nd a something solid which
they grasped convulsively.

When Erica came to herself they were by no means out of danger, but
there was something between them and the angry sea. She was lying down
at the bottom of a boat in close proximity to some silvery-skinned
fishes, and her father was holding her hand.

Wildly they tossed for what seemed to her a very long time; but at
length fresh voices were heard, the keel grated on the shore, she felt
herself lifted up and carried on to the beach. Then, with an effort,
she stood up once more, trembling and exhausted, but conscious that mere
existence was rapture.

Raeburn paused to reward and thank the men who had rescued them in his
most genial manner, and Erica's happiness would have been complete had
not the coast guardsman stepped up in an insolent and officious way, and
observed:

"It is a pity, Mr. Luke Raeburn, that you don't bring yourself to offer
thanks to God almighty!"

"Sir," replied Raeburn, "when I ask your opinion of my personal and
private matters, it will be fitting that you should speak not before!"

The man looked annihilated, and turned away.

Raeburn grasped the rough hands of his helpers and well-wishers, gave
his arm to Erica, and led her up the steep beach.

Later on in the evening they sat over the fire, and talked over their
adventure. June though it was, they had both been thoroughly chilled.

"What did you think of when we were in the water?' asked Erica.

"I made a deep calculation," said Raeburn, smiling, "and found that the
sale of the plant and of all my books would about clear off the last of
the debts, and that I should die free. After that I thought of Cicero's
case of the two wise men struggling in the sea with one plank to rescue
them sufficient only for one. They were to decide which of their lives
was most useful to the republic, and the least useful man was to drop
down quietly into the deep. It struck me that you and I should hardly
come to such a calculation. I think we would have gone down together,
little one! What did you think of?"

But Erica's thoughts could not so easily be put into words.

"For one thing," she said, "I thought we should never be divided any
more."

She sighed a little; for, after all, the death they had so narrowly
escaped would have been so infinitely easier than the life which lay
before her.

"Clearly we are inseparable!" said Raeburn. "In that sense, little son
Eric, we can still say, 'We fear