ed."

"The poor things! To be lost--cast away on this cruel, inhospitable
land. How very, very sad!"

"It is safer, you see, to leave this dangerous anchorage. Do you still
want the captain? He is busy there forward."

For the moment everyone was forward: they were all intent on the
straining cables and the muddle of gear that would have to be cleared
or cut away when they got up sail.

So Mrs. Wilders and McKay stood at the cabin companion
alone--absolutely alone--with the raging elements, the whistling wind
still three parts of a gale, and the cruel, driving sea.

"Shall I fetch the captain?" McKay repeated.

"No, no! Don't disturb him; no doubt he is right. I will go below
again. This is no place for me." She took one long, last survey of the
really terrifying scene, but then, quite suddenly, there burst from
her an exclamation of horror.

"There! there! Mr. McKay, look: on that piece of timber--a figure,
surely--some poor shipwrecked soul! Don't you see?"

McKay, shading his eyes, gazed intently.

"No. I can make nothing out," he said at length, shaking his head.

"How strange! I can distinguish the figure quite plainly. But never
mind, Mr. McKay; only do something. Give him some help. Try to save
him. Throw him a rope."

McKay obediently seized a coil of rope, and, approaching the gunwale,
said, quickly--

"Only you must show me where to throw."

"There, towards that mast; it's coming close alongside."

In her eagerness she had followed him, and was close behind as he
gathered up the rope in a coil to cast it.

Once, twice, thrice, he whirled it round his head, then threw it with
so vigorous an action that his body bent over and his balance was
lost.

He might have regained it, but at this supreme moment a distinct and
unmistakeable push in the back from his companion completed his
discomfiture.

He clutched wildly at the shrouds with one hand--the other still held
the rope; but fruitlessly, and in an instant he fell down--far down
into the vortex of the seething, swirling sea.

"Ah, traitress!" he cried, as he sank, fully conscious, as it seemed,
of the foul part she had played.

Had she really wished to drown him? Her conduct after he had
disappeared bore out this conclusion.

One hasty glance around satisfied her that McKay's fall had been
unobserved. If she gave the alarm at once he might still be saved.

"Not yet!" she hissed between her teeth. "In five minutes it will be
too late