ery nearly joined you on the ground, and then we
would never have regained consciousness, either of us. I applied the
simplest form of artificial respiration to you, dowsed your head, and
now you're all right. On the whole, Ewart, we can consider ourselves
very well out of this latest adventure."

"What you're really telling me," I pointed out gratefully, "is that
you saved my life at the risk of your own. I'm no good at making
speeches, or anything of that sort, Garnesk, but I thank you, if you
know what that means. And Myra will----"

"Not a word to her, Ewart," my companion interrupted eagerly.
"Whatever you do, don't on any account worry that poor girl with this
new complication. Anything on earth but that."

"No," I agreed; "you're right there. Myra must be kept in the dark."

"Yes," he replied, with a look of relief. "It might have a serious
effect on her chances of recovery if she had this additional worry.
And I don't think it would be advisable to tell the old man either. I
think we had better keep it to ourselves absolutely. Tell no one,
Ewart, except your friend when he comes."

"Very well," I answered, for I was very anxious to spare both Myra and
her father from the knowledge of any further trouble. "I'll tell
Dennis when he comes, but otherwise it is our secret."

"Good," said Garnesk. "Now put your coat on, old chap, and we'll
stroll back to the house."

I got up and buttoned my collar, retied my bow, and slipped into my
jacket. I was rather uncomfortably damp, and I felt a bit shaky and
queer, and decided that I could do with a complete rest from the
mysteries of the green ray. But the subject remained uppermost in my
mind, and my tired brain still strove to unravel the tangled threads
of the puzzle.

"By the way," I said, as we walked slowly up to the house, "you have
not yet explained what there was in my remark about the sunlight that
made you think of the yacht."

"Well," he replied, "you see I had an idea that perhaps they might
come here when the gorge, through which the river flows, was flooded
with light, so that they could see if any strange effects were
produced. But that suffocation was not brought about by any electrical
experiment, and I am beginning to be afraid that, after all, we may be
up against some strange natural phenomena, some terrible combination
of the forces of Nature, which has not yet been observed, or at any
rate recorded."

"Why afraid?" I asked, for although I