In spite of his attempt to imitate the Governor's jauntiness Archie felt
again, as so often since he left Bailey Harbor, the unreality of the
events through which he had been projected with his singular companion,
who had drawn him so far out of his orbit that it was hard to believe
that he would ever slip into it again. Their affairs had never presented
so many problems as now, when the Governor was predicting and planning
the end with so much assurance. In the few seconds that Ruth deliberated
he plunged to the depths in his despair that Isabel would ever seriously
consider him as a lover.

"I was just thinking," said the girl, stepping back a little into a path
that led from the beach to the woods, "how we seem to be living in the
good old times, when knights hastened by land or water to the rescue of
ladies in distress. This is all very pretty and be sure we all
appreciate what you have done for us. But I don't quite see through to
the end!" The smile was gone and there was no doubt of the sincerity of
the anxiety that darkened her eyes as she ended with a little,
quavering, despairing note: "Something serious and dreadful threatens
us, one and all of us maybe! It's only--what do you call such a thing--a
presentiment!"

"Please don't think of it!" pleaded Archie; "things are bound to come
out all right. You mustn't lose faith in us."

"Yes; it will be only a little longer," muttered the Governor
listlessly.

He had responded instantly to Ruth's confession of her premonition of
impending evil, and Archie, troubled by his friend's change of mood,
hastened to end the interview.

"We're not going to lose!" he declared. "It's when the world is
brightest that the shadow of a cloud sometimes makes us fear to trust
our happiness. Good-by and good luck!"

She was not reassured, however, and as she shook hands with them there
were tears in her eyes.

V

The Governor quickly recovered his spirits and with characteristic
enthusiasm began putting the new launch through its paces. Like
everything that pleased him, the launch was wonderful. He called upon
Archie to bear witness to its unsurpassed merits, and they ran out to
the row boat to invite the admiration of Putney and Leary. Putney, they
found, was skilled in the handling of such craft, and the Governor
cheerfully turned the launch over to him.

"You take it and run up to Calderville, where you'd better get supper.
Pick up the Heart o' Dreams mail and bring i