ned helplessly to the stranger, as he concluded his
story.

"Oh, what shall we do! what shall we do!" they said. "Oh, take us right
back to the lake, won't you? and the rest will follow: we may find her."

"There isn't any boat," cried Raby, from the floor. "I tried to go for
her, and the boat is all full of holes, and she must have been drowned
ever so long by this time; she told me it only took half an hour, that
nobody could be brought to life after that," and Raby's cries rose
almost to shrieks, and brought old Caesar and Nan from the kitchen. As
the first words of what had happened reached their ears, they broke into
piercing lamentations. Nan, with inarticulate groans, and Caesar with,
"Damn! damn! bress de Lord! No, damn! damn! dat lake. Haven't I always
told Miss Hetty not to be goin' there. Oh, damn! damn! no, no, bress de
Lord!" and the old man, clasping both hands above his head, rushed to
the barn to put the horses into the big farm-wagon. With anguished
hearts, and hopelessly, Jim and Sally piled blankets and pillows into
the wagon, and took all the restoratives they could think of. They knew
in their hearts all would be of no use. As they drove through the
village they gave the alarm; and, in an incredibly short time, the whole
shore of the lake was twinkling with lights borne high in the hands of
men who were searching. Two boats were rowing back and forth on the
lake, with bright lights at stern and prow; and loud shouts filled the
air. No answer; no clew: at last, from the island, came a pistol
shot,--the signal agreed on. Every man stood still and listened. Slowly
the boats came back to shore, drawing behind them Hetty's boat; bringing
one of the oars, and also Hetty's shawl, which they had found, just
where Raby had told them they would, in the wild-grape thicket.

"Found it bottom-side up," was all that the men said, as they shoved the
boat high up on the sand. Then they all looked in each other's faces,
and said no more. There was nothing more to be done: it was now ten
o'clock. Slowly the sad procession wound back to town through the
rayless hemlock woods. Midway in them, they met a rider, riding at the
maddest gallop. It was the doctor! No one had known where to send for
him; and there was no time to be lost. Coming home, and wondering, as he
entered, at the open doors and the unlighted windows, he had found Norah
sitting on the floor by the weeping Raby, and trying to comfort him.
Barely compre