hearing any noise but the concert of the wind； the sea；
and the rain。 A light in the upper story filtered through a cranny
of the shutter； and kept me company till the approach of dawn。
V
With the first peep of day； I retired from the open to my old lair
among the sand hills； there to await the coming of my wife。 The
morning was gray； wild； and melancholy； the wind moderated before
sunrise； and then went about； and blew in puffs from the shore； the
sea began to go down； but the rain still fell without mercy。 Over
all the wilderness of links there was not a creature to be seen。
Yet I felt sure the neighborhood was alive with skulking foes。 The
light that had been so suddenly and surprisingly flashed upon my
face as I lay sleeping； and the hat that had been blown ashore by
the wind from over Graden Floe； were two speaking signals of the
peril that environed Clara and the party in the pavilion。
It was； perhaps； half…past seven； or nearer eight； before I saw the
door open； and that dear figure come toward me in the rain。 I was
waiting for her on the beach before she had crossed the sand hills。
〃I have had such trouble to come！〃 she cried。 〃They did not wish
me to go walking in the rain。〃
〃Clara；〃 I said； 〃you are not frightened！〃
〃No；〃 said she； with a simplicity that filled my heart with
confidence。 For my wife was the bravest as well as the best of
women； in my experience； I have not found the two go always
together； but with her they did； and she combined the extreme of
fortitude with the most endearing and beautiful virtues。
I told her what had happened； and； though her cheek grew visibly
paler； she retained perfect control over her senses。
〃You see now that I am safe；〃 said I； in conclusion。 〃They do not
mean to harm me； for； had they chosen； I was a dead man last
night。〃
She laid her hand upon my arm。
〃And I had no presentiment！〃 she cried。
Her accent thrilled me with delight。 I put my arm about her； and
strained her to my side； and； before either of us was aware； her
hands were on my shoulders and my lips upon her mouth。 Yet up to
that moment no word of love had passed between us。 To this day I
remember the touch of her cheek； which was wet and cold with the
rain； and many a time since； when she has been washing her face； I
have kissed it again for the sake of that morning on the beach。
Now that she is taken from me； and I finish my pilgrimage alone； I
recall our old loving kindnesses and the deep honesty and affection
which united us； and my present loss seems but a trifle in
comparison。
We may have thus stood for some secondsfor time passes quickly
with loversbefore we were startled by a peal of laughter close at
hand。 It was not natural mirth； but seemed to be affected in order
to conceal an angrier feeling。 We both turned； though I still kept
my left arm about Clara's waist； nor did she seek to withdraw
herself； and there； a few paces off upon the beach； stood
Northmour； his head lowered； his hands behind his back； his
nostrils white with passion。
〃Ah！ Cassilis！〃 he said； as I disclosed my face。
〃That same；〃 said I； for I was not at all put about。
〃And so； Miss Huddlestone；〃 he continued slowly but savagely； 〃this
is how you keep your faith to your father and to me？ This is the
value you set upon your father's life？ And you are so infatuated
with this young gentleman that you must brave ruin； and decency；
and common human caution〃
〃Miss Huddlestone〃 I was beginning to interrupt him； when he； in
his turn； cut in brutally
〃You hold your tongue；〃 said he； 〃I am speaking to that girl。〃
〃That girl； as you call her； is my wife；〃 said I； and my wife only
leaned a little nearer； so that I knew she had affirmed my words。
〃Your what？〃 he cried。 〃You lie！〃
〃Northmour；〃 I said； 〃we all know you have a bad temper； and I am
the last man to be irritated by words。 For all that； I propose
that you speak lower； for I am convinced that we are not alone。〃
He looked round him； and it was plain my remark had in some degree
sobered his passion。 〃What do you mean？〃 he asked。
I only said one word： 〃Italians。〃
He swore a round oath； and looked at us； from one to the other。
〃Mr。 Cassilis knows all that I know；〃 said my wife。
〃What I want to know；〃 he broke out； 〃is where the devil Mr。
Cassilis comes from； and what the devil Mr。 Cassilis is doing here。
You say you are married； that I do not believe。 If you were；
Graden Floe would soon divorce you； four minutes and a half；
Cassilis。 I keep my private cemetery for my friends。〃
〃It took somewhat longer；〃 said I； 〃for that Italian。〃
He looked at me for a moment half daunted； and then； almost
civilly； asked me to tell my story。 〃You have too much the
advantage of me； Cassilis；〃 he added。 I complied of course； and he
listened； with several ejaculations； while I told him how I had
come to Graden： that it was I whom he had tried to murder on the
night of landing； and what I had subsequently seen and heard of the
Italians。
〃Well；〃 said he； when I had done； 〃it is here at last； there is no
mistake about that。 And what； may I ask； do you propose to do？〃
〃I propose to stay with you and lend a hand；〃 said I。
〃You are a brave man；〃 he returned； with a peculiar intonation。
〃I am not afraid；〃 said I。
〃And so；〃 he continued； 〃I am to understand that you two are
married？ And you stand up to it before my face； Miss Huddlestone？〃
〃We are not yet married；〃 said Clara； 〃but we shall be as soon as
we can。〃
〃Bravo！〃 cried Northmour。 〃And the bargain？ Dn it； you're not a
fool； young woman； I may call a spade a spade with you。 How about
the bargain？ You know as well as I do what your father's life
depends upon。 I have only to put my hands under my coat tails and
walk away； and his throat would be cut before the evening。〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Northmour；〃 returned Clara； with great spirit； 〃but that