by Tresidder!" cried one of the girls; "'Wudn' be i' thy shoon,
Young Zeb, for summatt."

Zeb shook his wits together and dashed off towards the spot, twenty
yards away, where Ruby stood holding the lantern high, its ray full on
her face. As she started she kicked off her clogs, turned, and ran for
her life.

Then, in an instant, a new game began upon the sands. Young Zeb, waving
his kerchief and pursuing the flying lantern, was turned, baffled,
intercepted--here, there, and everywhere--by the dancers, who scattered
over the beach with shouts and peals of laughter, slipping in between
him and his quarry. The elders by the fire held their sides and cheered
the sport. Twice Zeb was tripped up by a mischievous boot, floundered
and went sprawling; and the roar was loud and long. Twice he picked
himself up and started again after the lantern, that zigzagged now along
the fringe of the waves, now up towards the bonfire, now off along the
dark shadow of the cliffs.

Ruby could hardly sift her emotions when she found herself panting and
doubling in flight. The chase had started without her will or dissent;
had suddenly sprung, as it were, out of the ground. She only knew that
she was very angry with Zeb; that she longed desperately to elude him;
and that he must catch her soon, for her breath and strength were
ebbing.

What happened in the end she kept in her dreams till she died.
Somehow she had dropped the lantern and was running up from the sea
towards the fire, with Zeb's feet pounding behind her, and her soul
possessed with the dread to feel his grasp upon her shoulders.
As it fell, Old Zeb leapt up to his feet with excitement, and opened his
mouth wide to cheer.

But no voice came for three seconds: and when he spoke this was what he
said--

"Good Lord, deliver us!"

She saw his gaze pass over her shoulder; and then heard these words come
slowly, one by one, like dropping stones. His face was like a ghost's
in the bonfire's light, and he muttered again--"From battle and murder,
and from sudden death--Good Lord, deliver us!"

She could not understand at first; thought it must have something to do
with Young Zeb, whose arms were binding hers, and whose breath was hot
on her neck. She felt his grasp relax, and faced about.

Full in front, standing out as the faint moon showed them, motionless,
as if suspended against the black sky, rose the masts, yards, and
square-sails of a full-rigged ship.

The m