endin' messengers to all the coastguards for miles, he is, to look out
for the lady----"

Here the old man paused for want of breath, and I--completely relieved
by his rambling statement from my fear about the girl's brother,
hastened to relieve him with my astonishing news that Miss Burfield was
safe and sound in my yacht, and had been so for some hours.

Eager as I was to get back to the _Thelma_ with my good news, I could
not get away till I had told the good old fellow how it had happened
that I had rescued her, and he in return told me how young Burfield had
rushed, muddy and dripping, into the inn as they were all going to bed,
and demanded help in the search for his sister. No boat was to be had at
the moment, and so they had shouted till Mr. Small came ashore in his
own boat, and had at once rowed away with young Burfield down the river,
in the thick darkness, with the faint hope of finding the missing girl
before she drifted into the open sea.

"I told 'em it warn't much good," ended the old man, "and that they'd
best wait till daylight, but they would go. As for me, I reckon I've
done the best thing, for I druv' over at once to the coastguards down
yonder, and told 'em to keep a look out at the mouth o' the river. I
ain't been back long, and was just takin' a nap when you found me, as I
hadn't the 'art to go to bed."

Having arranged with him to send the good news to all concerned,
especially to the Hall, where old Mr. Burfield must doubtless be in a
terrible state of anxiety, I hurried back along the towing-path,
rejoicing in the thought that I should now be able to relieve my fair
visitor's mind of her anxiety.

I found her on deck, looking anxious, indeed, but so pretty and fresh in
spite of her trying night's experiences, that my impressions of the
night were greatly intensified, and I began to bless the unusual
circumstances that had brought us together and made us friends, as it
were, from the first moment of our acquaintance; and I registered a
mental vow that the bond thus created between us should never be broken,
if it lay in my power to prevent it.

And when I had told her the good news, and we had at last an opportunity
of friendly converse unclouded by forebodings and anxious thoughts, I
for one thoroughly enjoyed the companionship, and allowed myself to hope
that it was not altogether disagreeable to my charming visitor.

It did not seem long, therefore, to me before the arrival of Mr.
Bu