guessIam。IknowIam。ButyouaretheonlyoneIcantalktointhiswayabout——abouthim。AllMawantstotalkaboutnowistheweddingandclothesandsuch，andPaalwaystreatsmeasifI
wasachild。IfeelalmostasifyouweretheclosestfriendI
have，andIknowGeorgefeelsthesame。Hesaysyouhavehelpedhimoutofhistroubles。Iwassureyouwould；thatiswhyIwroteyouthatletter。WearebothSOgratefultoyou。"
Theirgratitudeandtheknowledgeoftheirhappinessweremysoleconsolationsinthistryingtime。TheykeptmefromrepentingwhatIhaddone。Itwashardnottorepent。IfColtonhadonlymadeknownhispurchaseandclosedtheLaneatonce，whilemyresolutionwasredhot，Icouldhavefacedthewrathofthevillageanditsinevitableconsequencesfairlywell，Ibelieved；buthestillkeptsilentandmadenomove。Isawhimonceortwice；ononeoccasionhecameintothebank，buthecameonlytocashacheckanddidnotmentionthesubjectoftheLane。HedidnotlookwelltomeandI
heardhimtellTaylorsomethingabouthis"damneddigestion。"
Theweddingdaycame。I，asbestman，wasbusyandthankfulforthebustleandresponsibility。Theyoccupiedmymindandkeptitfromdwellingonotherthings。Georgeworkedatthebankuntilnoon，gettingreadytoleavetheinstitutioninmychargeandthatofDickSmall，Henry’sbrother，whohadreportedfordutythatmorning。Themarriagewastotakeplaceathalfpastoneintheafternoonandthebridalcoupleweretogoawayonthethreeo’clocktrain。Thehoneymoontripwastobeabriefone，onlyaweek。
Everyable—bodiednativeofDenboro，man，womanandchild，attendedthatwedding，Ihonestlybelieve。ItwasthebestsortofadvertisingforOlindaCahoonandSimeonEldredge，forOlindahadmadethegownswornbythebrideandthebride’smotherandanumberoftheyoungerfemaleguests，andSimhadsoldinnumerablebottlesofapeculiarlypenetratingperfume，alargesupplyofwhichhehadbeentalkedintopurchasingbyaBostontravelingsalesman。
"Smellit，Ros，doye？"whisperedSim，grinningtriumphantlybetweenthepointsofa"stand—up"collar。"Igiveyoumywordwhenthatslick—talkin’drummersoldmeallthatperfumery，I
thoughtIwasstucksureandsartin。ButthenIhadanidee。
Everytimewomenfolkscomeintothestoreandcommencedtotalkabouttheweddin’Isaysto’em，saysI，’Can’tsellyouacoupleofhandkerchiefstocryon，canI，MissSo—and—so？Weddin’saregreatplacesforsheddin’tears，youknow。’IfIsold’emthehandkerchiefsallwellandgood；butiftheylaughedandsaidtheyhadaplenty，Igotoutmysamplebottleof’MayLilock’，that’sthenameofthecologne，andasked’emtosmellofit。’Ifyoucrywiththatonyourhandkerchief，’saysI，’allhandswillbegladtohaveyoudoit。Andonlytwentycentsabottle！’Youwouldn’tbelievehowmuchIsold。Youcansmellthisweddin’aforeyoucomeinsightofthehouse，can’tyenow。"
Youcould，andyoucontinuedtosmellitlongafteryouleft。Mybestsuitreekedof"MayLilac"weekslaterwhenItookitoutofthecloset。
Dorindawasthere，garbedinrustlingblackalpaca，herSundaygownfortenyearsatleast，andmadeoverand"turned"fourorfivetimes。Lutewasondeck，cutawaycoat，"highwater"trousersandpurpletie，grandtolookupon，AlvinBakerandElnathanMulletandAlonzoBlackandThophNewcombandZebKendrickwere，astheItemwouldsay，"amongthosepresent"andifZeb’sblackcutawaysmelledslightlyoffishitwas，atleast，achangefromthepervading"MayLilac。"
