d among
them as Trewinion's heir, and thus she would look upon me as her future
husband. How, then, could she be encouraging the man she loved, when
she would regard it as a sin to do so?

But was it she, was it Wilfred?

The captain's glass was near me, and I seized it. I brought it to the
right focus. I saw them plainly, Ruth and Wilfred standing side by
side, with her hand resting on his arm. There could be no mistake.

Yes, she would know all by this time; she would know that I had given
up everything for her happiness, and she had accepted it without a
pang. She had come out alone with the man who had stepped into my
place.

It was base ingratitude. She was not worthy the sacrifice. I would
leave the vessel at Falmouth, go home, and destroy their plans; I would
claim my own again. As for Wilfred, I would whip him like a dog, and
drive him from the place.

I know my thoughts were confused, and unreasonable, but I think I was
mad, for I stamped my foot in my rage.

I heard a noise behind me and turned round. The captain stood coolly
watching me. Instantly, my position burst upon me, and I was confused.

"Well, Richard Tretheway," he said, "and what have you been using my
glass for?"

"It is a fine old headland, sir, and I wanted to see it."

"Ay, and it's a fine old house on the cliff, eh. Whom does it belong
to?"

I was silent.

"Ah, well, lad, I will not pry into your secrets; sometime, perhaps,
you may want to tell me," and he walked away.

Still I watched, while the couple on the cliff became more and more
indistinct, and the old grey tower seemed to melt away in the steely
sky, and as it did so my feelings softened, for I felt I was bidding
good-bye to it for ever. My love for Ruth began to exert its power,
and although I felt bitter, the thought of going back to wreck her
happiness was repugnant.

On, on we swept, until Ruth and Wilfred could no longer be seen, and
the old house was hidden by the prongs of the "Devil's Tooth." Then I
broke down and sobbed like a child. Now, indeed, I was alone and
without a friend. There was no brightness in my sky, no hope for the
future. Truly I was sad at heart. With that the words of old Deborah
Teague came back to me.

"Mind, mind Trewinion's curse, tes comin', tes comin'. I see Maaster
Roger homeless, friendless, despised, disgraced. Mind, Maaster Roger,
mind."

CHAPTER XIV

"A HOME ON THE ROLLING DEEP"

I found Luke Mille