boat, and was therefore blind to the approaching catastrophe.
Unconscious even of observation, he advanced nearer and nearer.

Miss Limpenny's emotion found vent in a squeal.

Mr. Fogo, heard, halted, and gazed blankly around.

"How singular!" he murmured. "I could have sworn I heard a cry."

He made another step. The sound was repeated, more shrilly.

"Again! And, dear me, it sounds human--as of some fellow-creature in
distress."

"Go away! Go away at once!"

"Eh? Bless my soul, what can it be?" Mr. Fogo stared in the
direction whence the voice proceeded, but of course without seeing
anything.

"I beg your pardon?" he observed mildly.

"Go away!"

"If you will allow me--" he began, courteously addressing vacancy.

"Monster!"

The awful truth began to dawn upon him, and was followed by a hasty
impulse to dive.

"If," he stammered, "I am right in supposing myself to address a
lady--"

"Don't talk to me, but go away."

"I was about to ask permission to resume my spectacles, which I have
unfortunately laid aside."

"No, no. That would be worse. Oh! go away at once."

"Pardon me, madam. I am aware that spectacles are insufficient as
a--I mean, I did not propose to consider them in the light of a
costume, but as an assistance to my sight, without which--"

"Oh! I shall faint."

"Without which it will be impossible for me to extricate myself
from this extremely unfortunate situation. I am notoriously
short-sighted, madam, and at this distance could not tell you from
Adam--I should say, from Eve," continued Mr. Fogo, desperately
reaching out for his spectacles and adjusting them.

By the imperfect glimpse which he obtained through the glasses
(which were still damp) he was almost moved to adopt his first
impulse of deserting the boat and diving. But even if he swam away
the case would be no better, for this unreasonable female stood
sentry beside his clothes.

"If I might make a suggestion, madam--"

But by this time Miss Limpenny had broken forth into a series of sobs
and plaintive cries for protection. Alas! the rest of the
picnic-party were deep within the woods, and out of hearing.

"Believe me, my dear madam--"

"I am not your dear madam."

"I have no other intention than to get out of this."

"Ah! he confesses it."

"I assure you--"

"Will no one protect me?" wailed the lady, wringing her hands and
sobbing anew. But help was near, though from an unexpected quarter.