CaptainJedstruttedpompouslyabout，monarchoftheday。Hegreetedmegenially。
"Hello，Ros！"hesaid。"Yououthere？Thoughtyou’dbebusyoverhaulin’George’srunnin’riggin’andmakin’surehewasallreadytoheavealongsidetheparson。"
"Ihavebeen，"Ianswered。"Iamonmywaybacktherenow。"
"Allright，allright。Matildygivemefitsfornotstayin’
upstairsuntilthestartin’gunwasfired，butItoldherthat，betweenherwithhereyesfulloftearsandOlindyCahoonwithhermouthfullofpins，’twasnoplaceforamaleman。SoIclearedouttilleverythingwasshipshape。Say，Ros，"helaidhishandonmyshoulderandbenttowhisperinmyear："Say，Ros，"hesaid，"I’mgladtoseeyou’retakin’myadvice。"
"Takingyouradvice？"Irepeated，puzzled。
"Yes；aboutnotplayin’withfire，youknow。Iain’theardofyouandthePrincesscruisin’togetherforthepastweek。Thought’twasbestnottobetoofamiliarwiththeR’yalfamily，didn’tyou？That’sright，that’sright。Wecan’ttakechances。We’vegotDenboroandtheShoreLanetothinkabout，ain’twe？"
Ididnotanswer。Ididnotrisklookinghimintheface。
"She’sliabletobeheremostanytime，Ical’late，"hewenton。
"Nelliewouldinsistoninvitin’her。AndImustsaythat，tobehonest，thepresentshesentisthefinestthat’scomeaboardyet。
TheonlythingI’vegotagainstherisherbadjudgmentinpickin’
afather。If’twan’tforthatI——hello！Who——Why，Ibelieve——"
Therewasacommotionamongtheguestsandheadswereturnedtowardthedoor。Thecaptainstartedforward。Istartedback。Shehadenteredtheroomandwasstandingthere，lookingaboutherwithsmilinginterest。Ihadforgottenthat，consideringherfriendshipwithNellie，shewascertaintobeinvited。
Shewasdressedinasimple，butwonderful，whitegownandworeabunchofliliesofthevalleyatherbosom。Thedoorwaywasdecoratedwithspraysofhoneysuckleandgreenboughsandagainstthisbackgroundshemadeapicturethatbroughtadmiringwhispersfromthepeoplenearme。ShedidnotnoticemeatfirstandI
thinkIshouldhaveescapedbythesidedoorifithadnotbeenforSimEldredge。Simeonwasjustbehindmeandhedartedforwardwithoutstretchedhand。
"Why，howd’yedo，MissColton！"exclaimedSim。"You’rejustintime，ain’tye！Letmegetyouachair。Alvin，"toMr。Baker，who，perspiringbeneaththeunaccustomeddignityofastarchedshirtfront，occupiedafrontseat，"getupandletMissColtonsetdown。"
ShelookedinSim’sdirectionandsawme，standingbesidehim。I
hadnoopportunitytoavoidherlooknow，asIhaddonewhenwemetinthestreet。ShesawmeandIcouldnotturnaway。Ibowed。
Shedidnotacknowledgethebow。Shelookedcalmlypastme，throughme。Isaw，orfanciedthatIsaw，astonishmentonthefacesofthosewatchingus。CaptainJedsteppedforwardtogreetherandIwentintotheadjoiningroom，whereGeorgewasanxiouslyawaitingme。
"Goodland，Ros！"heexclaimed，withasighofrelief，"Iwasbeginningtobeafraidyou’dskippedoutandleftmetogothroughitallalone。Saysomethingtobracemeup，won’tyou；I’mscaredtodeath。Say，"withawonderingglanceatmyface，"what’sstruckYOU？YoulookmoreupsetthanIfeel。"
IbelieveIorderedhimnottobeanidiot。IknowIdidnot"bracehimup"toanyextent。
Itwasaveryprettywedding。Atleasteveryonesaiditwas，althoughtheysaythesameofallweddings，Iamtold。PersonallyIwasverygladwhenitwasover。NelliewhisperedinmyearasI
