第97章

But while I still hesitated, while my hands were still in the air above her, before they touched her, I was brought back to sanity with a rude shock.A barrel or so of cold water came pouring over the rail and drenched us both.The launch, being left without a helmsman, had swung into the trough of the sea and this was the result.

I am not really sure what happened in the next few seconds.Imust, I imagine, have seized the wheel with one hand and my passenger with the other.At any rate, when the smoke, so to speak, had cleared, the Comfort was headed on her old course once more, I was back on the bench by the wheel, Mabel Colton's head was on my shoulder, and I was telling her over and over that it was all right now, there was no danger, we were perfectly safe, and various inanities of that sort.

She was breathing quickly, but she sobbed no more.I was glad of that.

"You are sure you are not hurt?" I asked, anxiously.

"Yes--yes, I think so," she answered, faintly."What was it? I--Ithought we were sinking."

"So did I for a moment.It was all my fault, as usual.I let go the wheel.""Did you? Why?"

"I don't know why." This was untrue; I did."But you are wet through," I added, remorsefully."And I haven't another dry wrap aboard.""Never mind.You are as wet as I am."

"Yes, but _I_ don't mind.I am used to it.But you--""I am all right.I was a little faint, at first, I think, but I am better now." She raised her head and sat up."Where are we?" she asked.

"We are within a few miles of the Wellmouth shore.That light ahead is the Mackerel Island light.We shall be there in a little while.The danger is almost over."She shivered.

"You are cold!" I cried."Of course you are! If I only had another coat or something.It is all my fault.""Don't say that," reproachfully."Where should I have been if it had not been for you? I was paddling directly out toward those dreadful shoals.Then you came, just as you have done before, and saved me.And," in a wondering whisper, "I knew it was you!"I did not ask her what she meant; I seemed to understand perfectly.

"Yes," I said.

"But I tell you I knew it was you," she repeated."I did not know--I did not suspect until the moment before the collision, before the launch came in sight--then, all at once, I knew.""Yes.That was when I knew."

She turned and gazed at me.

"YOU knew?" she gasped, hysterically."Why--what do you mean?""I can't explain it.Just before your canoe broke through the fog I knew, that is all."It was unexplainable, but it was true.Call it telepathy or what you will--I do not know what it was--I am certain only that, although I had not recognized her voice, I had suddenly known who it was that would come to me out of the fog.And she, too, had known! I felt again, with an almost superstitious thrill, that feeling of helplessness which had come over me that day of the fishing excursion when she rode through the bushes to my side.It was as if she and I were puppets in the hands of some Power which was amusing itself at our expense and would have its way, no matter how we might fight against it.

She spoke as if she were struggling to awaken from a dream.

"But it can't be," she protested."It is impossible.Why should you and I--""I don't know...Unless--"

"Unless what?"

I closed my lips on the words that were on the tip of my tongue.

That reason was more impossible than all else.

"Nothing," I stammered.

She did not repeat her question.I saw her face, a dainty silhouette against the foam alongside, turned away from me.Igazed at it until I dared gaze no longer.Was I losing my senses altogether? I--Ros Paine--the man whose very name was not his own?

I must not think such thoughts.I scarcely dared trust myself to speak and yet I knew that I must.This silence was too dangerous.

I took refuge in a commonplace.

"We are getting into smoother water," I said."It is not as rough as it was, do you think?"If she heard the remark she ignored it.She did not turn to look at me.After a moment she said, in a low voice:

"I can't understand."

I supposed her to be still thinking of our meeting in the fog.

"I cannot understand myself," I answered."I presume it was a coincidence, like our meeting at the pond."She shook her head."I did not mean that," she said."I mean that I cannot understand how you can be so kind to me.After what Isaid, and the way I have treated you; it is wonderful!"I was obliged to wait another moment before I could reply.Iclutched the wheel tighter than ever.

"The wonderful part of it all," I said, earnestly, "is that you should even speak to me, after my treatment of you here, to-night.

I was a brute.I ordered you about as if--""Hush! Don't! please don't.Think of what I said to you! Will you forgive me? I have been so ungrateful.You saved my life over and over again and I--I--""Stop! Don't do that! If you do I shall--Miss Colton, please--"She choked back the sob."Tell me," she said, a moment later, this time looking me directly in the face, "why did you sell my father that land?"It was my turn to avoid her look.I did not answer.