'I'moffi'th'morning;andsailforthenorthseasdayafter。'
Heturnedaway，andbegantowhistle，asifhedidnotwishforanyfurtherconversationwithhisinterrogator。Philip，indeed，hadnothingmoretosaytohim:hehadlearnedallhewantedtoknow。
'I'dliketobidgood—bytoSylvie。Issheathome？'heaskedofherfather。
'A'mthinkingthou'llnotfindher。She'llbeofftoYesterbarrowt'
seeifshe'dgetasettin'o'theireggs;hergreyspeckledheniscluckin'，andnought'llserveourSylviabuttheireggstosetherupon。But，fora'that，shemayn'tbegoneyet。Bestgoonandseeforthysel'。'
Sotheyparted;butPhiliphadnotgonemanystepsbeforehisunclecalledhimback，Kinraidslowlyloiteringonmeanwhile。Robsonwasfumblingamongsomedirtypapershehadinanoldleathercase，whichhehadproducedoutofhispocket。
'Factis，Philip，t'pleugh'sinabadway，gearin'anda'，an'folkistalkin'onanewkindo'mak';andifthou'sboundforYork————'
'I'mnotgoingbyYork;I'mgoingbyaNewcastlesmack。'
'Newcassel——Newcassel——it'sprettymucht'same。Here，lad，thoucanreadprinteasyit'sabitaswascutoutonapapper;there'sNewcassel，andYork，andDurham，andavastmoretownsnamed，wheerefolkcanlearna'aboutt'newmak'o'pleugh。'
'Isee，'saidPhilip:'"Robinson，Side，Newcastle，cangiveallrequisiteinformation。"'
'Ay，ay，'saidRobson;'thou'shitt'marrowont'matter。Now，ifthou'rti'Newcassel，thoucanlearnallaboutit;thou'rtlittlebetternorawoman，forsure，bein'mainlyacquaintwi'ribbons，butthey'lltellthee——they'lltellthee，lad;andwritedownwhattheysayn，andwhat'stobet'price，andlooksharpastowhatkindo'folktheyareassells'em，an'writeandletmeknow。Thou'llbei'Newcasselto—morrow，maybe？Well，then，I'llreckontohearfro'theeinaweek，or，mayhap，less，——fort'landisbackward，andI'dliketoknowaboutt'pleughs。I'damonth'smindtowritetoBrunton，asmarriedMollyCorney，butwritin'ismorei'thywayan't'parson'snormine;andifthousellsribbons，Bruntonsellscheese，andthat'snobetter。'
Philippromisedtodohisbest，andtowritewordtoRobson，who，satisfiedwithhiswillingnesstoundertakethecommission，badehimgoonandseeifhecouldnotfindthelass。HerfatherwasrightinsayingthatshemightnothavesetoutforYesterbarrow。ShehadtalkedaboutittoKinraidandherfatherinordertocoverherregretatherlover'saccompanyingherfathertoseesomenewkindofharpoonaboutwhichthelatterhadspoken。
Butassoonastheyhadleftthehouse，andshehadcovertlywatchedthemupthebrowinthefield，shesatedowntomeditateanddreamabouthergreathappinessinbeingbelovedbyherhero，CharleyKinraid。Nogloomydreadofhislongsummer'sabsence;nofearofthecold，glitteringicebergsbearingmercilesslydownontheUrania，norshudderinganticipationofthedarkwavesofevilimport，crossedhermind。Helovedher，andthatwasenough。Hereyeslooked，trance—like，intoadim，gloriousfutureoflife;herlips，stillwarmandreddenedbyhiskiss，werejustpartedinahappysmile，whenshewas'startledbythesoundofanapproachingfootstep——afootstepquitefamiliarenoughforhertorecognizeit，andwhichwasunwelcomenow，asdisturbingherintheoneblessedsubjectofthoughtinwhichaloneshecaredtoindulge。
'Well，Philip！an'whatbringsyo'here？'washerratherungraciousgreeting。
'Why，Sylvie，areyo'sorrytoseeme？'askedPhilip，reproachfully。
Butsheturneditoffwithassumedlightness。
'Oh，yes，'saidshe。'I'vebeenwantingyo'thisweekpastwi't'matchtomyblueribbonyo'saidyo'dgetandbringmenexttimeyo'came。'
