foam from beyond the reef
overspread them like snow. The whole world became full of the sound of
surging waters.

Knight opened his eyes. "The tide is coming up fast," he said. "We must
be getting back."

She clung closer to him. "I could die with you on a night like this,"
she said.

He crushed her to his heart. "Ah, goddess!" he said. "You couldn't die!
But I am only mortal, and the tide won't wait."

Again the swirling breakers swept around the Point. Reluctantly she came
to earth. The pool had become a seething whirl of water.

"Yes," she said, "we must go, and quickly--quickly! It rises so fast
here."

Sure-footed as a doe over the slippery rocks, she led the way. They left
the magic place and the dazzling tumble of moonlit water, the dark
caves, the enchanted strand. Progress was not easy, but Knight had been
that way before, though only by day. He followed his guide closely, and
when presently they emerged upon level sand, he overtook and walked
beside her.

She slipped her hand into his. "It's the lie of the quicksand that's
puzzling," she said, "if you don't know it well."

"I am in thy hands, O Queen," he made light reply. "Lead me whither thou
wilt!"

She laughed--a low, sweet laugh of sheer happiness. "And if I lead you
astray?"

"I would follow you down to the nethermost millstone," he vowed.

Her hand tightened upon his. She paused a moment, looking out over the
stretch of sand that intervened between them and the little
fishing-quay. He had safely negotiated that stretch of sand by daylight,
though even then it had needed an alert eye to detect that slight
ooziness of surface that denoted the presence of the sea-swamp. But by
night, even in that brilliant moonlight, it was barely perceptible.
Columbine herself did not trust to appearances. She had learnt the way
from Adam as a child learns a lesson by heart. He had taught her to know
the danger-spot by the shape of the cliffs above it.

After a very brief pause to take her bearings, she moved forward with
absolute assurance. Knight accompanied her with unquestioning
confidence. His faith in his own luck was as profound as his faith in
the girl at his side. And the tumult in his veins that night was such as
to make him insensible of danger. The roar of the rising tide
exhilarated him. He walked with the stride of a conqueror, free and
unafraid, his face to the sea.

Unerringly she led him, but she did not speak again until they had made