guessIam。IknowIam。ButyouaretheonlyoneIcantalktointhiswayabout——abouthim。AllMawantstotalkaboutnowistheweddingandclothesandsuch，andPaalwaystreatsmeasifI
wasachild。IfeelalmostasifyouweretheclosestfriendI
have，andIknowGeorgefeelsthesame。Hesaysyouhavehelpedhimoutofhistroubles。Iwassureyouwould；thatiswhyIwroteyouthatletter。WearebothSOgratefultoyou。\"
Theirgratitudeandtheknowledgeoftheirhappinessweremysoleconsolationsinthistryingtime。TheykeptmefromrepentingwhatIhaddone。Itwashardnottorepent。IfColtonhadonlymadeknownhispurchaseandclosedtheLaneatonce，whilemyresolutionwasredhot，Icouldhavefacedthewrathofthevillageanditsinevitableconsequencesfairlywell，Ibelieved；buthestillkeptsilentandmadenomove。Isawhimonceortwice；ononeoccasionhecameintothebank，buthecameonlytocashacheckanddidnotmentionthesubjectoftheLane。HedidnotlookwelltomeandI
heardhimtellTaylorsomethingabouthis\"damneddigestion。\"
Theweddingdaycame。I，asbestman，wasbusyandthankfulforthebustleandresponsibility。Theyoccupiedmymindandkeptitfromdwellingonotherthings。Georgeworkedatthebankuntilnoon，gettingreadytoleavetheinstitutioninmychargeandthatofDickSmall，Henry’sbrother，whohadreportedfordutythatmorning。Themarriagewastotakeplaceathalfpastoneintheafternoonandthebridalcoupleweretogoawayonthethreeo’clocktrain。Thehoneymoontripwastobeabriefone，onlyaweek。
Everyable—bodiednativeofDenboro，man，womanandchild，attendedthatwedding，Ihonestlybelieve。ItwasthebestsortofadvertisingforOlindaCahoonandSimeonEldredge，forOlindahadmadethegownswornbythebrideandthebride’smotherandanumberoftheyoungerfemaleguests，andSimhadsoldinnumerablebottlesofapeculiarlypenetratingperfume，alargesupplyofwhichhehadbeentalkedintopurchasingbyaBostontravelingsalesman。
\"Smellit，Ros，doye？\"whisperedSim，grinningtriumphantlybetweenthepointsofa\"stand—up\"collar。\"Igiveyoumywordwhenthatslick—talkin’drummersoldmeallthatperfumery，I
thoughtIwasstucksureandsartin。ButthenIhadanidee。
Everytimewomenfolkscomeintothestoreandcommencedtotalkabouttheweddin’Isaysto’em，saysI，’Can’tsellyouacoupleofhandkerchiefstocryon，canI，MissSo—and—so？Weddin’saregreatplacesforsheddin’tears，youknow。’IfIsold’emthehandkerchiefsallwellandgood；butiftheylaughedandsaidtheyhadaplenty，Igotoutmysamplebottleof’MayLilock’，that’sthenameofthecologne，andasked’emtosmellofit。’Ifyoucrywiththatonyourhandkerchief，’saysI，’allhandswillbegladtohaveyoudoit。Andonlytwentycentsabottle！’Youwouldn’tbelievehowmuchIsold。Youcansmellthisweddin’aforeyoucomeinsightofthehouse，can’tyenow。\"
Youcould，andyoucontinuedtosmellitlongafteryouleft。Mybestsuitreekedof\"MayLilac\"weekslaterwhenItookitoutofthecloset。
Dorindawasthere，garbedinrustlingblackalpaca，herSundaygownfortenyearsatleast，andmadeoverand\"turned\"fourorfivetimes。Lutewasondeck，cutawaycoat，\"highwater\"trousersandpurpletie，grandtolookupon，AlvinBakerandElnathanMulletandAlonzoBlackandThophNewcombandZebKendrickwere，astheItemwouldsay，\"amongthosepresent\"andifZeb’sblackcutawaysmelledslightlyoffishitwas，atleast，achangefromthepervading\"MayLilac。\"