'I'veforgottenit，Sylvie。It'scleangoneoutofmymind，'saidPhilip，withtrueregret。'ButI'vehadadealtothinkon，'hecontinued，penitently，asifanxioustobeforgiven。Sylviadidnotwanthispenitence，didnotcareforherribbon，wastroubledbyhisearnestnessofmanner——butheknewnothingofallthat;heonlyknewthatshewhomhelovedhadaskedhimtodosomethingforher，andhehadneglectedit;so，anxioustobeexcusedandforgiven，hewentonwiththeapologyshecarednottohear。
Ifshehadbeenlessoccupiedwithherownaffairs，lessengrossedwithdeepfeeling，shewouldhavereproachedhim，ifonlyinjest，forhiscarelessness。
Asitwas，shescarcelytookinthesenseofhiswords。
'Yousee，Sylvie，I'vehadadealtothinkon;beforelongIintendtellingyo'allaboutit;justnowI'mnotfreetodoit。Andwhenaman'smindisfullo'business，mostparticularwhenit'sotherfolk'sasistrustedtohim，heseemstolosecountontheverythingshe'dmostcareforatanothertime。'Hepausedalittle。
Sylvia'sgallopingthoughtswerepulledsuddenlyupbyhissilence;
shefeltthathewantedhertosaysomething，butshecouldthinkofnothingbesidesanambignous——
'Well？'
'AndI'mofftoLondoni't'morning，'addedhe，alittlewistfully，almostasifbeseechinghertoshoworexpresssomesorrowatajourney，theverydestinationofwhichshowedthathewouldbeabsentforsometime。
'ToLunnon！'saidshe，withsomesurprise。'Yo'reniverthinkingo'
goingtolivetheere，forsure！'
Surprise，andcuriosity，andwonder;nothingmore，asPhilip'sinstincttoldhim。Buthereasonedthatfirstcorrectimpressionawaywithingenioussophistry。
'Nottolivethere:onlytostayforsometime。Ishallbeback，Ireckon，inamonthorso。'
'Ohthat'snoughtofagoingaway，'saidshe，ratherpetulantly。'Themasgoestot'Greenlandseashastobideawayforsixmonthsandmore，'
andshesighed。
SuddenlyalightshonedownintoPhilip'smind。Hisvoicewaschangedashespokenext。
'Imetthatgood—for—nothingchap，Kinraid，wi'yo'rfatherJustnow。
He'llha'beenhere，Sylvie？'
Shestoopedforsomethingshehaddropped，andcameupredasarose。
'Tobesure;whatthen？'Andsheeyedhimdefiantly，thoughinherheartshetrembled，sheknewnotwhy。
'Whatthen？andyo'rmotheraway。He'snocompanyforsuchasthee，atnotime，Sylvie。'
'Feytherandmechoosesourowncompany，withoutiveraskingleaveo'
yo'，'saidSylvia，hastilyarrangingthethingsinthelittlewoodenwork—boxthatwasonthetable，preparatorytoputtingitaway。Atthetime，inhisagitation，hesaw，butdidnotaffixanymeaningtoit，thatthehalfofsomesilvercoinwasamongthecontentsthusturnedoverbeforetheboxwaslocked。
'Butthymotherwouldn'tlikeit，Sylvie;he'splayedfalsewi'otherlasses，he'llbeplayingtheefalsesomeo'thesedays，ifthouletshimcomeaboutthee。Hewentonwi'AnnieCoulson，William'ssister，tillhebrokeherheart;andsin'thenhe'sbeenonwi'others。'
'Idunnotbelieveawordon't，'saidSylvia，standingup，allaflame。
'Inivertelledaliei'mylife，'saidPhilip，almostchokingwithgriefathermannertohim，andtheregardforhisrivalwhichshebetrayed。
'ItwereWillieCoulsonastelledme，assolemnandseriousasonemancanspeaktoanother;andhesaiditweren'tthefirstnorthelasttimeashehadmadehisowngamewithyoungwomen。
'Andhowdareyo'comeheretomewi'yo'rbackbitingtales？'saidSylvia，shiveringalloverwithpassion。
Philiptriedtokeepcalm，andtoexplain。
'Itwereyo'rownmother，Sylvia，asknowedyo'hadnobrother，oranyonetoseeafteryo';andyo'sopretty，sopretty，Sylvia，'hecontinued，shakinghishead，sadly，'thatmenrunafteryo'againsttheirwill，asonemaysay;andyo'rmotherbademewatcho'eryeandseewhatcompanyyo'kept，andwhowasfollowingafteryo'，andtowarnyo'，ifneedwere。'
