eck of her white fascinator rose and
gleamed as each roll swung her up into the light of the boat's lamp
turned upon the spot. This told him that she was already helpless and
unconscious, although ten seconds had not elapsed since she went over.
God send that she had not struck anything--that her heart was not
weak--that she was not subject to any of the mysterious consequences of
shock peculiar to the more than ordinarily complex women! At any rate,
she had not had time to drown. He had seen a man recovered after being
under for forty minutes, and in less than one they would be taking her
full speed to Williamstown, signalling for the doctor as they went.
What would the fellows ashore make of the three whistles--three times
there before they got across? They would know the launch that blew
them, and her present errand, and think, perhaps, that the crew were on
the spree. But no, they would have more sense than that; they would
look at the wild night, and conclude that something had happened. So
would the doctor, who would hear the summons from his bed. What would
they all say to him, Guthrie Carey, with his good seaman's record
behind him, when he brought his wife home in such a state of
dilapidation? However, all's well that ends well. Let him only have her
safely there, and he would not mind what anybody said; and he'd take
precious good care not to run any risks with her again.

Water-logged as he was, and cramped in his overcoat, he made a violent
bound towards the floating cape, lunged twice, caught it at the second
try, and pulled it eagerly--alas! too eagerly. He felt the tug of
Lily's weight only just long enough to be sure that she was there, and
then--the fastenings gave way, and she slipped through! The empty
garment swam up to him on the edge of a new wave, which clapped it over
his face like a gigantic plaster.

Oh, this was dreadful! She would be rescued eventually, of
course--amongst them they would not let her drown, not if skill and
courage had any show at all--but the fact that she was in danger could
no longer be ignored. She was a little delicate thing, already
overcome, and precious time was wasting, when every second was of the
most stupendous consequence. With a frenzied gesture, Guthrie shook off
the cloak, spluttered, spat, and made a dive to intercept her as she
went down, wondering as he did so whether breath and strength would
hold out if he missed her and had to follow her to the bottom. T