CaptainJedstruttedpompouslyabout，monarchoftheday。Hegreetedmegenially。
\"Hello，Ros！\"hesaid。\"Yououthere？Thoughtyou’dbebusyoverhaulin’George’srunnin’riggin’andmakin’surehewasallreadytoheavealongsidetheparson。\"
\"Ihavebeen，\"Ianswered。\"Iamonmywaybacktherenow。\"
\"Allright，allright。Matildygivemefitsfornotstayin’
upstairsuntilthestartin’gunwasfired，butItoldherthat，betweenherwithhereyesfulloftearsandOlindyCahoonwithhermouthfullofpins，’twasnoplaceforamaleman。SoIclearedouttilleverythingwasshipshape。Say，Ros，\"helaidhishandonmyshoulderandbenttowhisperinmyear：\"Say，Ros，\"hesaid，\"I’mgladtoseeyou’retakin’myadvice。\"
\"Takingyouradvice？\"Irepeated，puzzled。
\"Yes；aboutnotplayin’withfire，youknow。Iain’theardofyouandthePrincesscruisin’togetherforthepastweek。Thought’twasbestnottobetoofamiliarwiththeR’yalfamily，didn’tyou？That’sright，that’sright。Wecan’ttakechances。We’vegotDenboroandtheShoreLanetothinkabout，ain’twe？\"
Ididnotanswer。Ididnotrisklookinghimintheface。
\"She’sliabletobeheremostanytime，Ical’late，\"hewenton。
\"Nelliewouldinsistoninvitin’her。AndImustsaythat，tobehonest，thepresentshesentisthefinestthat’scomeaboardyet。
TheonlythingI’vegotagainstherisherbadjudgmentinpickin’
afather。If’twan’tforthatI——hello！Who——Why，Ibelieve——\"
Therewasacommotionamongtheguestsandheadswereturnedtowardthedoor。Thecaptainstartedforward。Istartedback。Shehadenteredtheroomandwasstandingthere，lookingaboutherwithsmilinginterest。Ihadforgottenthat，consideringherfriendshipwithNellie，shewascertaintobeinvited。
Shewasdressedinasimple，butwonderful，whitegownandworeabunchofliliesofthevalleyatherbosom。Thedoorwaywasdecoratedwithspraysofhoneysuckleandgreenboughsandagainstthisbackgroundshemadeapicturethatbroughtadmiringwhispersfromthepeoplenearme。ShedidnotnoticemeatfirstandI
thinkIshouldhaveescapedbythesidedoorifithadnotbeenforSimEldredge。Simeonwasjustbehindmeandhedartedforwardwithoutstretchedhand。
\"Why，howd’yedo，MissColton！\"exclaimedSim。\"You’rejustintime，ain’tye！Letmegetyouachair。Alvin，\"toMr。Baker，who，perspiringbeneaththeunaccustomeddignityofastarchedshirtfront，occupiedafrontseat，\"getupandletMissColtonsetdown。\"
ShelookedinSim’sdirectionandsawme，standingbesidehim。I
hadnoopportunitytoavoidherlooknow，asIhaddonewhenwemetinthestreet。ShesawmeandIcouldnotturnaway。Ibowed。
Shedidnotacknowledgethebow。Shelookedcalmlypastme，throughme。Isaw，orfanciedthatIsaw，astonishmentonthefacesofthosewatchingus。CaptainJedsteppedforwardtogreetherandIwentintotheadjoiningroom，whereGeorgewasanxiouslyawaitingme。
\"Goodland，Ros！\"heexclaimed，withasighofrelief，\"Iwasbeginningtobeafraidyou’dskippedoutandleftmetogothroughitallalone。Saysomethingtobracemeup，won’tyou；I’mscaredtodeath。Say，\"withawonderingglanceatmyface，\"what’sstruckYOU？YoulookmoreupsetthanIfeel。\"
IbelieveIorderedhimnottobeanidiot。IknowIdidnot\"bracehimup\"toanyextent。
Itwasaveryprettywedding。Atleasteveryonesaiditwas，althoughtheysaythesameofallweddings，Iamtold。PersonallyIwasverygladwhenitwasover。NelliewhisperedinmyearasI
