, slow stroke.

"My enemies must have been lost in dismay, and panic, and utter
confusion, or else they must have espied me, for twice or thrice, as I
met the waves, my head and shoulders were thrown above the surface, do
what I would; and I durst not dive, for I wanted my eyes every moment.
I kept on the darkest side, of course, but the shadows were not half
so deep as I could wish; and worst of all, outside there was a piece of
moonlight, which I must cross within fifty yards of the bigger of the
sentry boats.

"The mouth of that cave is two fathoms wide for a longish bit of
channel; and, Mary dear, if I had not been supported by continual
thoughts of you, I must have gone against the sides, or downright to the
bottom, from the waves keeping knocking me about so. I may tell you that
I felt that I should never care again, as my clothes began to bag about
me, except to go down to the bottom and be quiet, but for the blessed
thought of standing up some day, at the 'hymeneal altar,' as great
people call it, with a certain lovely Mary."

"Oh, Robin, now you make me laugh, when I ought to be quite crying. If
such a thing should ever be, I shall expect to see you swimming."

"Such a thing will be, as sure as I stand here--though not at all in
hymeneal garb just now. Whatever my whole heart is set upon, I do, and
overcome all obstacles. Remember that, and hold fast, darling. However,
I had now to overcome the sea, which is worse than any tide in the
affairs of men. A long and hard tussle it was, I assure you, to fight
against the indraught, and to drag my frame through the long hillocky
gorge. At last, however, I managed it; and to see the open waves again
put strength into my limbs, and vigor into my knocked-about brain. I
suppose that you can not understand it, Mary, but I never enjoyed a
thing more than the danger of crossing that strip of moonlight. I could
see the very eyes and front teeth of the men who were sitting there to
look out for me if I should slip their mates inside; and knowing the
twist of every wave, and the vein of every tide-run, I rested in a
smooth dark spot, and considered their manners quietly. They had not yet
heard a word of any doings in the cavern, but their natures were up for
some business to do, as generally happens with beholders. Having nothing
to do, they were swearing at the rest.

"In the place where I was halting now the line of a jagged cliff seemed
to cut the air, and fend off the