ptly as had Ichabod at the sight of
Shrimp, though with a vastly more poignant emotion--for in the window he
saw the face of the girl he loved. As he saw the smile of recognition
and blissful welcoming, he set out on a run for the cabin. A moment
later he disappeared within it.

Ichabod and the detective discreetly refrained from following Roy at
once. They gave their attention instead to a sailboat that was
approaching. They took the newcomer--for the boat had only a single
occupant--for a fisherman seeking to win the reward, though they could
not understand why he should be coming from the northward. The watchers
were still further puzzled when the boat, instead of bearing shoreward,
abruptly shifted its course and swung in a wide circle, returning the
way it had come. The two men then walked to the tender, which, as it was
now low tide, lay fully exposed on the beach. At sight of the shorn
propeller, they understood the reason of the interrupted voyage. But
they could make no guess as to the whereabouts of Doctor Garnet himself.
They waited with feverish impatience for the appearance of Roy, with
such information as he should have gathered from Ethel. In the meantime,
they kept a sharp lookout all about, in the hope that the physician,
being only temporarily absent, might reappear at any moment.

At last, Roy issued from the cabin. He carried a chair in his left hand,
while his right arm supported his betrothed. He placed the chair on the
shady side of the shack, and tenderly bestowed the girl in it.

Ichabod and Van Dusen came forward. Ethel greeted the detective warmly
as an old acquaintance, and thanked him gratefully for the part he had
played in the rescue. But she looked with bewilderment on the leathery
visage of the fisherman. She was sure she had seen the face of the old
man somewhere once before, but she could by no means find a precise
recollection of time or place. Then Roy spoke in introduction of Ichabod
to her, and explained the mystery.

"This is Captain Ichabod Jones. To him, Ethel, you owe your life. It was
he who rescued you from the wreck of _The Isabel_, and faced death
himself to do it. To him also we owe our discovery of you here."

Ethel bestowed so radiant a smile on the old fisherman that he fairly
thrilled with pleasure.

"You must tell me the whole story some time soon," the girl said, after
she had uttered a few phrases of earnest thanks.

"Miss Marion," replied Captain Ichabod, "j