offeredhermycongratulations，"Weoweitalltoyou，Roscoe。"
Georgesaidnothing，butthelookhegavemeashewrungmyhandwassignificant。ForamomentIforgotmyself，forgottobeenviousofthosetowhomthedoorforhappinesswasnotshut。
AfterallIhadopenedthedoorforthesetwo，andthatwassomething。
IwalkedasfarasthecornerwithLuteandDorinda。Dorinda’seyeswereredandherhusbandcommenteduponit。
"Ithoughtaweddin’wassupposedtobeajoyfulsortofthing，"hesaid，disgustedly。"It’susuallycal’latedtobe。Yetyouandtherestofthewomenfolkssetandcriedthroughthewholeofit。
Whatintimewastheretocryabout？"
"Oh，Idon’tknow，Luther，"repliedDorindain，forher，anunusuallytoleranttone。"Perhapsit’sbecausewe’veallbeenyoungonceandcan’tforgetit。"
"Idon’tforget，nomore’nyoudo。Iain’tsooldthatIcan’trememberthatfurback，Ihope。Butitdon’tmakemefeellikecryin’。"
"Well，allright。Wewon’targueaboutit。Let’sbepleasantaswecan，foronce。"
NowthatiswhereLuteshouldhavetakenthehintandremainedsilent。Atleastheshouldhavechangedthesubject。Buthewashotanduncomfortableand，Isuspect，hisSundayshoesweretight。
Hepersisted。
"Huh！"hesniffed；"Idon’tsee’syou’vegivenmenosensiblereasonforcryin’。IfIrecollectrightyoudidn’tcryatyourownweddin’。"
Hiswifeturnedonhim。Shelookedhimoverfromheadtofoot。
"Didn’tI？"shesaid，tartly。"Well，maybenot。ButifI’drealizedwhatwashappenin’tome，Ishould。"
"Lute，"saidI，asIpartedfromthematthecorner，"Iamgoingtothebankforalittlewhile。ThenIthinkIshalltakeashortrundownthebayintheComfort。DidyoufillhertankwithgasoleneasIaskedyouto？"
Lutestoppedshort。"There！"heexclaimed，"Iknewtherewassomethin’Iforgot。I’lldoitsoon’severIgethome。"
"Whenyougethome，"observedDorinda，firmly，"you’llwashthathenhousewindow。"
"Now，Dorinda，ifthatain’tjustlikeyou！Don’tyouhearRoscoeaskin’meaboutthatgas？I’vehadthatgasinmyheadeversinceyesterday。"
"Um—hm，"wearily。"Well，Ishouldn’tthinkalittleextrymoreorlesswouldmakemuchdifference。Nevermind，don’twasteanymoreonme。Getthegasoutofyourhead，ifRoscoewantsyouto。Youcanwashthewindowafterward。"
Lute’spartingwordswerethathewouldfillthattanktheveryfirstthing。Ifhehad——butthere！hedidn’t。
CHAPTERXVIII
Thefoghadcomealmostwithoutwarning。When，afterleavingthebank，atfouro’clockorthereabouts，IwalkeddowntotheshoreandpulledmyskiffouttowheretheComfortlayathermoorings，therehadnotbeenasignofit。NowIwasneartheentranceofthebay，somewhereabreastCrowPoint，andallaboutmewasgray，wetblankness。SittinginthesternofthelittlelaunchIcouldseeperhapsascanttenfeetbeyondthebow，nomore。
Itwasthesuddenshiftofthewindwhichhadbroughtthefog。
WhenIlefttheboathousetherehadbeenalightwesterlybreeze。
Thishaddieddowntoaflatcalm，andthenanewbreezehadsprungupfromthesouth，blowingthefogbeforeit。Itrolledacrossthewaterasswiftlyasthesmokecloudsrollfromafreshlylightedbonfire。ItblottedDenborofromsightandmovedacrossthebay；
thelongstretchofbeachdisappeared；theCrowPointlightandBenSmall’sfreshlywhitewasheddwellingsandoutbuildingswereobliterated。IntenminutestheComfortwas，toallappearances，aloneonashorelesssea，andIwastheonlylivingcreatureintheuniverse。
