"'I wish he war n't so fur out,' said the captain. As for myself, I was in a miserably restless state; I could do nothing but wander aimlessly about, now and then straining my eyes after that sail. Finally I turned to the old skipper, -

"'Captain, you have another boat, and now I want to go out.'

"His face brightened visibly, for he discovered my meaning at once. 'Jest ez soon 'z I git a leetle snack o' vittles, sir.'

"I was so impatient to start, that I am afraid I was for a moment disgusted with the honest skipper. He went up to the hotel, and soon returned with a suspiciously large lunch for one person. We took the little fishing-sloop that lay bumping against the pier, and started forth. The wind had freshened, and the sea was pretty rough. The Rosa was just in sight, and we bore down upon it with all sail, - which was one sail. I was trembling with excitement, and I could see that even the grim old captain was not indifferent to the emotions of a pursuit.

"On and on! The Rosa was the larger boat, but, with all Mr. Carlin's boasted seamanship, she was not well managed. 'I 'm ruther afeerd ther's a storm comin',' muttered Captain Scuffles, with an anxious look; and he let loose the sheets a little. The vessel careened and shivered, and leapt forward over the waves. It was now past noon, and the captain opened the suspiciously large package, and passed it to me. I had eaten scarcely any breakfast, and, in spite of the absorbing excitement, the sight of food made me hungry. I acknowledged that he had been wiser than I.

"On and on! Now we could see their faces, and they had recognized us. But Bertha did not wave her handkerchief; she was crouched down in the stern, and Carlin was sitting near, talking angrily, I judged, though I could not hear his voice for the wind. And then the memory of that dream came over me; I divined what was to come. I think I must have been crazy with terror, - I am sure the captain thought I was.

"The boats were now but a few hundred yards apart. Suddenly Bertha rose to her feet, with a scornful gesture, laughing nervously; and then that devil raised his arm and struck her. She reeled backward, fell helplessly over the side; and then the whirling waters closed above her head."

Here the Professor came to a sudden pause.

"Is that all?" I asked, still anxious to learn the fate of the young girl.

"All? Is it not a horrible enough story, - a strange enough interpretation of a strange dream? I never saw Bertha Carlin's face again!"