as as the roaring of a
thousand torrents. The great waves boomed against the cliff far beyond
the summer watermark. They had long since covered the quicksand, and he
thought he felt the ground shake with the shock of them.

He reached at length the gap in the cliff that led down to the cottage,
and here he paused; for the descent was sharp, and the light that still
filtered through the dense storm-clouds was very dim. But in a few
seconds another great flash lit up the whole wild scene. He saw again
the Spear Point Rock standing out, scimitar-like, in the sea. The water
was dashing all around it. It stood up, grim and unapproachable, the
great waves flinging their mighty clouds of spray over its stark summit.
But--possibly because he viewed it from above instead of from below--he
saw naught beside that grand and futile struggle of the elements.

Reassured, he started in the rain and darkness down the twisting path
that led to his old home. He knew every foot of the way, but even so, he
stumbled once or twice in the gloom.

The roaring of the sea sounded terribly near when finally he reached the
little garden-gate and caught the ray of the lamp in the window.

Evidently it had awakened Rufus also. Almost unconsciously he quickened
his pace as he went up the path.

He reached the door and fumbled for the latch; but ere he found it, it
was flung open, and a strange and tragic figure met him on the
threshold.

"Ah!" cried a woman's voice. "It is you! Where--where is Rufus?"

Adam's keen and birdlike eyes nearly leapt from his head.
"Why--Columbine?" he said.

She was dressed in Rufus's suit of navy serge. It hung about her in
clumsy folds, and over her shoulders and about her snow-white throat her
glorious hair streamed like a black veil, still wet and shining in the
lamplight.

She flung out her hands to him in piteous appeal. "Oh, Adam!" she said.
"Have you seen them? Have you seen Rufus? He went--he went an hour
ago--to save Mr. Knight from the quicksand!"

Adam's quick brain leapt to instant activity. The girl's presence
baffled him, but it was no time for explanation. In some way she had
discovered Knight in danger, and had rushed to Rufus for help.
Then--then--that vision of his from the quay--that flash of
revelation--had been no dream, after all! He had seen Rufus indeed--and
probably for the last time in his life.

He stood, struck dumb for the moment, recalling every detail of the
clinging figure tha