offeredhermycongratulations，\"Weoweitalltoyou，Roscoe。\"
Georgesaidnothing，butthelookhegavemeashewrungmyhandwassignificant。ForamomentIforgotmyself，forgottobeenviousofthosetowhomthedoorforhappinesswasnotshut。
AfterallIhadopenedthedoorforthesetwo，andthatwassomething。
IwalkedasfarasthecornerwithLuteandDorinda。Dorinda’seyeswereredandherhusbandcommenteduponit。
\"Ithoughtaweddin’wassupposedtobeajoyfulsortofthing，\"hesaid，disgustedly。\"It’susuallycal’latedtobe。Yetyouandtherestofthewomenfolkssetandcriedthroughthewholeofit。
Whatintimewastheretocryabout？\"
\"Oh，Idon’tknow，Luther，\"repliedDorindain，forher，anunusuallytoleranttone。\"Perhapsit’sbecausewe’veallbeenyoungonceandcan’tforgetit。\"
\"Idon’tforget，nomore’nyoudo。Iain’tsooldthatIcan’trememberthatfurback，Ihope。Butitdon’tmakemefeellikecryin’。\"
\"Well，allright。Wewon’targueaboutit。Let’sbepleasantaswecan，foronce。\"
NowthatiswhereLuteshouldhavetakenthehintandremainedsilent。Atleastheshouldhavechangedthesubject。Buthewashotanduncomfortableand，Isuspect，hisSundayshoesweretight。
Hepersisted。
\"Huh！\"hesniffed；\"Idon’tsee’syou’vegivenmenosensiblereasonforcryin’。IfIrecollectrightyoudidn’tcryatyourownweddin’。\"
Hiswifeturnedonhim。Shelookedhimoverfromheadtofoot。
\"Didn’tI？\"shesaid，tartly。\"Well，maybenot。ButifI’drealizedwhatwashappenin’tome，Ishould。\"
\"Lute，\"saidI，asIpartedfromthematthecorner，\"Iamgoingtothebankforalittlewhile。ThenIthinkIshalltakeashortrundownthebayintheComfort。DidyoufillhertankwithgasoleneasIaskedyouto？\"
Lutestoppedshort。\"There！\"heexclaimed，\"Iknewtherewassomethin’Iforgot。I’lldoitsoon’severIgethome。\"
\"Whenyougethome，\"observedDorinda，firmly，\"you’llwashthathenhousewindow。\"
\"Now，Dorinda，ifthatain’tjustlikeyou！Don’tyouhearRoscoeaskin’meaboutthatgas？I’vehadthatgasinmyheadeversinceyesterday。\"
\"Um—hm，\"wearily。\"Well，Ishouldn’tthinkalittleextrymoreorlesswouldmakemuchdifference。Nevermind，don’twasteanymoreonme。Getthegasoutofyourhead，ifRoscoewantsyouto。Youcanwashthewindowafterward。\"
Lute’spartingwordswerethathewouldfillthattanktheveryfirstthing。Ifhehad——butthere！hedidn’t。
CHAPTERXVIII
Thefoghadcomealmostwithoutwarning。When，afterleavingthebank，atfouro’clockorthereabouts，IwalkeddowntotheshoreandpulledmyskiffouttowheretheComfortlayathermoorings，therehadnotbeenasignofit。NowIwasneartheentranceofthebay，somewhereabreastCrowPoint，andallaboutmewasgray，wetblankness。SittinginthesternofthelittlelaunchIcouldseeperhapsascanttenfeetbeyondthebow，nomore。
Itwasthesuddenshiftofthewindwhichhadbroughtthefog。
WhenIlefttheboathousetherehadbeenalightwesterlybreeze。
Thishaddieddowntoaflatcalm，andthenanewbreezehadsprungupfromthesouth，blowingthefogbeforeit。Itrolledacrossthewaterasswiftlyasthesmokecloudsrollfromafreshlylightedbonfire。ItblottedDenborofromsightandmovedacrossthebay；
thelongstretchofbeachdisappeared；theCrowPointlightandBenSmall’sfreshlywhitewasheddwellingsandoutbuildingswereobliterated。IntenminutestheComfortwas，toallappearances，aloneonashorelesssea，andIwastheonlylivingcreatureintheuniverse。