Iwasnottroubledoralarmed。Ihadbeenoutintoomanyfogsonthatverybaytomindthisone。Itwasanuisance，becauseitnecessitatedcuttingshortmyvoyage，althoughthatvoyagehadnoobjectivepointandwasmerelyanaimlesscruiseinsearchofsolitudeandforgetfulness。ThesolitudeIhadfound，theforgetfulness，ofcourse，Ihadnot。Andnow，whenthesolitudewasmorecompletethanever，surroundedbythisgraydismalness，withnothingwhatevertolookattodivertmyattention，IknewI
shouldbemorebitterlymiserablethanIhadbeensinceIleftthatwedding。AndIhadbeenmiserableandbitterenough，goodnessknows。
Homeandthevillage，whichIhadbeensoanxioustogetawayfrom，nowlookedinvitingincomparison。Isloweddowntheengineand，withanimpatientgrowl，bentoverthelittlebinnacletolookatthecompassandgetmybearingsbeforepointingtheComfort’snoseinthedirectionofDenboro。Thenmygrowlchangedtoanexclamationofdisgust。Thecompasswasnotthere。Iknewwhereitwas。Itwasonmyworkbenchintheboathouse，whereIhadputitmyself，havingcarriedittheretoreplacethecrackedglassinitstopwithanewone。Ihadforgottenitandthereitwas。
Icouldgetalongwithoutit，ofcourse，butitsabsencemeantdelayandmoretrouble。InageneralwayIknewmywhereabouts，butthechannelwaswindingandthetidewasebbingrapidly。I
shouldbeobligedtorunslowly——tofeelmyway，sotospeak——andI
mightnotreachhomeuntillate。However，therewasnothingelsetodo，soIputthehelmoverandswungthelaunchabout。Isatinthesternsheets，listeningtothedreary"chock—chock"ofthepropeller，andpeeringforwardintothemist。Theprospectwasascheerlessasmyfuture。
Suddenly，fromthewet，grayblanketaheadcameacall。ItwasagoodwayoffwhenIfirstheardit，acallinaclearvoice，afemininevoiceitseemedtome。
"Hello！"
Ididnotanswer。Itookitforgrantedthatthecallwasnotaddressedtome。Itcameprobably，fromthebeachatthePoint，andmightbeMrs。Smallhailingherhusband，thoughitdidnotsoundlikehervoice。Severalminuteswentbybeforeitwasrepeated。ThenIhearditagainandnearer。
"Hello！Hello—o—o！Whereareyou？"
ThatwasnotMrs。Small，certainly。UnlessIwasawayoffinmyreckoningthePointwasatmyright，andthevoicesoundedtotheleft。Itmustcomefromsomecraftafloatinthebay，thoughbeforethefogsetinIhadseennone。
"Hello—o！Hello，themotorboat！"
"Hello！"Ianswered。"Boatahoy！Whereareyou？"
"HereIam。"Thevoicewasnearerstill。"Whereareyou？Don’trunintome。"
Ishiftedmyhelmjustabitandpeeredahead。Icouldseenothing。Thefogwasthickerthanever；ifthatwerepossible。
"Whereareyou？"repeatedtheunseenvoyager，andtomydismay，thehailcamefromtherightthistime。
"Don’tmove！"Ishouted。"Staywhereyouare。Iwillkeepshouting……LOOKOUT！"
Outofthefogtostarboardalongdarkshadowshot，silentandswift。ItwasmovingdirectlyacrosstheComfort’sbow。Ijammedthewheeloverandthelaunchswungoff，butnotenough。Itstruckthecanoe，foritwasacanoe，aglancingblowandheeleditdowntothewater’sedge。Therewasascrape，alittlescream，andtwohandsclutchedattheComfort’srail。Iletgothewheel，sprangforwardandseizedtheownerofthehandsaboutthewaist。Thecanoe，halffullofwater，disappearedsomewhereastern。IswungMabelColtonaboardthelaunch。