'Mymotherniverbadeyo'tocomespyingafterme，andblamingmeforseeingaladasmyfeytherthinkswellon。An'Idon'tbelieveawordaboutAnnieCoulson;an'I'mnotgoingtosufferyo'tocomewi'yo'rtalestome;say'emouttohisface，andhearwhathe'llsaytoyo'。'
'Sylvie，Sylvie，'criedpoorPhilip，ashisoffendedcousinrushedpasthim，andupstairstoherlittlebedroom，whereheheardthesoundofthewoodenboltflyingintoitsplace。Hecouldhearherfeetpacingquicklyaboutthroughtheunceiledrafters。Hesatestillindespair，hisheadburiedinhistwohands。Hesatetillitgrewdusk，dark;thewoodfire，notgatheredtogetherbycarefulhands，diedoutintograyashes。DollyReidhaddoneherworkandgonehome。TherewerebutPhilipandSylviainthehouse。Heknewheoughttobegoinghome，forhehadmuchtodo，andmanyarrangementstomake。Yetitseemedasthoughhecouldnotstir。
Atlengthheraisedhisstiffenedbody，andstoodup，dizzy。Upthelittlewoodenstairshewent，wherehehadneverbeenbefore，tothesmallsquarelanding，almostfilledupwiththegreatchestforoat—cake。Hebreathedhardforaminute，andthenknockedatthedoorofSylvia'sroom。
'Sylvie！I'mgoingaway;saygood—by。'Noanswer。Notasoundheard。
'Sylvie！'（alittlelouder，andlesshoarselyspoken）。Therewasnoreply。
'Sylvie！Ishallbealongtimeaway;perhapsImaynivercomebackatall;'herehebitterlythoughtofanunregardeddeath。Saygood—by。'Noanswer。Hewaitedpatiently。Canshebeweariedout，andgonetosleep，hewondered。Yetonceagain——'Good—by，Sylvie，andGodblessyo'！I'msorryIvexedyo'。'
Noreply。
Withaheavy，heavyhearthecreakeddownthestairs，feltforhiscap，andleftthehouse。
'She'swarned，anyway，'thoughthe。JustatthatmomentthelittlecasementwindowofSylvia'sroomwasopened，andshesaid——
'Good—by，Philip！'
Thewindowwasshutagainassoonasthewordswerespoken。Philipknewtheuselessnessofremaining;theneedforhisdeparture;andyethestoodstillforalittletimelikeoneentranced，asifhiswillhadlostallpowertocompelhimtoleavetheplace。Thosetwowordsofhers，whichtwohoursbeforewouldhavebeensofarbeneathhisaspirations，hadnowpowertore—lighthope，toquenchreproachorblame。
'She'sbutayounglassie，'saidhetohimself;'an'KinraidhasbeenplayingWI'her，assuchashecan'thelpdoing，oncetheygetamongt'
women。An'IcamedownsuddenonheraboutAnnieCoulson，andtouchedherpride。Maybe，too，itwereilladvisedtotellherhowhermotherwasfearedforher。Icouldn'tha'lefttheplaceto—morrowifhe'dbeenbidinghere;
buthe'soffforhalfayearorso，andI'llbehomeagainassoonasiverIcan。Inhalfayearsuchasheforgets，ifiverhe'sthoughtseriousabouther;butina'mylifetime，ifIlivetofourscore，Icanniverforget。
Godblessherforsaying，"Good—by，Philip。"'Herepeatedthewordsaloudinfondmimicryofhertones:'Good—by，Philip。'
chapter18CHAPTERXVIIIEDDYINLOVE'SCURRENTThenextmorningshonebrightandclear，ifeveraMarchmorningdid。Thebeguilingmonthwascominginlikealamb，withwhateverstormsitmightgoragingout。ItwaslongsincePhiliphadtastedthefreshnessoftheearlyairontheshore，orinthecountry，ashisemploymentattheshopdetainedhiminMonkshaventilltheevening。Andasheturneddownthequays（orstaithes）onthenorthsideoftheriver，towardstheshore，andmetthefreshsea—breezeblowingrightinhisface，itwasimpossiblenottofeelbrightandelastic。Withhisknapsackslungoverhisshoulder，hewaspreparedforagoodstretchtowardsHartlepool，whenceacoachwouldtakehimtoNewcastlebeforenight。