he has heard for millions of years is
not likely to awake him. And Fladda and Lunga; surely this ghost-gray
ship that steals by is not the old _Umpire_ that used to visit them in
the gay summer-time, with her red ensign flying, and the blue seas all
around her? But here is a dark object on the waters that is growing
larger and larger as one approaches it. The black outline of it is
becoming sharp against the clear dome of stars. There is a gloom around
as one gets nearer and nearer the bays and cliffs of this lonely island;
and now one hears the sound of breakers on the rocks. Hamish and his men
are on the alert. The topsail has been lowered. The heavy cable of the
anchor lies ready by the windlass. And then, as the _Umpire_ glides into
smooth water, and her head is brought round to the light breeze, away
goes the anchor with a rattle that awakes a thousand echoes; and all the
startled birds among the rocks are calling through the night--the
sea-pyots screaming shrilly, the curlews uttering their warning note,
the herons croaking as they wing their slow flight away across the sea.
The _Umpire_ has got to her anchorage at last.

And scarcely was the anchor down when they brought him a message from
the English lady. She was in the saloon, and wished to see him. He could
scarcely believe this; for it was now past midnight, and she had never
come into the saloon before. But he went down through the forecastle,
and through his own stateroom, and opened the door of the saloon.

For a second the strong light almost blinded him; but, at all events, he
knew she was sitting there; and that she was regarding him with no
fierce indignation at all, but with quite a friendly look.

"Gertrude!" said he, in wonder; but he did not approach her. He stood
before her, as one who was submissive.

"So we have got to land at last," said she; and more and more he
wondered to hear the friendliness of her voice. Could it be true, then?
Or was it only one of those visions that had of late been torturing his
brain?

"Oh yes, Gerty!" said he. "We have got to an anchorage."

"I thought I would sit up for it," said she. "Christina said we should
get to land some time to-night; and I thought I would like to see you.
Because, you know, Keith, you have used me very badly. And won't you sit
down?"

He accepted that invitation. _Could it be true? could it be true?_ This
was ringing in his ears. He heard her only in a bewildered way.

"And I want