all rusty though it was) served me faithfully and well, and
my carpentry went forward apace. During this time also we added four
goats and six kids to our flock, so that we had good store of milk, and
having with my lady's help made our net with strands of cord knotted
crosswise, we caught therewith great plenty of fish.

Remembering my adventure with the Indian I furnished myself with a good
stout pike and a couple of javelins; moreover I set up divers marks,
like rovers, and every day I would shoot at these with my bow, so that
I soon became so dexterous I could bring down a bird on the wing six
times out of seven, though in teaching myself this proficiency I lost
four of my Indian arrows beyond recovery.

Thus sped the time all too quickly, but with each day came a greater
understanding and a deeper amity betwixt my lady and me.

Now much and very much might I set down here concerning this my sweet
comrade, her many noble qualities, and how, as our fellowship
lengthened, I (that was a man selfish beyond thought) finding her
unselfish always and uncomplaining, seeing her so brave in the face of
adversity, and indomitable to overcome all difficulty, yet ever and
always a woman gracious and tender, I, by my very reverence for her
sweet womanhood, became in some sense a better man.

I might tell how, when my black moods took me, the mere sight of her,
the sound of her voice, the touch of her hand, nay her very nearness
was enough to dispel them.

I might paint to your imagination the way her hair curled at her
temples, the trick she had of biting her nether lip when at all put
out, of the jut of her pretty chin when angered. Then the sweet,
vibrant softness of her voice, her laughter, the wonder of her changing
moods--all these I would dilate upon if I might, since 'tis joy to me,
but lest I prove wearisome I will hasten on to the finding of Black
Bartlemy's Treasure, of all that led up to it and all those evils that
followed after it. And this bringeth me to a time whenas we sat, she
and I, eating our breakfast and the world all radiant with a young sun.

"To-night," says she, "if my calculations be right, should be a new
moon. And I am glad, for I do love the moon."

"Aye, but how should you judge this?" says I, wondering.

"Because I have kept a record, Martin. A stroke for each day and a
cross for every Sunday."

"Excellent!" quoth I. "Then you will know how long we have lived here?"

"Two months and