eet and free from the
wreckage. Still side by side they leaped the port bulwark, splashed
into the canal, and swam straight across it, as if animated with the
instinct of going straight ahead in that fashion to the end of the
world. Cleggett never saw or heard of them again.

"Bring a lantern," said Cleggett to Abernethy. "Let's see if this man
is badly hurt."

But the negro was not injured. He rose to his feet as the Captain
brought the light--the storm was now subsiding, and the lightning was
less frequent--and stood revealed as a person of surprising size and
unusual blackness. He was, in fact, so black that it was no wonder
that Cleggett had not seen him on the seat of the carriage, for unless
one turned a light full upon him his face could not be seen at all
after dark. He was in a blue livery, and his high, cockaded coachman's
hat had stayed on his head in spite of everything.

Even sitting down on the deck he had possessed an air of patience.
When he arose and the Captain flashed the light upon his face, it
revealed a countenance full of dignified good humor.

"Where did you come from?" asked Cleggett.

The negro removed the hat with the cockade before answering. He did it
politely. Even ceremoniously. But he did not do it hastily. He had
the air of one who was never inclined to do things hastily.

"From Newahk, sah," he said. "Newahk, New Jehsey, sah."

"But who are you?" said Cleggett. "How did you get here?"

The negro was gazing reflectively at the broken carriage.

"Ah yo' Mistah Cleggett, sah? Mistah Clement J. Cleggett, sah, the
ownah of dis hyeah boat?"

"Yes."

The negro fumbled in an inner pocket and produced a card. He gave it
to Cleggett with a deferential bow, and then announced sonorously:

"Miss Genevieve Pringle, sah--in de cah-age, sah--a callin' on Mistah
Clement J. Cleggett."

He completed the announcement with a dignified and courtly gesture,
which seemed to indicate that he was presenting the ruined carriage
itself to Cleggett.

"You don't mean in that carriage?" cried Cleggett.

"Yes, sah," said the negro. "Leas'ways, she was, sah, some time back.
Mah time an' mah 'tention done been so tooken up wif dem incompatible
hosses fo' some moments past, sah, dat I cain't say fo' suah ef she
adheahed, or ef she didn't adheah."

He glanced speculatively at the carriage again. Cleggett sprang
towards the broken vehicle, expecting to find someone seriously injured
at