Iwasnottroubledoralarmed。Ihadbeenoutintoomanyfogsonthatverybaytomindthisone。Itwasanuisance，becauseitnecessitatedcuttingshortmyvoyage，althoughthatvoyagehadnoobjectivepointandwasmerelyanaimlesscruiseinsearchofsolitudeandforgetfulness。ThesolitudeIhadfound，theforgetfulness，ofcourse，Ihadnot。Andnow，whenthesolitudewasmorecompletethanever，surroundedbythisgraydismalness，withnothingwhatevertolookattodivertmyattention，IknewI
shouldbemorebitterlymiserablethanIhadbeensinceIleftthatwedding。AndIhadbeenmiserableandbitterenough，goodnessknows。
Homeandthevillage，whichIhadbeensoanxioustogetawayfrom，nowlookedinvitingincomparison。Isloweddowntheengineand，withanimpatientgrowl，bentoverthelittlebinnacletolookatthecompassandgetmybearingsbeforepointingtheComfort’snoseinthedirectionofDenboro。Thenmygrowlchangedtoanexclamationofdisgust。Thecompasswasnotthere。Iknewwhereitwas。Itwasonmyworkbenchintheboathouse，whereIhadputitmyself，havingcarriedittheretoreplacethecrackedglassinitstopwithanewone。Ihadforgottenitandthereitwas。
Icouldgetalongwithoutit，ofcourse，butitsabsencemeantdelayandmoretrouble。InageneralwayIknewmywhereabouts，butthechannelwaswindingandthetidewasebbingrapidly。I
shouldbeobligedtorunslowly——tofeelmyway，sotospeak——andI
mightnotreachhomeuntillate。However，therewasnothingelsetodo，soIputthehelmoverandswungthelaunchabout。Isatinthesternsheets，listeningtothedreary\"chock—chock\"ofthepropeller，andpeeringforwardintothemist。Theprospectwasascheerlessasmyfuture。
Suddenly，fromthewet，grayblanketaheadcameacall。ItwasagoodwayoffwhenIfirstheardit，acallinaclearvoice，afemininevoiceitseemedtome。
\"Hello！\"
Ididnotanswer。Itookitforgrantedthatthecallwasnotaddressedtome。Itcameprobably，fromthebeachatthePoint，andmightbeMrs。Smallhailingherhusband，thoughitdidnotsoundlikehervoice。Severalminuteswentbybeforeitwasrepeated。ThenIhearditagainandnearer。
\"Hello！Hello—o—o！Whereareyou？\"
ThatwasnotMrs。Small，certainly。UnlessIwasawayoffinmyreckoningthePointwasatmyright，andthevoicesoundedtotheleft。Itmustcomefromsomecraftafloatinthebay，thoughbeforethefogsetinIhadseennone。
\"Hello—o！Hello，themotorboat！\"
\"Hello！\"Ianswered。\"Boatahoy！Whereareyou？\"
\"HereIam。\"Thevoicewasnearerstill。\"Whereareyou？Don’trunintome。\"
Ishiftedmyhelmjustabitandpeeredahead。Icouldseenothing。Thefogwasthickerthanever；ifthatwerepossible。
\"Whereareyou？\"repeatedtheunseenvoyager，andtomydismay，thehailcamefromtherightthistime。
\"Don’tmove！\"Ishouted。\"Staywhereyouare。Iwillkeepshouting……LOOKOUT！\"
Outofthefogtostarboardalongdarkshadowshot，silentandswift。ItwasmovingdirectlyacrosstheComfort’sbow。Ijammedthewheeloverandthelaunchswungoff，butnotenough。Itstruckthecanoe，foritwasacanoe，aglancingblowandheeleditdowntothewater’sedge。Therewasascrape，alittlescream，andtwohandsclutchedattheComfort’srail。Iletgothewheel，sprangforwardandseizedtheownerofthehandsaboutthewaist。Thecanoe，halffullofwater，disappearedsomewhereastern。IswungMabelColtonaboardthelaunch。
Ithinkshespokefirst。Idonotremembersayinganything，andI
