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。"