bears his disappointment,
worse than mine, in so far that he has travelled three thousand miles to
attain it."

"Oh, he professes to be charmed. I heard him say, 'Well, Quackinboss,
I 'm better pleased to know that the poor girl is alive than to have a
million of dollars left me.

"You don't say the stranger was Quackinboss, the dear Yankee we were all
so fond of long ago at Marlia, and whom I never could make in love with
me, though I did my very best? Oh, father, is it not provoking to think
of all the old friends we are running away from? Colonel Quackinboss,
Dr. Layton, and Alfred! every one of them so linked to us by one tender
thought or another. What a charming little dinner we might have had
to-morrow; the old doctor would have taken me in, whispering a little
doleful word, as we went, about the Hawke's Nest, and long ago; and you
and he would have had your scientific talk afterwards!"

How old Holmes laughed at the pleasant conceit! It was really refreshing
to see that good old man so cheery and light of heart; the very boat
shook with his jollity.

"Listen!--do listen!" said Trover, in an accent of terror. "I'm
certain I heard the sound of oars following us."

"Stop rowing for a moment," said she to the boatmen; and as the swift
skiff glided noiselessly along, she bent down her head to listen. "Yes,"
said she, in a low, quiet voice, "Trover is right; there is a boat in
pursuit, and they, too, have ceased pulling now, to trace us. Ha! there
they go again, and for Lindau too; they have heard, perhaps, the stroke
of oars in that direction."

"Let our fellows pull manfully, then, and we are safe," cried Trover,
eagerly.

"No, no," said she, in the same calm, collected tone. "The moon has set,
and there will be perfect darkness till the day breaks, full two hours
off. We must be still, so long as they are within hearing of us. I know
well, Trover, what a tax this imposes on your courage, but it can't be
helped."

"Just so, Trover," chimed in Holmes. "She commands here, and there must
be no mutiny."

The wretched man groaned heavily, but uttered no word of reply.

"I wish that great chemical friend of yours, papa,--the wonderful Dr.
Layton,--had turned his marvellous mind to the invention of invisible
fire. I am dying for a cigar now, and I am afraid to light one."

"Don't think of it, for mercy's sake!" broke in Trover.

"Pray calm yourself, I have not the slightest fancy for being overtaken
by thi