thinkitmusthavebeenatleastafullminutebeforeeitherofusbrokethesilence。Shelay，orsat，uponthecockpitfloor，hershoulderssupportedbythebenchsurroundingit，justwhereIhadplacedherafterliftingherovertherail。Ikneltbesideher，staringasifshewereaspiritinsteadofareal，andratherdamp，younglady。Andshestaredatme。Whenshespokeherwordswereanechoofmythought。
\"ItISyou？\"shegasped。
\"Yes。\"
\"This——thisisthethirdtime。\"
\"Yes。\"
Anotherintervalofsilence。Thenshespokeoncemoreandhertonewasoneexpressingintenseconviction。
\"This，\"shesaid，slowly，\"isgettingtobepositivelyridiculous。\"
Ididnotdenyit。Isaidnothing。
Shesatup。\"Mycanoe——\"shefaltered。
Thementionofthecanoebroughtmepartiallytomysenses。I
realizedthatIwaskneelingonthedeckofalaunchthatwaspoundingitswaythroughthefogwithnooneatthehelm。Isprangtomyfeetandseizedthewheel。Thatmydoingsowouldbeoflittleuse，consideringthattheComfortmightbeheadedalmostanywherebythistime，didnotoccurtome。MissColtonremainedwhereshewas。
\"Mycanoe——\"sherepeated。
Iwasawakeningrapidly。Ilookedoutintothemistandshookmyhead。
\"Iamafraidyourcanoehasgone，\"Isaid。Andthen，asthethoughtoccurredtomeforthefirsttime，\"You’renothurt，I
hope？Idraggedyouaboardhereratherroughly，Iamafraid。\"
\"No，Iamnothurt。But——wherearewe？\"
\"Idon’tknow，exactly。Somewherenearthemouthofthebay，thatisallIcanbesureof。You，arecertainyouarenothurt？Youmustbewetthrough。\"
Shegotuponherfeetand，leaningovertheComfort’srail，gazedabouther。
\"Iamallright，\"sheanswered。\"Butdon’tyouknowwhereyouare？\"
\"BeforethefogcaughtmeIwasnearlyabreastthePoint。IwasrunningathalfspeedupthechannelwhenIheardyourhail。Wherewereyou？\"
\"Iwasjustbeyondyourboathouse，outinthemiddleofthebay。
Ihadcomeoutforapaddlebeforedinner。Ididnotnoticethefoguntilitwasallaboutme。ThenIthinkImusthavebeenbewildered。IthoughtIwasgoinginthedirectionofhome，butI
couldnothavebeen——notifyouwereabreastthePoint。Imusthavebeengoingdirectlyouttosea。\"
Sheshivered。
\"Youarewet，\"Isaid，anxiously。\"Thereisastormcoatofmineinthelockerforward。Won’tyouputthataboutyourshoulders？
Itmaypreventyourtakingcold。\"
\"No，thankyou。Iamnotwet，atall；or，atleast，onlymyfeetandthebottomofmyskirt。Ishallnottakecold。\"
\"But——\"
\"Pleasedon’tworry。Iamallright，orshallbeassoonasIgethome。\"
\"Iamverysorryaboutyourcanoe。\"
\"Itdoesn’tmatter。\"
Heranswerswereshortnow。Therewasadifferentnoteinhervoice。Iknewthereasonofthechange。NowthattheshockandthesurpriseofourmeetingwereoversheandIwereresumingouroldpositions。Shewasrealizingthathercompanionwasthe\"commonfellow\"whose\"charmingandcultivatedsociety\"wasnotnecessarytoherhappiness，thefellowtowhomshehadscornfullyoffered\"congratulations\"andwhomshehadcutdeadattheDeans’
thatveryafternoon。Imadenomoresuggestionsandexpressednomoresympathy。
\"Iwilltakeyouhomeatonce，\"Isaid，curtly。
\"Ifyouplease。\"
Thatendedconversationforthetime。Sheseatedherselfonthebenchneartheforwardendofthecockpitandkeptherheadturnedawayfromme。I，withonehanduponthewheel——auselessprocedure，forIhadnoideawherethelaunchmightbeheaded——
