GULL

The dawn broke gray and desolate, the vista of restless waters growing
gradually wider, as the light spread out across the eastern sky. The
clouds yet hung thick and low, yielding a ghastly aspect to the dawn,
somberness to the picture of breaking waves tipped by flying vapors of
mist. I sat at the tiller, grasping one of her hands in mine, and
staring anxiously about the broadening circle. The boat in which we
rode, while buoyant enough, still bore the outward appearance of a
wreck, the broken stump of a mast barely showing sufficiently high to
support the flapping jib, and the wet canvas of the mainsail completely
concealing everything forward. The men were lying low, so completely
hidden as to be invisible even to us, but the Lieutenant sat upright,
with head above the mass of sail, and was scanning the sea with
glasses. He was a resolute-looking fellow, with brown eyes, and a
reddish tinge of hair. As he lowered the glasses a moment, I saw him
glance back at us curiously.

"Had n't seen you before," he explained cordially enough. "Dark when
we came over the side, you know. Bad morning."

"The fog is lifting. What is that black mass out there?"

"Cosmos Island," and he turned his lenses the other way. "The next ten
minutes will give us a clear view."

I looked at her, noting how tired her eyes appeared in the gray light,
although they smiled courageously.

"I wish you were not here," I whispered.

"Please do not say that. I--I really I wished to come. I do not think
I could have let you go without me."

"But you are so tired--"

"No more than you, I am sure. Why, I have done nothing except to stay
awake. You have had all the work and worry. It will not be long now."

"No; we shall know in a few minutes if the _Sea Gull_ is standing by
hunting us. If she shows up, you must do exactly as I say. You
promise that?"

"Of course," and the clasp of her hand tightened. "You have no reason
to doubt me."

The Lieutenant's eyes were on the widening sea line, and I bent down
and pressed my lips to her bare arm. I glanced up again into flushed
cheeks.

"It has been a great night," I said sincerely. "The one in all my life
best worth living through."

"I almost believe you mean that."

"Don't you?"

"Can you not read my answer in my eyes?"

"Craig," exclaimed the Lieutenant suddenly, "that must be the fellow
off there to port. Here, try the glasses--just where the cloud is
liftin