e sleeping Miss
Spratt, conjured up the scene. It would go like this, he thought.

_Miss Spratt (wakened by the spray dashing over her face)._ Oh, Mr.
Bales! We're cut off by the tide! Save me!

_W. Bales (lightly)._ Tut-tut, there's no danger. It's nothing.
(_Aside_) Great Heavens! Death stares us in the face!

_Miss Spratt (throwing her arms around his neck)._ William, save me; I
cannot swim!

_W. Bales (with Waller face)._ Trust me, Angelina. I will fight my way
round yon point and obtain help. (_Aside_) An Englishman can only die
once.

_Miss Spratt._ Don't leave me!

_W. Bales._ Fear not, sweetheart. See, there is a ledge where you will
be beyond the reach of the hungry tide. I will carry you thither in my
arms and will then----

At this point in his day-dream William took another look at the sleeping
Miss Spratt, felt his biceps doubtfully, and went on--

_W. Bales._ I will assist you to climb thither, and will then swim for
help.

_Miss Spratt._ My hero!

Again and again William reviewed the scene to himself. It was perfect.
His photograph would be in the papers; Miss Spratt would worship him; he
would be a hero in his City office. The actual danger was slight, for at
the worst she could shelter in the far end of the cave; but he would not
let her know this. He would do the thing heroically--drag her to the
ledge on the cliff, and then swim round the point to obtain help.

The thought struck him that he could conduct the scene better in his
shirt sleeves. He removed his coat, and then went out of the cave to
reconnoitre the ledge.

* * * * *

Miss Spratt awoke with a start and looked at her watch. It was 4.15. The
cave was empty save for a crumpled page of newspaper. She glanced at
this idly and saw that it was the local _Herald_ ... eight days old.

Far away on the horizon William Bales was throwing stones bitterly at
the still retreating sea.

XIII. THE PORTUGUESE CIGAR

Everything promised well for my week-end with Charles. The weather was
warm and sunny, I was bringing my golf clubs down with me, and I had
just discovered (and meant to put into practice) an entirely new stance
which made it impossible to miss the object ball. It was this that I was
explaining to Charles and his wife at dinner on Friday, when the
interruption occurred.

"By the way," said Charles, as I took out a cigarette, "I've got a cigar
for you. Don't smoke that thing."

"You