Forsevenoreightmilesthelevelsandswereasshortandfarmoreagreeablearoadthantheupanddownland—ways。Philipwalkedonprettybriskly，unconsciouslyenjoyingthesunnylandscapebeforehim;thecrispcurlingwavesrushingalmostuptohisfeet，onhisrighthand，andthenswishingbackoverthefinesmallpebblesintothegreatswellingsea。Tohisleftwerethecliffsrisingonebehindanother，havingdeepgullieshereandtherebetween，withlonggreenslopesupwardfromtheland，andthensuddenfallsofbrownandredsoilorrockdeepeningtoayetgreaterrichnessofcolourattheirbasetowardstheblueoceanbeforehim。Theloud，monotonousmurmuroftheadvancingandrecedingwaterslulledhimintodreaminess;thesunnylookofeverythingtingedhisday—dreamswithhope。Sohetrudgedmerrilyoverthefirstmileorso;notanobstacletohismeasuredpaceonthehard，levelpavement;
notacreaturetobeseensincehehadleftthelittlegatheringofbare—leggedurchinsdabblinginthesea—poolsnearMonkshaven。Thecaresoflandwereshutoutbythegloriousbarrierofrocksbeforehim。Thereweresomegreatmassesthathadbeendetachedbytheactionoftheweather，andlayhalfembeddedinthesand，draperiedoverbytheheavypendentolive—greenseaweed。
Thewaveswereneareratthispoint;theadvancingseacameupwithamightydistantlengthofroar;hereandtherethesmoothswellwaslashedbythefretagainstunseenrocksintowhitebreakers;butotherwisethewavescameupfromtheGermanOceanuponthatEnglishshorewithalongsteadyrollthatmighthavetakenitsfirstimpetusfaraway，inthehauntofthesea—serpentonthecoastof'Norrowayoverthefoam。'TheairwassoftasMay;rightoverheadtheskywasblue，butitdeadenedintograynearthesealines。Flocksofseagullshoveredabouttheedgeofthewaves，slowlyrisingandturningtheirwhiteunder—plumagetoglimmerinthesunlightasPhilipapproached。Thewholescenewassopeaceful，sosoothing，thatitdispelledthecaresandfears（toowellfoundedinfact）whichhadweigheddownonhisheartduringthedarkhoursofthepastnight。
TherewasHaytersbankgullyopeningdownitsgreenentranceamongthewarmbrownbasesofthecliffs。Below，intheshelteredbrushwood，amongthelastyear'switheredleaves，someprimrosesmightbefound。HehalfthoughtofgatheringSylviaaposyofthem，andrushinguptothefarmtomakealittlefarewellpeace—offering。Butonlookingathiswatch，heputallthoughtsofsuchanactionoutofhishead;itwasaboveanhourlaterthanhehadsupposed，andhemustmakeallhasteontoHartlepool。
Justashewasapproachingthisgully，amancamedashingdown，andranoutsomewayuponthesandwiththeveryforceofhisdescent;thenheturnedtotheleftandtookthedirectionofHartlepoolahundredyardsorsoinadvanceofPhilip。Heneverstayedtolookroundhim，butwentswiftlyandsteadilyonhisway。Bythepeculiarlurchinhiswalk——byeverything——Philipknewitwasthespecksioneer，Kinraid。
NowtheroadupHaytersbankgullyledtothefarm，andnowhereelse。
StillanyonewishingtodescendtotheshoremightdosobyfirstgoinguptotheRobsons'house，andskirtingthewallstilltheycametothelittleslenderpathdowntotheshore。Butbythefarm，bytheveryhouse—doortheymustofnecessitypass。Philipslackenedhispace，keepingundertheshadowoftherock。By—and—byKinraid，walkingonthesunlightopensands，turnedroundandlookedlongandearnestlytowardsHaytersbankgully。Hepburnpausedwhenhepaused，butasintentlyashelookedatsomeobjectabove，sointentlydidHepburnlookathim。Noneedtoascertainbysighttowardswhomhislooks，histhoughtsweredirected。Hetookoffhishatandwavedit，touchingonepartofitasifwithparticularmeaning。