eyes were glittering like phosphorus in
the night, her face pallid in the starlight.

He bent lower down and further out, trying to reach the hat, when
suddenly she gave him a push and he fell into the river, and went down
before he could utter the cry upon his lips.

The force with which she had pushed her victim into the water had given
the little boat an impetus that sent it flying down the stream, and
rocking violently from side to side.

It was as much as she could do to keep her place in it. Any other than
an experienced boat-woman like herself must have been shaken out and
drowned.

She heard her victim's agonized scream for help as he rose the first
time to the surface of the water.

But she gave it no attention.

For even if she had repented, and had wished to save him, she could not
do so now.

She could, with the greatest difficulty, keep her place in the rocking
boat until the impetus that had started it was spent.

Yet again that awful cry for help pierced the night sky as the drowning
man arose the second time to the surface; but on this occasion the cry
sounded farther off, and the boat, though it had ceased to rock, was
flying rapidly down stream.

She took hold of the rudder and tried to guide the flying little shell.

Her situation, self-sought as it had been, was one of almost intolerable
horror.

The night sky was above her, the dark waters beneath her, and around
her, at various distances, like little dim white specks, were to be seen
the sails of the coming and going colliers, and other small trading
craft.

She steered down the stream with the tide, pausing now and then and
listening. But she heard no more that agonized cry of the drowning man,
though she knew it would ring in her spirit's ears forever.

She steered down stream until she heard the sound of oars, and of merry
laughter and cheerful talk, and then she dimly perceived the approach of
a large pleasure boat crowded with gentlemen and ladies.

Then she, knowing it was too late to save her victim, deceitfully raised
a shrill scream, that attracted the attention of the people in the large
boat, which was immediately rowed in the direction of the cry.

Soon the two boats were side by side.

"What is the matter?" inquired a man's voice from the larger boat.

"Oh, for Heaven's sake, help! My companion has fallen overboard, and, I
fear, is drowned!" cried Mary Grey, wringing her hands in well-simulated
grief and terror.