Alice had thought his conduct sincere. How could he now crush this poor
girl's hopes by frank statement of his real sentiments.

With staring, inquisitive eyes Alice watched Oswald's troubled face
while these thoughts were passing through his mind. She could not
mistake his embarrassment. With dawning presentiment of his unspoken
decision, this despairing girl, standing erect, gave one glance at the
river. Her action was quickly noted by Oswald, who sprang between Alice
and the shore. She begged him to have pity. "You have made me love you!
Do not cast me off! Whatever happens, save me from that hateful villain,
Paul Lanier!"

There is a flash of steel, a blow and thrust, followed by the splash of
two bodies. A form stoops over the projecting shore until the waters
have hidden both from view. By aid of the moonlight, scanning the stream
far as can be seen in its onward course, this peering watcher seems
fearful that his victims may escape from the river. At the sound of
voices, he mutters an oath and skulks away.

Oswald rises and swims against the current. Grasping an overhanging
shrub in contact with the water's surface, by great effort he manages to
reach land.

[Illustration: "THERE WAS A FLASH OF STEEL, A BLOW AND THRUST, FOLLOWED
BY THE SPLASH OF TWO BODIES."]

Before starting upstream, Oswald looked for any appearance of Alice.
There was no sign. When on the shore, he tried to go down the river in
hope of rescuing her, but loss of blood and his fatigue prevented.

Hearing distant voices, it dawns on Oswald that he will be suspected of
having caused the death of Alice Webster. They had gone for this night
row, and were last seen together. Whether the body shall be found or
not, he will be suspected of having murdered the girl. Who will believe
his statement of the facts?

These thoughts and his weakened state still kept Oswald rooted to the
spot, undecided what to do. The voices grow more distinct. He detects
the excitement of those approaching. Shall he await their appearance, or
meet them coming and explain all?

In this dilemma Oswald follows the impulse seeming to him most rational.
Avoid these strangers about whom he knows nothing; confide first in his
friends; with them and the police search for the body of Alice Webster.

With these conclusions rapidly formed, Oswald rises to his feet. Weak
from loss of blood, but with forced energy, he starts in an opposite
direction from that of the voices, inte