was every prospect of the reef
being entirely covered before the boat could possibly return.

"But it seems so mean to leave you here alone." urged Alice.

"It will not mend matters, if two are washed off instead of one,"
whispered Isabel, "go dear Alice while you can."

"But it seems so mean," she repeated.

"Come Alice," said Everard in a tone that settled the question at once,
"every minute is of the greatest importance." It was agony to him to
leave Isabel, but there was no help for it, the boat was now loaded down
to the water's edge. He would gladly have let Alice remain, had there
appeared any chance of returning in time, for he would have gained
several minutes by so doing, for if the boat had been lighter he could
have made better time. As it was he did not dare to risk it, for it
seemed like dooming Alice to destruction needlessly. But oh, the horror
of leaving Isabel when perhaps she would be washed away by the fast
rising tide before he could return. This thought had also decided him to
take Alice, for should Isabel be washed off he might be able to save
her, but how could he hope to save two in such untoward circumstances.

"Courage Miss Leicester," and the boat seemed to fly through the water
with each vigorous stroke; his face wore an expression of intense
anxiety as he bent to his oars. No words passed his firmly compressed
lips after they left the reef, but his contracted brow and heavy
breathing revealed how deeply he was suffering. In an incredibly short
time they reached the beach, and Everard landed them in a very
unceremonies manner, and then started once more for the rock.
Notwithstanding all the exertion he had undergone, his face was as pale
as death, and the cold damp stood upon his brow. There was an air of
determination about him as he sprang back into the boat, that convinced
Emily that he would save Isabel or perish in the attempt, and from that
day she was master of his secret, but like a dear good sister as she
was, she kept it in her kind little heart, though she sometimes built
castles in the air.

Knowing now the proper course to take, Everard propelled the boat with
marvellous rapidity, it skimmed over the water like an ocean bird, at
least so Rose said; yet when he reached the reef, every part on which it
was possible to stand was covered with water, and it was with the
greatest difficulty that Isabel contrived to cling to a pointed piece of
rock which still remained above wat