riking in him."

"I'll tell you all about it. My father and I started on our journey as
usual. When we were on deck, it came on to blow and we decided to go
below. I was going down the companion-way, dad following behind, when
he trod on my skirt, which gave me a sudden jerk, just at the same
moment that the ship lurched, and I lost my balance and fell. I had
noticed a young man waiting below for me to come down. He saw my danger
and, instead of falling on the floor, I fell into his arms. I came down
pretty heavily, for we both landed on the floor, I on the top. Several
men came to our assistance, and when I was getting up, I found a button
of his coat had become fixed in my hair. I had to lean over while he
released it, and in doing so my face came close to his, and, looking up,
I found him gazing at me in a curiously fixed way. Here the strange part
of it comes in. I found it difficult to take my eyes off him and, as he
gazed, I felt a peculiar sensation through me, and instantly realized he
was to be my fate. As I left with dad my brain seemed to be fixed on
him. I seemed to belong to him and, when he asked me to walk on deck
with him, I was literally powerless to refuse. The rest you know."

"Did you see him in Tasmania?" asked Hil, thoughtfully.

"Yes, twice. He came to our place unknown to dad. We were to have met
again on the following day, but he sent me a note, saying he was going
to Hobart, and he wished me to join him. I could not resist, so I went
two days later."

"But what about the yacht?"

"He mentioned in the letter his intention to go for a cruise, and that I
was to meet him at Port Arthur. I was preparing to get ready when Reg
and Hal--I mean Mr. Morris and Mr. Winter--came on the scene, and here I
am."

"They are fine fellows, and they don't belie their looks," said Hil,
seriously.

"Why, how do you know?"

"I watched them closely as the boat was coming alongside the wharf. I
picked them out at once."

"If they had waited we might have given them some information."

"Let them find out, my dear. We'll shew them we are as good as they."

"But what if they should find out and go by the same boat."

"Then we will go by train. But come now and I will shew you our clothes,
besides we must have our hair cut short, so that we will be able to use
a wig when we resume our discarded sex."

An hour was spent in arranging their trunks and getting all necessaries
together, and then they drove to th