upon the lights in Attwater's verandah, and took a d

ity like a deserted theatre or a public garden at midnight. A man looked about him for the statues and tables. Not the least air of wind was stirring

of talk died away at the same time and by proportional steps, and the pair remained sunk in silence. The lagoon broke at their feet in petty wavelets, and with a sound as delicate as a whisper; stars of all degrees looked down on their own images in that vast mirror; and the more angry colour of the Farallone's riding lamp burned in the middle di

companion, bent him down with the eager c

he captain. 'Up anchor's e

ig enough! To sea - away from this dreadf

. You're all run down, that's what's wrong with you; you're all nerves, like Je

errick, 'to sea tonigh

firmly. 'No ship of mine puts to sea withou

s over, I tell you. There is nothing to do here, when he knows a

ct gentleman and treated us real handsome, until you began with your foolery - and I

nd fro upon the san

as guying us - only guying

with a misgiving of the voice; 'that about the sherry. Damned

He made sure we would kill him there and then, and stood guying you and Huish on the chance. He calls that being frightened! Next he had me ashore; a fine time I had! THE TWO WOLVES, he calls you and Huish.- WHAT IS THE PUPPY DOING WITH THE TWO WOLVES? he asked. He showe

s stood with contorted br

uddenly. 'He showed the

only the safe they were in,' said

to say to that,'

He was armed himself; he always is; he told me. You will never deceive his vigilance. Davis, I know it! It's all up; all

followed upon

put his hand

. 'Why did he tell you all th

iteration. 'You wouldn't understa

ny blame' thing that you ca

e's a fatalist

, a fatalist

, 'believes that his bullets go true; believes that all falls o

elieve right so m

?' said

I do!' sa

ll, you must be a fool,' said he, a

stood biti

must get Huish out of that. HE'S not fit to

ad been quite simple; not so the tone

nd don't do it - spare yourself, and leave it al

heir not distant victim. But Davis turned on him with a savage oath and gesture; and the

a god; give him a second to aim in, and the god was overthrown. He chuckled as he felt the butt of his revolver. It should be done now, as he went in. From behind? It was difficult to get there. From across the table? No, the captain preferred to shoot standing,

!' cried the vo

d irremediable. Coming on the top crest of his murderous intentions, he had walked straight

ond at the port arms, leaning a little forward, round-eyed with eager expectancy. In the open space at the head of the stair, Huish was part

'you seem to me to be a

in his throat for which we h

, Captain Davis of the Sea Ranger. But I have quite done with him - and return the article with thanks. Now,' he cried sharply. 'A

earth, ricocheted, and brought up with his arms about a palm. His mind was quite a stranger to these events; the expression of anguish that deformed his countenance at the moment of the leap was probably mechanical; and he suffered these convulsions in silence; clung to the

eople you drowned, or the Farallone and the champagne that you stole. That is your account with God, He keeps it, and He will settle it when the clock strikes. In my own case, I have nothing to go on but suspicion, and I do not kill on su

was, his hands up, his mout

Attwater. 'One

there, pistol in hand, peering from either side of his place of ambush with bared teeth; a serpent already poised to strike. And already he was too late. Attwater and his servants h

armed with Winchesters, and who did not show an ear out of any of the apertures of that lighted and silent house? Some of them might have already ducked below it from the rear, and be drawing a bead upon him a

e said, 'c

said Huish, reachi

asping oath. 'Come righ

h Atty-Attwa. Go boar' t'mor

now, by the living God, I'll

ind of Hulsh; rather that, in a fresh attempt upon the cigar, he overbalanced himself

id the captain, clutching h

ciga',' re

ish round, grasped him by the neck of the coat, ran him in front o

e!' said he, and blew his boat call

surface of the lagoon; and at the same time, from nearer hand, Herrick aroused himself and strolled languidly up. He

?' he

not dead,'

ter?' aske

'You can do that, I fancy, and by God, I'll sh

On the way out he was heard murmuring of the loss of his cigar; and after he had been handed up the side like baggage, and cast down in the alleyway to slumber, his last audible exp

through the colonnade of palm stems, Attwater's house was to be seen shining steadily with many lamps. And there was nothing else visible, whether in the heaven above or in the lagoon below, but the stars and their reflec

aptain, 'I've been wa

oung man, but he neither answere

ued the captain; 'the fact is, I was real mad; but now

think,' sa

ow! You've got to brace up and help me get things straight. Yo

t is,' sa

ried, 'you have a glass of champagne. I won't touch it, so that'll show you if I'm

lone!' said Herric

; and he shook him off and turned on

n your own wa

ally against the schooner. He looked about him. A corner of the house was interposed between the captain and himself; all

little; it would be time

ss at an end, the prodigal son come home. A very bright planet shone before him and drew a trenchant wake along the water. He took that for his line and followed it. That was the last earthly thing that he should look upon; that radiant speck, which he had soon magnifie

h a single and fixed resolve, finger by finger, sinew by sinew; something that was at once he and not he - at once within and without him;- the shutting of some miniature valve in his brain, which a single manly thought should suffice to open - and the grasp of an external fate ineluctable as gravity. To any man there may come at times a consciousness that there blows, through all the articulations of his body, the wind of a spirit not wholly his; that his mind rebels; that another girds him and carries him whi

set against him like a wind in his face; he contended with it heavily, wearily, without enthusiasm, but with substantial advantage; marking his progress the while, without pleasure, by the outline of the trees. Once he had a moment of hope. He heard to the southward of him, towards the centre of the lagoon, the wallowing of some great fish, doubtles

red! With the fairy tale of suicide, of a refuge always open to him, he had hitherto beguiled and supported himself in the trials of life; and behold! that also was only a fairy tale, that also was folk-lore. With the consequences of his acts he saw himself implacably confronted for the duration of life: stretched upon a cross, an

, the shadows of the night lifted. And, suddenly, Herrick was aware that the lagoon and the trees wore again their d

it; for after he had gazed a long while from under his hand, he went into the house and fetched a glass.

ack view from my present position is remarkably fine, and I would continue to present it. We can ge

hook him, but he was master of himself. Slowly he turned, and faced Attwater and

re?' he said aloud, wit

gun under his arm, then

you here?'

ck; and then, with a cry: '

d Attwater. 'I ask f

es, I am, too!' And he flung up

wet,' sai

d Herrick. 'Can you

ad his face

good deal upon what

A coward!' s

hat,' said Attwater. 'And yet the descr

except my living horror of myself. Why do I come to you? I don't know; you are cold, cruel, hateful; and I hate you, or I think I hate you. But you are an honest man, an h

pistol, come up to the house, and put

Herrick. 'You know they - we -

,' said Attwater. 'C

e Farallone, saw the two men pass to