Ithinkshespokefirst。Idonotremembersayinganything，andI
thinkitmusthavebeenatleastafullminutebeforeeitherofusbrokethesilence。Shelay，orsat，uponthecockpitfloor，hershoulderssupportedbythebenchsurroundingit，justwhereIhadplacedherafterliftingherovertherail。Ikneltbesideher，staringasifshewereaspiritinsteadofareal，andratherdamp，younglady。Andshestaredatme。Whenshespokeherwordswereanechoofmythought。
"ItISyou？"shegasped。
"Yes。"
"This——thisisthethirdtime。"
"Yes。"
Anotherintervalofsilence。Thenshespokeoncemoreandhertonewasoneexpressingintenseconviction。
"This，"shesaid，slowly，"isgettingtobepositivelyridiculous。"
Ididnotdenyit。Isaidnothing。
Shesatup。"Mycanoe——"shefaltered。
Thementionofthecanoebroughtmepartiallytomysenses。I
realizedthatIwaskneelingonthedeckofalaunchthatwaspoundingitswaythroughthefogwithnooneatthehelm。Isprangtomyfeetandseizedthewheel。Thatmydoingsowouldbeoflittleuse，consideringthattheComfortmightbeheadedalmostanywherebythistime，didnotoccurtome。MissColtonremainedwhereshewas。
"Mycanoe——"sherepeated。
Iwasawakeningrapidly。Ilookedoutintothemistandshookmyhead。
"Iamafraidyourcanoehasgone，"Isaid。Andthen，asthethoughtoccurredtomeforthefirsttime，"You’renothurt，I
hope？Idraggedyouaboardhereratherroughly，Iamafraid。"
"No，Iamnothurt。But——wherearewe？"
"Idon’tknow，exactly。Somewherenearthemouthofthebay，thatisallIcanbesureof。You，arecertainyouarenothurt？Youmustbewetthrough。"
Shegotuponherfeetand，leaningovertheComfort’srail，gazedabouther。
"Iamallright，"sheanswered。"Butdon’tyouknowwhereyouare？"
"BeforethefogcaughtmeIwasnearlyabreastthePoint。IwasrunningathalfspeedupthechannelwhenIheardyourhail。Wherewereyou？"
"Iwasjustbeyondyourboathouse，outinthemiddleofthebay。
Ihadcomeoutforapaddlebeforedinner。Ididnotnoticethefoguntilitwasallaboutme。ThenIthinkImusthavebeenbewildered。IthoughtIwasgoinginthedirectionofhome，butI
couldnothavebeen——notifyouwereabreastthePoint。Imusthavebeengoingdirectlyouttosea。"
Sheshivered。
"Youarewet，"Isaid，anxiously。"Thereisastormcoatofmineinthelockerforward。Won’tyouputthataboutyourshoulders？
Itmaypreventyourtakingcold。"
"No，thankyou。Iamnotwet，atall；or，atleast，onlymyfeetandthebottomofmyskirt。Ishallnottakecold。"
"But——"
"Pleasedon’tworry。Iamallright，orshallbeassoonasIgethome。"
"Iamverysorryaboutyourcanoe。"
"Itdoesn’tmatter。"
Heranswerswereshortnow。Therewasadifferentnoteinhervoice。Iknewthereasonofthechange。NowthattheshockandthesurpriseofourmeetingwereoversheandIwereresumingouroldpositions。Shewasrealizingthathercompanionwasthe"commonfellow"whose"charmingandcultivatedsociety"wasnotnecessarytoherhappiness，thefellowtowhomshehadscornfullyoffered"congratulations"andwhomshehadcutdeadattheDeans’
thatveryafternoon。Imadenomoresuggestionsandexpressednomoresympathy。
"Iwilltakeyouhomeatonce，"Isaid，curtly。
"Ifyouplease。"
Thatendedconversationforthetime。Sheseatedherselfonthebenchneartheforwardendofthecockpitandkeptherheadturnedawayfromme。I，withonehanduponthewheel——auselessprocedure，forIhadnoideawherethelaunchmightbeheaded——