lookedovertherailandlistenedtotheslowandregularbeatoftheengine。Suddenlythebeatgrewlessregular。Theenginebarked，hiccoughed，barkedagainbutmorefaintly，andthenstoppedaltogether。
Iknewwhatwasthematter。BeforeIreachedthegasolenetankandunscrewedthelittlecoverIknewit。Ithrustinthegaugestickandhearditstrikebottom，drewitoutandfoundit，asI
expected，drytotheverytip。Ihadtrusted，likeanimbecile，toLute。Lutehadpromisedtofillthattank\"theveryfirstthing，\"
andhehadnotkepthispromise。
TherewasnotapintofgasoleneaboardtheComfort；anditwouldbemycheerfuldutytoinformmypassengerofthefact！
Shedidnotwaitformetobreakthenews。Shesawmestandingthere，holdingthegaugestickinmyhand，andsheaskedthenaturalquestion。
\"Whatisthematter？\"shedemanded。
IswallowedtheopinionofMr。Rogerswhichwasonthetipofmytongue。
\"Iamsorry，\"Istammered，\"but——but——well，weareintrouble，Iamafraid。\"
\"Introuble？\"shesaidcoldly。\"Whattroubledoyoumean？\"
\"Yes。Thefactis，wehaverunoutofgasolene。Itoldmyman，Rogers，tofillthetankandhehasn’tdoneit。\"
Sheleanedforwardtolookatme。
\"Hasn’tdoneit？\"sherepeated。\"Youmean——why，thisboatcannotgowithoutgasolene，canit？\"
\"Notverywell；no。\"
\"Then——thenwhatarewegoingtodo？\"
\"Anchorandwait，ifIcan。\"
\"Wait！ButIdon’twishtowait。Iwishtobetakenhome，atonce。\"
\"Iamsorry，butIamafraidthatisimpossible。\"
Iwasonmywayforwardtowheretheanchorlay，inthebow。Sheroseandsteppedinfrontofme。
\"Mr。Paine。\"
\"Yes，MissColton。\"
\"ItellyouIdonotwishyoutoanchorthisboat。\"
\"Iamsorrybutitistheonlythingtodo，underthecircumstances。\"
\"Idonotwishit。Stop！ItellyouIwillnothaveyouanchor。\"
\"MissColton，wemustdooneoftwothings，eitheranchorordrift。
AndifwedriftIcannottellyouwherewemaybecarried。\"
\"Idon’tcare。\"
\"Ido。\"
\"Yes，\"withscornfulemphasis，\"Ipresumeyoudo。\"
\"Whatdoyoumean？\"
\"Imean——nevermindwhatImean。\"
\"But，asIhaveexplainedtoyou，thegasolene——\"
\"Nonsense！DoyousupposeIbelievethatridiculousstory？\"
\"Believeit？\"Igazedatheruncomprehendingly。\"Believeit，\"I
repeated。\"Don’tyoubelieveit？\"
\"No。\"
\"MissColton，doyoumeanthatyouthinkIamnottellingyouthetruth？ThatIamlying？\"
\"Well，\"fiercely，\"andifIdid，woulditbesoastonishing，considering——consideringtheTRUTHSyouhavetoldmebefore？\"
Imadenofurtherefforttopassher。InsteadIsteppedback。
\"Wouldyoumindtellingme，\"Idemanded，withdeliberatesarcasm，\"whatpossiblereasonyouthinkImighthaveforwishingtokeepyouhere？\"
\"Ishalltellyounothing。And——andIwillnothaveyouanchorthisboat。\"
\"Isityourdesirethenthatwedrift——theLordknowswhere？\"
\"Idesireyoutostartthatengineandtakemehome。\"
\"Icannotstarttheengine。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveit。\"
ForamomentIhesitated。ThenIdidwhatwasperhapsthemostsenselessthingIeverdidinallmylife，whichissayingconsiderable。Iturnedmybackonherandontheanchor，andseatedmyselfoncemoreinthesternsheets。Andwedrifted。
IdonotknowhowlongwedriftedbeforeIregainedmysanity。Itmusthavebeenagoodwhile。WhenIfirstreturnedtomyseatbythewheelitwaswiththefirmdeterminationtoallowtheComforttodriftintothebottomlesspitratherthantostirhandorfoottopreventit。Infactthatparticularportlookedratherinvitingthanotherwise。AnytormentsitmighthaveinstorecouldnotbeworsethanthoseIhadundergonebecauseofthisgirl。Isat，silent，withmygazefixeduponthemotionlessengine。Iheardmypassengermoveonceortwice，butIdidnotlookather。
