ick glance upward at the sky.

"The breeze is freshening again, Captain," he announced. "If you
care to hoist sail, the rowers can take a rest, at least until we
reach Cape Fea."

Captain Branscome gave permission to hoist sail, and soon we were
running homeward with as much as we could carry. There was no
danger, however, for beyond the northern point of Try-again Inlet the
water lay smooth all along the shore. Dr. Beauregard here called on
Plinny to admire the scenery, and, borrowing her sketchbook and
pencil, dashed off a bold drawing of Cape Fea as, rounding a little
to the westward, we caught sight of it standing out boldly against
the afternoon sun. As he drew it, he guided the talk gently back to
ordinary topics--to England and English scenery, to the charm of
English domestic architecture, and particularly of our great country
seats, to gardens and gardening, of which he professed himself a
devotee.

"Ah," he sighed at length, drawing a long breath; "if you, my
friends, only knew how much of what is happiest in life you carry in
your own breasts! I used--forgive me--to laugh at such pleasures as
I am enjoying at this moment, I see that nothing but gaiety and a
simple heart can bring a man peace at the last--and now it is too
late to begin!"

Plinny, not understanding in the least, opened wide eyes upon him.
His tone seemed to ask for her pity.

"Yes, yes. I have sought hard for pleasure and grudged no price for
it; but the stuff I bought was all flash and sham--like this fool's
diamonds--flash and sham, and the end of it weariness. Well, there
is money left. You shall take it and endow a hospital if you choose,
and that no doubt will increase your happiness and make it thrive.
But the root of the plant lies within you. Pardon me, ma'am"--he
looked towards Miss Belcher--"the question sounds an impudent one, I
know, but are you not, even for England, a well-to-do lady?"

"I have a trifle more than my neighbours," owned Miss Belcher.
"But it's almost more plague than blessing; at least I call it so,
sometimes, which is a different thing from being ready to give it
up."

"And you, ma'am?" He turned to Plinny.

"I have enough for my needs, I thank God," she answered. "But I have
known what it is to be poor."

"Quite so," he nodded. "And yet you have come thousands of miles,
you two, in search of treasure!"

At the entrance of Gow's Gulf we downed sail and took to our paddles
again. The tid