lookedovertherailandlistenedtotheslowandregularbeatoftheengine。Suddenlythebeatgrewlessregular。Theenginebarked，hiccoughed，barkedagainbutmorefaintly，andthenstoppedaltogether。
Iknewwhatwasthematter。BeforeIreachedthegasolenetankandunscrewedthelittlecoverIknewit。Ithrustinthegaugestickandhearditstrikebottom，drewitoutandfoundit，asI
expected，drytotheverytip。Ihadtrusted，likeanimbecile，toLute。Lutehadpromisedtofillthattank"theveryfirstthing，"
andhehadnotkepthispromise。
TherewasnotapintofgasoleneaboardtheComfort；anditwouldbemycheerfuldutytoinformmypassengerofthefact！
Shedidnotwaitformetobreakthenews。Shesawmestandingthere，holdingthegaugestickinmyhand，andsheaskedthenaturalquestion。
"Whatisthematter？"shedemanded。
IswallowedtheopinionofMr。Rogerswhichwasonthetipofmytongue。
"Iamsorry，"Istammered，"but——but——well，weareintrouble，Iamafraid。"
"Introuble？"shesaidcoldly。"Whattroubledoyoumean？"
"Yes。Thefactis，wehaverunoutofgasolene。Itoldmyman，Rogers，tofillthetankandhehasn’tdoneit。"
Sheleanedforwardtolookatme。
"Hasn’tdoneit？"sherepeated。"Youmean——why，thisboatcannotgowithoutgasolene，canit？"
"Notverywell；no。"
"Then——thenwhatarewegoingtodo？"
"Anchorandwait，ifIcan。"
"Wait！ButIdon’twishtowait。Iwishtobetakenhome，atonce。"
"Iamsorry，butIamafraidthatisimpossible。"
Iwasonmywayforwardtowheretheanchorlay，inthebow。Sheroseandsteppedinfrontofme。
"Mr。Paine。"
"Yes，MissColton。"
"ItellyouIdonotwishyoutoanchorthisboat。"
"Iamsorrybutitistheonlythingtodo，underthecircumstances。"
"Idonotwishit。Stop！ItellyouIwillnothaveyouanchor。"
"MissColton，wemustdooneoftwothings，eitheranchorordrift。
AndifwedriftIcannottellyouwherewemaybecarried。"
"Idon’tcare。"
"Ido。"
"Yes，"withscornfulemphasis，"Ipresumeyoudo。"
"Whatdoyoumean？"
"Imean——nevermindwhatImean。"
"But，asIhaveexplainedtoyou，thegasolene——"
"Nonsense！DoyousupposeIbelievethatridiculousstory？"
"Believeit？"Igazedatheruncomprehendingly。"Believeit，"I
repeated。"Don’tyoubelieveit？"
"No。"
"MissColton，doyoumeanthatyouthinkIamnottellingyouthetruth？ThatIamlying？"
"Well，"fiercely，"andifIdid，woulditbesoastonishing，considering——consideringtheTRUTHSyouhavetoldmebefore？"
Imadenofurtherefforttopassher。InsteadIsteppedback。
"Wouldyoumindtellingme，"Idemanded，withdeliberatesarcasm，"whatpossiblereasonyouthinkImighthaveforwishingtokeepyouhere？"
"Ishalltellyounothing。And——andIwillnothaveyouanchorthisboat。"
"Isityourdesirethenthatwedrift——theLordknowswhere？"
"Idesireyoutostartthatengineandtakemehome。"
"Icannotstarttheengine。"
"Idon’tbelieveit。"
ForamomentIhesitated。ThenIdidwhatwasperhapsthemostsenselessthingIeverdidinallmylife，whichissayingconsiderable。Iturnedmybackonherandontheanchor，andseatedmyselfoncemoreinthesternsheets。Andwedrifted。