Whenheturnedawayatlast，Hepburnheavedaheavysigh，andcreptyetmoreintothecolddankshadowofthecliffs。Eachstepwasnowaheavytask，hissadhearttiredandweary。Afterawhileheclimbedupafewfeet，soastominglehisformyetmorecompletelywiththestonesandrocksaround。Stumblingovertheunevenandoftenjaggedpoints，slippingonthesea—weed，plungingintolittlepoolsofwaterleftbytheebbingtideinsomenaturalbasins，heyetkepthiseyesfixedasifinfascinationonKinraid，andmadehiswayalmostalongsideofhim。ButthelasthourhadpinchedHepburn'sfeaturesintosomethingofthewanhaggardnesstheywouldwearwhenheshouldfirstbelyingstillforever。
Andnowthetwomenweredrawingnearacreek，abouteightmilesfromMonkshaven。Thecreekwasformedbyabeck（orsmallstream）thatcameflowingdownfromthemoors，andtookitswaytotheseabetweenthewideningrocks。Themeltingofthesnowsandrunningofthefloodedwater—springsabovemadethisbeckintheearlyspring—timebothdeepandwide。Hepburnknewthatheretheybothmusttakeapathleadinginlandtoanarrowfoot—bridgeaboutaquarterofamileupthestream;indeedfromthispoint，owingtothejuttingoutoftherocks，thelandpathwastheshortest;andthiswaylaybythewater—sideatananglerightbelowtheclifftowhichHepburn'sstepswereleadinghim。Heknewthatonthislonglevelfield—pathhemighteasilybeseenbyanyonefollowing;nay，ifhefollowedanyoneatashortdistance，foritwasfullofturnings;andheresolved，lateashewas，tositdownforawhiletillKinraidwasfarenoughinadvanceforhimtoescapebeingseen。Hecameuptothelastrockbehindwhichhecouldbeconcealed;sevenoreightfeetabovethestreamhestood，andlookedcautiouslyforthespecksioneer。Upbytherushingstreamhelooked，thenrightbelow。
'ItisGod'sprovidence，'hemurmured。'ItisGod'sprovidence。'
Hecroucheddownwherehehadbeenstandingandcoveredhisfacewithhishands。Hetriedtodeafenaswellastoblindhimself，thathemightneitherhearnorseeanythingofthecomingeventofwhichhe，aninhabitantofMonkshavenatthatday，wellunderstoodthebetokeningsigns。
Kinraidhadtakenthelargerangleofthesandsbeforeturninguptowardsthebridge。Hecamealongnownearingtherocks。Bythistimehewassufficientlybuoyanttowhistletohimself。ItsteeledPhilip'shearttowhatwascomingtohearhisrivalwhistling，'Weelmaythekeelrow，'sosoonafterpartingwithSylvia。
TheinstantKinraidturnedthecornerofthecliff，theambushwasuponhim。Fourman—of—war'smensprangonhimandstrovetopinionhim。
'IntheKing'sname！'criedthey，withrough，triumphantjeers。
Theirboatwasmoorednotadozenyardsabove;theyweresentbythetenderofafrigatelyingoffHartlepoolforfreshwater。Thetenderwasatanchorjustbeyondthejuttingrocksinface。
Theyknewthatfishermenwereinthehabitofgoingtoandfromtheirnetsbythesideofthecreek;butsuchaprizeasthisactive，strong，andevidentlysuperiorsailor，waswhattheyhadnothopedfor，andtheirendeavourstosecurehimwereinproportiontothevalueoftheprize。
Althoughtakenbysurprise，andattackedbysomany，Kinraiddidnotlosehiswits。Hewrenchedhimselffree，cryingoutloud:
'Avast，I'maprotectedwhaler。Iclaimmyprotection。I'vemypaperstoshow，I'mbondedspecksioneertotheUraniawhaler，Donkincaptain，NorthShieldsport。'
Asaprotectedwhaler，thepress—ganghad，bythe17thsectionofAct26Geo。III。nolegalrighttoseizehim，unlesshehadfailedtoreturntohisshipbythe10thMarchfollowingthedateofhisbond。Butofwhatusewerethepapershehastilydraggedoutofhisbreast;ofwhatusewerelawsinthosedaysofslowintercoursewithsuchaswerepowerfulenoughtoprotect，andinthetimeofpopularpanicagainstaFrenchinvasion？
