r me again, if
your sands take the print of my foot never again--oh no--I
cannot--no--no--'

Swift pity responded as her lament sank away to a moan.

'Never think so! One brief trespass made in ignorance is all you have to
resent--is all you shall have: not a soul shall have word by me of your
favoured haunt. Moreover,' he added and smiled, 'I know no man who could
win here, were he minded to more strongly than I.'

She smiled back. 'Then go in peace.' She passed him by to follow the sea.

This sudden grace struck him dumb. All too briefly glanced and worded was
it for his satisfaction. So fair at heart she was too. A first young
flicker of male worship kindled in the boy's eyes as he turned to look
after her going.

She halted, facing, and lifting her hand to him.

'Your boat was broken, you say,' she said as he came. 'I tell you, your
peril will be more extreme when you try the reefs again for an outlet,
except you have a pilot of me.'

'You!' he said.

'Not I,' she laughed. 'The guide that I shall send will be a gull pure
white, whose flight you shall follow. I have trusted you; do you trust
me?'

'I will, I will.'

'A strict promise! Though you seem to be going upon certain death, you
will trust and follow?'

'I will trust and follow, on my word, strictly kept as the oaths of the
many.'

'Your pilot you will know by his call. Listen: "Diadyomene! Diadyomene!"'
she shrilled like a sea-bird. 'It is my name--Diadyomene--of a good
signification for you. I hold your promise; when you hear "Diadyomene"
you are pledged to follow.'

She waited for no answer; with a gesture of farewell was away for the
sea, from the moon-white sand springing into the shadows over the harsh
interval of boulders. The vista let a vague moving shape show, lessening
as she sped across the desolate chasm without. One strip of moonlight lay
half-way, at the edge of the retreating sea. There a swift silver-white
figure leapt clear, with dark hair flying an ineffectual veil, with arms
rising wide in responsive balance to the quick free footing. It was
gone--gone utterly--a plunge beyond restored her to her sea.

Christian stood motionless long after she had disappeared, so long that
the moon paled, that dawn quickened in the east, that day spread wide.
Responding to the daylight, broad awake rose reason to rebuke his senses
for accepting fair words and a fair shape as warranty for fair dealing.
And till midday reason domineered; wh