IdonotknowhowlongwedriftedbeforeIregainedmysanity。Itmusthavebeenagoodwhile。WhenIfirstreturnedtomyseatbythewheelitwaswiththefirmdeterminationtoallowtheComforttodriftintothebottomlesspitratherthantostirhandorfoottopreventit。Infactthatparticularportlookedratherinvitingthanotherwise。AnytormentsitmighthaveinstorecouldnotbeworsethanthoseIhadundergonebecauseofthisgirl。Isat，silent，withmygazefixeduponthemotionlessengine。Iheardmypassengermoveonceortwice，butIdidnotlookather。
Whatbroughtmetomysenseswastheboathook，whichhadbeenlyingontheseatbesideme，suddenlyfallingtothefloor。I
startedandlookedovertherail。Thewater，asmuchofitasI
couldseethroughthefog，wasnolongerflatandcalm。Therewerewavesallaboutus，notbigones，butwavesnevertheless，long，regularswellsinthetroughofwhichtheComfortrockedlazily。
Therewasnowindtokickupasea。Thiswasagroundswell，suchasnevermovedinDenboroBay。WhileIsattherelikeanidiotthetidehadcarriedusoutbeyondthePoint。
WithanexclamationIsprangupandhurriedforward。MissColtonwassittingwhereIhadlefther。
"Whatisit？"sheasked。"Whatareyougoingtodo？"
"Iamgoingtoanchor，"Isaid。
"Idonotwishyoutoanchor。"
"Ican’thelpthat。Imust。Pleasestandaside，MissColton。"
Shetriedtopreventme，butIpushedheraway，nottoogentlyIamafraid，andclamberedforwardtothebow，wheretheanchorlayuponitscoilofline。Ithrewitoverboard。ThelineranouttoitsveryendandIwaitedexpectantlyforthejerkwhichwouldtellmethattheanchorhadcaughtandwasholding。Butnojerkcame。
ReachingoverthebowItriedtheline。Itwastautandheavy。
ThenIknewapproximatelyhowfarwehaddrifted。WewerebeyondtheshoalmakingoutfromCrowPointoverthedeepwaterbeyond。
Myanchorropewasnotlongenoughtoreachthebottom。
StillIwasnotalarmed。Iwasprovokedatmyownstubbornnesswhichhadgottenusintothispredicamentandmoreangrythaneveratthepersonwhowasthecauseofthatstubbornness。ButIwasnotfrightened。TherewereothershoalsfurtheroutandIlefttheanchorasitwas，hopingthatitmightcatchandholdononeofthem。Iwentbackoncemoretomyseatbythewheel。
Thenfollowedanotherintervalofsilenceandinaction。Fromasternandagoodwayoffsoundedthenotesofabell。Fromtheoppositedirectioncamealowgroan，indescribablymournfulandlonely。
Mypassengerhearditandspoke。
"Whatwasthat？"shedemanded，inastartledtone。
"ThefoghornatMackerelIsland，theislandatthemouthofWellmouthharbor，"Ianswered。
"Andthatbell？"
"ThatisthefogbellatCrowPoint。"
"AtCrowPoint？Why，itcan’tbe！CrowPointisinDenboroBay，andthatbellisalongwaybehindus。"
"Yes。WeareamileormoreoutsidethePointnow。Thetidehascarriedusout。"
"Carriedus——Doyoumeanthatweareoutatsea？"
"Notatseaexactly。WeareinCapeCodBay。"
"But——why，wearestilldrifting，aren’twe？Ithoughtyouhadanchored。"
"Itriedto，butIwastoolate。Thewateristoodeepherefortheanchortoreachbottom。"
"But——butwhatareyougoingtodo？"
"Nothingatpresent。ThereisnothingIcando。Sitdown，please。"
"Nothing！Nothing！Doyoumeanthatyouproposetositthereandletusbecarriedouttosea？"
"Weshallnotbecarriedfar。Thereisnowind。Whenthetideturnsweshallprobablybecarriedinagain。"
"But，"sharply，"whydon’tyoudosomething？Can’tyourow？"
"Ihaveonlyoneoar。"
"Butyoumustdosomething。YouMUST。I——I——Itislate！itisgrowingdark！Mypeople！Whatwilltheythink？"
"Iamsorry，MissColton。"