'D——nyourprotection，'criedtheleaderofthepress—gang;comeandservehisMajesty，that'sbetterthancatchingwhales。'
'Isitthough？'saidthespecksioneer，withamotionofhishand，whichtheswift—eyedsailoropposedtohimsawandinterpretedrightly。
'Thouwilt，wiltthou？Closewithhim，Jack;andwarethecutlass。'
Inaminutehiscutlasswasforcedfromhim，anditbecameahand—to—handstruggle，ofwhich，fromthedifferenceinnumbers，itwasnotdifficulttoforetelltheresult。YetKinraidmadedesperateeffortstofreehimself;
hewastednobreathinwords，butfought，asthemensaid，'likeaverydevil。'
Hepburnheardloudpantsofbreath，greatthuds，thedullstruggleoflimbsonthesand，thegrowlingcursesofthosewhothoughttohavemanagedtheiraffairmoreeasily;thesuddencryofsomeonewounded，notKinraidheknew，Kinraidwouldhaveborneanypaininsilenceatsuchamoment;
anotherwrestling，swearing，infuriatedstrife，andthenastrangesilence。
Hepburnsickenedattheheart;wasthenhisrivaldead？hadheleftthisbrightworld？losthislife——hislove？ForaninstantHepburnfeltguiltyofhisdeath;hesaidtohimselfhehadneverwishedhimdead，andyetinthestrugglehehadkeptaloof，andnowitmightbetoolateforever。
Philipcouldnotbearthesuspense;helookedstealthilyroundthecorneroftherockbehindwhichhehadbeenhidden，andsawthattheyhadoverpoweredKinraid，and，tooexhaustedtospeak，werebindinghimhandandfoottocarryhimtotheirboat。
Kinraidlayasstillasanyhedgehog:herolledwhentheypushedhim;
hesufferedhimselftobedraggedwithoutanyresistance，anymotion;thestrongcolourbroughtintohisfacewhilefightingwasgonenow，hiscountenancewaslividpale;hislipsweretightlyheldtogether，asifitcosthimmoreefforttobepassive，wooden，andstiffintheirhandsthanithaddonetofightandstrugglewithallhismight。Hiseyesseemedtheonlypartabouthimthatshowedcognizanceofwhatwasgoingon。Theywerewatchful，vivid，fierceasthoseofawildcatbroughttobay，seekinginitsdesperatequickenedbrainforsomemodeofescapenotyetvisible，andinallprobabilitynevertobecomevisibletothehopelesscreatureinitssupremeagony。
Withoutamotionofhishead，hewasperceivingandtakingineverythingwhilehelayboundatthebottomoftheboat。Asailorsatbyhisside，whohadbeenhurtbyablowfromhim。Themanheldhisheadinhishand，moaning;buteverynowandthenherevengedhimselfbyakickattheprostratespecksioneer，tillevenhiscomradesstoppedtheircursingandswearingattheirprisonerforthetroublehehadgiventhem，tocryshameontheircomrade。ButKinraidneverspoke，norshrankfromtheoutstretchedfoot。
Oneofhiscaptors，withthesuccessfulinsolenceofvictory，venturedtojeerhimonthesupposedreasonforhisvehementandhopelessresistance。
Hemighthavesaidyetmoreinsolentthings;thekicksmighthavehitharder;Kinraiddidnothearorheed。Hissoulwasbeatingitselfagainstthebarsofinflexiblecircumstancereviewinginoneterribleinstantoftimewhathadbeen，whatmighthavebeen，whatwas。Yetwhilethesethoughtsthusstabbedhim，hewasstillmechanicallylookingoutforchances。Hemovedhisheadalittle，soastoturntowardsHaytersbank，whereSylviamustbequickly，ifsadly，goingabouthersimpledailywork;andthenhisquickeyecaughtHepburn'sface，blanchedwithexcitementratherthanfear，watchingeagerlyfrombehindtherock，wherehehadsatbreathlessduringtheaffrayandtheimpressmentofhisrival。
