nothing else now you are here. But I believe we have done
all that need be done to the yacht, and I can take care of you till the
storm is over.'

He put his arm round her as the stem dipped, and led her towards the
stern, guiding her footsteps, supporting her as her light figure swayed
against him with the motion of the boat. A vivid flash of lightning
showed him her face as they stood for an instant leaning against each
other, his arm encircling her. Ah, what deep feeling in that
countenance, once so passionless; what a new light in those eyes. It was
like the awakening of a long dormant soul.

He took the helm from the captain and stood steering the vessel, and
calling out his orders, with Lesbia close beside him, holding her with
his disengaged arm, drawing her near him as the vessel pitched
violently, drawing her nearer still when they shipped a sea, and a great
fountain of spray enfolded them both in a dense cloud of salt water.

The thunder roared and rattled, as if it began and ended close beside
them. Forked lightnings zigzagged amidst the rigging. Sheet lightning
enwrapped those two in a luminous atmosphere, revealing faces that were
pale with passion, lips that trembled with emotion. There were but scant
opportunity for speech, and neither of these two felt the need of words.
To be together, bound nearer to each other than they had ever been yet,
than they might ever be again, in the midst of thunder and lightning and
dense clouds of spray. This was enough. Once when the _Cayman_ pitched
with exceptional fury, when the thunder crashed and roared loudest,
Lesbia found her head lying on Montesma's breast and his arms round her,
his lips upon her face. She did not wrench herself from that forbidden
embrace. She let those lips kiss hers as never mortal man had kissed her
before. But an instant later, when Montesma's attention was distracted
by his duties as steersman, and he let her go, she slipped away in the
darkness, and melted from his sight and touch like a modern Undine. He
dared not leave the helm and follow her then. He sent one of the sailors
below a little later, to make sure that she was safe in her cabin; but
he saw her no more that night.

The storm abated soon after daybreak, and the morning was lovely; but
Don Gomez and Lady Lesbia did not meet again till the church bells on
the island were ringing for morning service, and then the lady was safe
under the wing of her chaperon, with her affianced