"Sorry！Youarenotsorry！Ifyouwereyouwoulddosomething，insteadofsittingthereas——asifyouenjoyedit。Ibelieveyoudoenjoyit。Youaredoingitpurposelyto——to——"
"Towhat，pray？"
"Nevermind。"
"ButIdomind。Youhaveaccusedmeoflying，MissColton，andofkeepingyouherepurposely。Whatdoyoumeanbyit？"
"Imeanthat——that——Oh，youknowwhatImean！Youhatemeandyouhatemyfather，andyouaretryingto——topunishusfor——for——"
Ihadheardenough。Ididnotproposetohearanymore。
"MissColton，"Iinterrupted，sternly，"stop！thisissilly。I
assureyouthatIamasanxioustoendthis——excursion——ofoursasyoucanbe。YourbeingafloatinDenboroBayinacanoewasyourownrecklessnessandnotmyfault。Neitherwasitmyfaultthatthelaunchcollidedwithyourcanoe。Icalledtoyounottomove，buttostaywhereyouwere。And，moreover，ifyouhadpermittedmetoanchorwhenIfirstattemptedtodosoweshouldnotbeinthisscrape。IshallgetyououtofitjustasquickasIcan。InorderthatImaydosoIshallexpectyoutostopbehavinglikeachildanddoasItellyou。Sitdownonthatbenchandkeepstill。"
ThishadtheeffectImeantitto。Shelookedatmeasifshecouldnotbelieveshehadheardaright。ButImethergazesquarely，and，withashudderofdisgust，orfear，Idonotknowwhich，sheturnedherbackuponmeandwassilent。Iwentforwardtothecuddy，foundthetinhornwhich，untilthatmoment，Ihadforgotten，and，returning，blewstridentblastsuponitatintervals。Therewaslittledangerofothercraftbeinginourvicinity，butIwasneglectingnoprecautions。
ThebellatCrowPointsoundedfurtherandfurtherastern。Thetwilightchangedtoduskandthedusktodarkness。Thefogwasasthickasever。Itwasnearlytimeforthetidetoturn。
Suddenlytherewasajerk；thelaunchquivered，andswungabout。
"Oh！whatwasthat？"demandedMissColton，shortly。
"Theanchor，"Ianswered。"Wehavereachedtheoutershoal。"
"And，"hesitatingly，"shallwestayhere？"
"Yes；unless——"
"Unlesswhat？"
"Unless……Hush！listen！"
Therewasanoddrushingsoundfromthedarknessastern，asortofhissandlow，wateryroar。Irushedtothebowanddraggedtheanchorinboardwithallmystrength。ThenIrantothewheel。I
hadscarcelyreacheditwhenIfeltahandonmyarm。
"Whatisit？"askedtheyounglady，hervoicequivering。"Oh，whatisit？"
"Wind，"Ianswered。"Thereisasquallcoming。Sitdown！Sitdown！"
"But——but——"
"Sitdown。"
ShehesitatedandIseizedherarmandforcedherdownuponthebenchbesideme。Ithrewthehelmover。Therushingsoundgrewnearer。Thencameablastofwindwhichsentmycapflyingoverboardandthefogdisappearedasifithadbeenaclothsnatchedawaybyamightyhand。Aboveuswasablacksky，withstarsshowinghereandtherebetweenflyingclouds，andaboutuswerethewaves，alreadybreakingintofoamupontheshoal。
TheComfortrockedandwallowedinthetrough。Wewerebeingdrivenbythewindawayfromtheshoal，butnotfastenough。
Somehoworotherwemustgetoutofthatdangerousneighborhood。I
turnedtomycompanion。Shehadnotspokensincethesquallcame。
"MissColton，"Isaid，"givemeyourhands。"
IpresumeshecouldnotimaginewhatImeant。Nodoubt，too，mytoneandtherequestfrightenedher。Shehesitated。Iseizedherhandsandplacedthemonthespokesofthewheel。
"Iwantyoutoholdthatwheeljustasitis，"Icommanded。"I
mustgoforwardandgetsteeragewayonthiscraftsomehow，orweshallcapsize。Canyouholdit，doyouthink？"
"Yes；I——Ithinkso。"
"Youmust。"