'Comehere，lad！'shoutedthespecksioneerassoonashesawPhilip，heavingandwrithinghisbodythewhilewithsomuchvigourthatthesailorsstartedawayfromtheworktheywereengagedinabouttheboat，andheldhimdownoncemore，asifafraidheshouldbreakthestrongropethatheldhimlikewithesofgreenflax。Buttheboundmanhadnosuchnotioninhishead。HismightywishwastocallHepburnnearthathemightsendsomemessagebyhimtoSylvia。'Comehere，Hepburn，'hecriedagain，fallingbackthistimesoweakandexhaustedthattheman—of—warsmenbecamesympathetic。
'Comedown，peepingTom，anddon'tbeafeared，'theycalledout。
'I'mnotafeared，'saidPhilip;'I'mnosailorforyo't'impressme:
norhaveyo'anyrighttotakethatfellow;he'saGreenlandspecksioneer，underprotection，asIknowandcantestify。'
'Yo'andyo'rtestifygohang。Makehaste，manandhearwhatthisgem'man，aswasinadirtyblubberywhale—ship，andisnowinhisMajesty'sservice，hasgottosay。Idaresay，Jack，'wentonthespeaker，'it'ssomemessagetohissweet—heart，askinghertocomefortoserveonboardshipalongwithhe，likeBillyTaylor'syoungwoman。'
Philipwascomingtowardsthemslowly，notfromwantofactivity，butbecausehewasundecidedwhatheshouldbecalledupontodoortosaybythemanwhomhehatedanddreaded，yetwhomjustnowhecouldnothelpadmiring。
Kinraidgroanedwithimpatienceatseeingone，freetomovewithquickdecision，soslowanddilatory。
'Comeonthen，'criedthesailors，'orwe'lltakeyoutooonboard，andrunyouupanddownthemain—mastafewtimes。Nothinglikelifeaboardshipforquickeningaland—lubber。'
'Yo'dbettertakehimandleaveme，'saidKinraid，grimly。'I'vebeentaughtmylesson;andseeminglyhehashisyettolearn。'
'HisMajestyisn'taschoolmastertoneedscholars;butajollygoodcaptaintoneedmen，'repliedtheleaderofthegang，eyeingPhilipnevertheless，andquestioningwithinhim—selfhowfar，withonlytwootheravailablemen，theydurstventureonhiscaptureaswellasthespecksioneer's。Itmightbedone，hethought，eventhoughtherewasthispowerfulcaptiveaboard，andtheboattomanagetoo;but，runninghiseyeoverPhilip'sfigure，hedecidedthatthetallstoopingfellowwasnevercutoutforasailor，andthatheshouldgetsmallthanksifhecapturedhim，topayhimforthepossibleriskoflosingtheother。Orelsethemerefactofbeingalandsmanwasofaslittleconsequencetothepress—gang，astheprotectingpaperswhichKinraidhadvainlyshowed。
'Yonfellowwouldn'thavebeenworthhisgrogthismanyaday，andbed——dtoyou，'saidhe，catchingHepburnbytheshoulder，andgivinghimapush。Philipstumbledoversomethinginthis，hisforcedrun。Helookeddown;hisfoothadcaughtinKinraid'shat，whichhaddroppedoffinthepreviousstruggle。Inthebandthatwentroundthelowcrown，aribbonwasknotted;apieceof。thatsameribbonwhichPhiliphadchosenout，withsuchtenderhope，togivetoSylviafortheCorneys'partyonNewYear'sEve。Hekneweverydelicatethreadthatmadeupthebriar—rosepattern;
andaspasmofhatredtowardsKinraidcontractedhisheart。Hehadbeenalmostrelentingintopityforthemancapturedbeforehiseyes;nowheabhorredhim。
Kinraiddidnotspeakforaminuteortwo。Thesailors，whohadbeguntotakehimintofavour，wereallagogwithcuriositytohearthemessagetohissweetheart，whichtheybelievedhewasgoingtosend。Hepburn'sperceptions，quickenedwithhisvehementagitationofsoul，wereawareofthisfeelingoftheirs;anditincreasedhisrageagainstKinraid，whohadexposedtheideaofSylviatobethesubjectofribaldwhispers。Butthespecksioneercaredlittlewhatotherssaidorthoughtaboutthemaiden，whomheyetsawbeforehisclosedeyelidsasshestoodwatchinghim，fromtheHaytersbankgully，wavingherhands，herhandkerchief，allinonepassion—atefarewell。