Whatbroughtmetomysenseswastheboathook，whichhadbeenlyingontheseatbesideme，suddenlyfallingtothefloor。I
startedandlookedovertherail。Thewater，asmuchofitasI
couldseethroughthefog，wasnolongerflatandcalm。Therewerewavesallaboutus，notbigones，butwavesnevertheless，long，regularswellsinthetroughofwhichtheComfortrockedlazily。
Therewasnowindtokickupasea。Thiswasagroundswell，suchasnevermovedinDenboroBay。WhileIsattherelikeanidiotthetidehadcarriedusoutbeyondthePoint。
WithanexclamationIsprangupandhurriedforward。MissColtonwassittingwhereIhadlefther。
\"Whatisit？\"sheasked。\"Whatareyougoingtodo？\"
\"Iamgoingtoanchor，\"Isaid。
\"Idonotwishyoutoanchor。\"
\"Ican’thelpthat。Imust。Pleasestandaside，MissColton。\"
Shetriedtopreventme，butIpushedheraway，nottoogentlyIamafraid，andclamberedforwardtothebow，wheretheanchorlayuponitscoilofline。Ithrewitoverboard。ThelineranouttoitsveryendandIwaitedexpectantlyforthejerkwhichwouldtellmethattheanchorhadcaughtandwasholding。Butnojerkcame。
ReachingoverthebowItriedtheline。Itwastautandheavy。
ThenIknewapproximatelyhowfarwehaddrifted。WewerebeyondtheshoalmakingoutfromCrowPointoverthedeepwaterbeyond。
Myanchorropewasnotlongenoughtoreachthebottom。
StillIwasnotalarmed。Iwasprovokedatmyownstubbornnesswhichhadgottenusintothispredicamentandmoreangrythaneveratthepersonwhowasthecauseofthatstubbornness。ButIwasnotfrightened。TherewereothershoalsfurtheroutandIlefttheanchorasitwas，hopingthatitmightcatchandholdononeofthem。Iwentbackoncemoretomyseatbythewheel。
Thenfollowedanotherintervalofsilenceandinaction。Fromasternandagoodwayoffsoundedthenotesofabell。Fromtheoppositedirectioncamealowgroan，indescribablymournfulandlonely。
Mypassengerhearditandspoke。
\"Whatwasthat？\"shedemanded，inastartledtone。
\"ThefoghornatMackerelIsland，theislandatthemouthofWellmouthharbor，\"Ianswered。
\"Andthatbell？\"
\"ThatisthefogbellatCrowPoint。\"
\"AtCrowPoint？Why，itcan’tbe！CrowPointisinDenboroBay，andthatbellisalongwaybehindus。\"
\"Yes。WeareamileormoreoutsidethePointnow。Thetidehascarriedusout。\"
\"Carriedus——Doyoumeanthatweareoutatsea？\"
\"Notatseaexactly。WeareinCapeCodBay。\"
\"But——why，wearestilldrifting，aren’twe？Ithoughtyouhadanchored。\"
\"Itriedto，butIwastoolate。Thewateristoodeepherefortheanchortoreachbottom。\"
\"But——butwhatareyougoingtodo？\"
\"Nothingatpresent。ThereisnothingIcando。Sitdown，please。\"
\"Nothing！Nothing！Doyoumeanthatyouproposetositthereandletusbecarriedouttosea？\"
\"Weshallnotbecarriedfar。Thereisnowind。Whenthetideturnsweshallprobablybecarriedinagain。\"
\"But，\"sharply，\"whydon’tyoudosomething？Can’tyourow？\"
\"Ihaveonlyoneoar。\"
\"Butyoumustdosomething。YouMUST。I——I——Itislate！itisgrowingdark！Mypeople！Whatwilltheythink？\"
\"Iamsorry，MissColton。\"
\"Sorry！Youarenotsorry！Ifyouwereyouwoulddosomething，insteadofsittingthereas——asifyouenjoyedit。Ibelieveyoudoenjoyit。Youaredoingitpurposelyto——to——\"
