.

"Oxford man?" asked Browne after a moment's pause, without taking his
eyes off the fire, and still speaking in the same commonplace tone.
The other mentioned the name of a certain well-known college. Both
felt that there was no more to be said, and they accordingly relapsed
into silence.

"Rum thing this world of ours, isn't it?" said MacAndrew after a little
while. "Look at me. I started with everything in my favour; eldest
son, fine old place in the country, best of society; for all I know I
might have ended my days as a J.P. and member for my county. The
Fates, however, were against it; in consequence I am sitting here
to-night, disguised as a Russian fur-trader. It's a bit of a
transformation scene--isn't it? I wonder what my family would say if
they could see me?"

"I wonder what some of my friends would say if they could see me?"
continued Browne. "If I'd been told a year ago that I should be doing
this sort of thing, I should never have believed it. We never know
what's in store for us, do we? By the way, what's the time?" He
consulted his watch, and discovered that it only wanted ten minutes of
twelve o'clock. "In ten minutes we'll fire the first rocket," he said.
"It's to be hoped it's clear weather. Let us pray that there's not
another vessel outside, who, seeing our signal, may put in and send a
boat to discover what is the matter."

"You're quite sure that the yacht will be there, I suppose?" asked
MacAndrew.

"As sure as I can be," replied Browne. "I told my captain to hang
about at night, and to look round this coast at midnight, so that if we
did signal he might be ready. Of course, there's no saying what may
have turned up; but we must hope for the best. How is our friend
yonder?"

MacAndrew crossed the hut and bent over the man lying on the bed. He
was still sleeping.

"Poor beggar! he is quite played out," said the other. "It will be a
long time before he will forget his tramp with me. I had to carry him
the last three miles on my back, like a kiddy; and in that thick scrub
it's no joke, I can assure you."

Though Browne was quite able to agree with him, he did not give the
matter much consideration. He was thinking of Katherine and of the
meeting, that was shortly to take place between the father and
daughter. At last, after what seemed an infinity of waiting, the hands
of his watch stood at midnight. Having acquainted MacAndrew with his
intention, he took up a rock