'Whatdoyo'wantwi'me？'askedHepburnatlastinagloomytone。Ifhecouldhavehelpedit，hewouldhavekeptsilencetillKinraidspokefirst;buthecouldnolongerendurethesailors'nudges，andwinks，andjestsamongthemselves。
'TellSylvia，'saidKinraid————
'There'sasmartnameforasweetheart，'exclaimedoneofthemen;butKinraidwentstraighton，——
'Whatyo'veseen;howI'vebeenpressedbythiscursedgang。'
'Civilwords，messmate，ifyouplease。Sylviacan'tabidecursingandswearing，I'msure。We'regentlemenservinghisMajestyonboardtheAlcestis，andthisproperyoungfellowshallbehelpedontomorehonourandglorythanhe'devergetbobbingforwhales。TellSylviathis，withmylove;
JackCarter'slove，ifshe'sanxiousaboutmyname。'
Oneofthesailorslaughedatthisrudehumour;anotherbadeCarterholdhisstupidtongue。Philiphatedhiminhisheart。Kinraidhardlyheardhim。Hewasgrowingfaintwiththeheavyblowshehadreceived，thestunningfallhehadmetwith，andthereactionfromhisdoggedself—controlatfirst。
Philipdidnotspeaknormove。
'Tellher，'continuedKinraid，rousinghimselfforanothereffort，'whatyo'veseen。TellherI'llcomebacktoher。Bidhernotforgetthegreatoathwetooktogetherthismorning;she'sasmuchmywifeasifwe'dgonetochurch;——I'llcomebackandmarryheraforelong。'
Philipsaidsomethinginarticulately。
'Hurra！'criedCarter，'andI'llbebestman。Tellher，toothatI'llhaveaneyeonhersweetheart，andkeephimfromrunningafterothergirls。'
'Yo'llhaveyo'rhandsfull，then，'mutteredPhilip，hispassionboilingoveratthethoughtofhavingbeenchosenoutfromamongallmentoconveysuchamessageasKinraid'stoSylvia。
'Makeanendofyo'rd——dyarns，andbeoff，'saidthemanwhohadbeenhurtbyKinraid，andwhohadsateapartandsilenttillnow。
Philipturnedaway;Kinraidraisedhimselfandcriedafterhim，——
'Hepburn，Hepburn！tellher————'whatheaddedPhilipcouldnothear，forthewordswerelostbeforetheyreachedhimintheoutwardnoiseoftheregularsplashoftheoarsandtherushofthewinddownthegully，withwhichmingledtheclosersoundthatfilledhisearsofhisownhurryingbloodsurgingupintohisbrain。Hewasconsciousthathehadsaidsomethingin。replytoKinraid'sadjurationthathewoulddeliverhismessagetoSylvia，attheverytimewhenCarterhadstunghimintofreshangerbytheallusiontothepossibilityofthespecksioneer's'runningafterothergirls，'for，foraninstant，Hepburnhadbeentouchedbythecontrastofcircumstances。Kinraidanhourortwoago，——Kinraidabanishedman;forinthosedays，animpressedsailormightlingeroutyearsonsomeforeignstation，farfromthoseheloved，whoallthistimeremainedignorantofhiscruelfate。
ButHepburnbegantowonderwhathehimselfhadsaid——howmuchofapromisehehadmadetodeliverthoselastpassionatewordsofKinraid's。
Hecouldnotrecollecthowmuch，howlittlehehadsaid;heknewhehadspokenhoarselyandlowalmostatthesametimeasCarterhadutteredhisloudjoke。ButhedoubtedifKinraidhadcaughthiswords。
AndthenthedreadInnerCreature，wholurksineachofourhearts，aroseandsaid，'Itisaswell:apromisegivenisafettertothegiver。
Butapromiseisnotgivenwhenithasnotbeenreceived。'
Atasuddenimpulse，heturnedagaintowardstheshorewhenhehadcrossedthebridge，andalmostrantowardsthevergeoftheland。Thenhethrewhimselfdownonthesoftfineturfthatgrewonthemarginofthecliffsoverhangingthesea，andcommandinganextentofviewtowardsthenorth。