till now."

A bright burst of flame illumined the beach, and Niabon with a torch in
her hand was standing at the water's edge.

"The night is fair and good, and the wind is from the east. Let us away,
dear friends."

Her voice seemed to reach me as if from far, far away, though her dark
face with the deep luminous eyes were so near, and, as she spoke, the
boat, with Tepi and Tematau standing erect and waiting, grounded gently
on the strand.

"Yes, yes, we shall sail to-night," I cried exultantly, as I again
pressed Lucia to my heart, and showered passionate kisses upon her lips,
"we shall sail, Lucia my dearest; on, and on, and on, to the north-west,
my beloved, till we come to our journey's end, and you and I shall never
part again, no never, never, my dearest."

"Ay, never, never shall ye two part again," cried Niabon, casting down
her torch; "man with the strong and daring hand, and woman with the fond
and tender heart. Thy lives are forever linked together. Quick, give me
thy hand, Lucia, my dove, my own, my own!" She sprang towards us, and
took Lucia's hand in hers, and almost tore off her wedding ring, and
then flung it far out into the lagoon.

"Sink, sink, thou ring of misery--thou golden circle which should have
meant love and trust and happiness, but brought naught but hate and
treachery and poison to her who wore it. Sink, accursed thing."

"Oh, Jim, Jim!" and Lucia turned her streaming eyes to mine, "it was my
wedding ring, and when _he_ gave it to me, I think he loved me, wicked
and cruel as he was afterwards. Oh, Niabon, Niabon!" In a moment
Niabon's arms were around her. "My sweet, my sweet! thou art to me more
than life," she whispered, "I love thee so, Lucia. I love thee so that
I would die for thee! Heed not the ring, for now thou hast beside thee
a good man--true, brave, and strong--one whose love will forever shield
thee. Come, my dearest, come with me to the boat."

They went down the beach together, with arms around each other's waists,
and their footsteps guided by the still-burning torch lying on the sand.
I followed, and in another minute I had the tiller in my hand, and told
Tepi to push off, as Tematau ran up the jib.

"How now for the passage?" I cried, as I slipped my arm around Lucia's
waist, and her lips met mine, "how now for the passage, Tepi? Canst see?
Canst see, Tematau?"

Niabon placed her hand on mine.

"Have no fear, Simi. The wind is fair and the passage through the r