\"Towhat，pray？\"
\"Nevermind。\"
\"ButIdomind。Youhaveaccusedmeoflying，MissColton，andofkeepingyouherepurposely。Whatdoyoumeanbyit？\"
\"Imeanthat——that——Oh，youknowwhatImean！Youhatemeandyouhatemyfather，andyouaretryingto——topunishusfor——for——\"
Ihadheardenough。Ididnotproposetohearanymore。
\"MissColton，\"Iinterrupted，sternly，\"stop！thisissilly。I
assureyouthatIamasanxioustoendthis——excursion——ofoursasyoucanbe。YourbeingafloatinDenboroBayinacanoewasyourownrecklessnessandnotmyfault。Neitherwasitmyfaultthatthelaunchcollidedwithyourcanoe。Icalledtoyounottomove，buttostaywhereyouwere。And，moreover，ifyouhadpermittedmetoanchorwhenIfirstattemptedtodosoweshouldnotbeinthisscrape。IshallgetyououtofitjustasquickasIcan。InorderthatImaydosoIshallexpectyoutostopbehavinglikeachildanddoasItellyou。Sitdownonthatbenchandkeepstill。\"
ThishadtheeffectImeantitto。Shelookedatmeasifshecouldnotbelieveshehadheardaright。ButImethergazesquarely，and，withashudderofdisgust，orfear，Idonotknowwhich，sheturnedherbackuponmeandwassilent。Iwentforwardtothecuddy，foundthetinhornwhich，untilthatmoment，Ihadforgotten，and，returning，blewstridentblastsuponitatintervals。Therewaslittledangerofothercraftbeinginourvicinity，butIwasneglectingnoprecautions。
ThebellatCrowPointsoundedfurtherandfurtherastern。Thetwilightchangedtoduskandthedusktodarkness。Thefogwasasthickasever。Itwasnearlytimeforthetidetoturn。
Suddenlytherewasajerk；thelaunchquivered，andswungabout。
\"Oh！whatwasthat？\"demandedMissColton，shortly。
\"Theanchor，\"Ianswered。\"Wehavereachedtheoutershoal。\"
\"And，\"hesitatingly，\"shallwestayhere？\"
\"Yes；unless——\"
\"Unlesswhat？\"
\"Unless……Hush！listen！\"
Therewasanoddrushingsoundfromthedarknessastern，asortofhissandlow，wateryroar。Irushedtothebowanddraggedtheanchorinboardwithallmystrength。ThenIrantothewheel。I
hadscarcelyreacheditwhenIfeltahandonmyarm。
\"Whatisit？\"askedtheyounglady，hervoicequivering。\"Oh，whatisit？\"
\"Wind，\"Ianswered。\"Thereisasquallcoming。Sitdown！Sitdown！\"
\"But——but——\"
\"Sitdown。\"
ShehesitatedandIseizedherarmandforcedherdownuponthebenchbesideme。Ithrewthehelmover。Therushingsoundgrewnearer。Thencameablastofwindwhichsentmycapflyingoverboardandthefogdisappearedasifithadbeenaclothsnatchedawaybyamightyhand。Aboveuswasablacksky，withstarsshowinghereandtherebetweenflyingclouds，andaboutuswerethewaves，alreadybreakingintofoamupontheshoal。
TheComfortrockedandwallowedinthetrough。Wewerebeingdrivenbythewindawayfromtheshoal，butnotfastenough。
Somehoworotherwemustgetoutofthatdangerousneighborhood。I
turnedtomycompanion。Shehadnotspokensincethesquallcame。
\"MissColton，\"Isaid，\"givemeyourhands。\"
IpresumeshecouldnotimaginewhatImeant。Nodoubt，too，mytoneandtherequestfrightenedher。Shehesitated。Iseizedherhandsandplacedthemonthespokesofthewheel。
\"Iwantyoutoholdthatwheeljustasitis，\"Icommanded。\"I
mustgoforwardandgetsteeragewayonthiscraftsomehow，orweshallcapsize。Canyouholdit，doyouthink？\"
\"Yes；I——Ithinkso。\"
\"Youmust。\"
