ANDROMEDA:

Otago Witness, Issue 2388, 7 December 1899, Page 48

ANDROMEDA:

A' TALE OF THE GREAT RIVER.

By ROBERT BUCHANAN, ' ■ Author of " God and the Man," " The Shadow of the Sword," "Stormy Waters," "The Wedding Ring," "Father Anthony," "Lady Kilpatrick,''etc., etc. COPYRIGHT. Chapters I and II. — On the Canvey Island, at the mouth of the Thamea, two artists, Charles Somerset and William E. Bufton, A.H.A., are enjoying a holiday, sketching and idling. They are staying at the inn called the Lobster Smack, kept by an old' man named Job Endell, and his wife. They pine for young female society, and they hear from Mi- Endell some mysterious hints about a young girl coming to the Smack. One evening, Somerset, sitting on the sea wall, saw a female figure swimming grace- I fully in the water. j CHAPTER IL— (Continued).

OMAN or goddess? A human creature like himself, or some strange visitor from the haunted realms of Fancy? His mind hud been full of the old .superstition, he had been dreaming of ancient Hellas, and now it seemed as if his wish had '•

been granted, and some { strange naiad or sea-maiden had come from ] the darkness to rebuke his unbelief! ] The thought was only momentary, and Somerset was not poet enough to deceive himself long in a matter to be easily determined > by the senses. Almost instantly he began : to realise the humour as well as" the poetry i of the situation, and it was with difficulty ! ho suppressed -an amazed whistle. The • plain prose of the affair instantly appeared i to him. A human being, to all intents and ] purposes of the" feminine sex, was having a bath by moonlight ! Who the deuce could 1 she be? j As he as-ked himself the question, the { vision disappeared round a bend of the sea i wall. Quite certain that his proximity had ] not been suspected, Somerset rose softly to Iris feet, and crept forward in a stooping j position in the direction she had taken. His. conduct, of course, was not to be excused ; as a moral young man he ought to have rushed away in the opposite direction ; but as veracious chroniclers we are bound to record the truth, that "curiosity prevailed over propriety, and he wanted to discover who the person was and whence she came. Besides, he was still affected to some extent by the old superstitious ideas which had been running through his mind. If she was a spirit after all! A goddess of the sea ! A water fairy ! Determined to solve the mystery, he crept to the bend where the swimmer had disappeared ,and, crouching down, looked stealthily along the creel* At that moment, to his annoyance, the moon was hidden by a cloud, and there was * comparative darkness. He strained his eyes, but saw nothing, though lie heard, or seemed to hear, a hound as of something splashing gently in the water. Suddenly with lightning brilliance the moon swept out .again into the open heaven, and then, ! O wonder! 0 dreams of loveliness and Hellas ! he saw another vision which filled his soul witli awe and admiration ! Standing 80 or 90 yards away, on a. small I grassy promontory communicating with the ! sea wall, was a form like a statue of white ' marble, dripping with silver dewdrops and ' glimmering an the full rays of the moon, i Psyche emerging from her bath, Venus Aphrodite rising from the sea, could not have startled him more. To paraphrase the words of the sweetest of all English love poems, Somerset. ■'

■ - "'grewjgi^trShe stood, so pure a thing, so free,friSrt';niort tal taint!" ' - "■.-'?'-'• > Yes, it was no dream, but a strange and startling reality ! He could not discover, of course, in the dimness of the moonlight ■what the face was like, whether it was that of a girl or a "woman" advanced in years ; but the form was tall, slight, and beautiful, and seemed without a flaw. She was bending slightly forward, halfcovered, "like a mermaid in ' seaweed," with her dripping hair, from which she was wringing the water with her hands; and hor face was averted, while her eyes seemed ■to be searching the distant sky. She paused and listened. The dull sound of the heavy paddles of a distant steamboat broke upon the night, and then, suddenly, the hoarse cry of a heron sailing past and startled by her presence. She laughed lightly, ran up into the shadow of the sea wall, and disappeared from sight. Scarcely knowing what to do, Somerset ■deliberated. It was quite clear to him now that he was taking* undue advantage of an accident, and .that li&\had *u> ji^ht to investigate the. mystery further. The person, \ whoever she Svaa, had rio suspicion whatever . that any "peeping Tom" had been watching her j and if she did know she would,', of course be naturally indignant. Yet who on earth could she be, taking a sea batuN at that hour and in $, placeso solitary? . Stive for a few straggling shepherds' huts, the island was almost untenanted, and the place where he stood was the loneliest place of all the island. He stood hesitating, and wondered, and wondered. All was now silent ! The vision did not reappear. The moon shone on, the stars twinkled, but that was all. At last, eager to solve the mystery, Somerset decided to "stroll on along the sea wall ; but this time, determined to give the strangei*, if she should be anywhere in hearing, due warning of his -approach, he whistled as he went — whistled the gay tune of a nigger melody then very popular, and paused from time to time to look carelessly at the stars. His chivalry and delicacy were successful — he saw no more of the shining.vision ; and he was beginning to feel that it might have been a mere fancy, when he heard a faint sound like a splash of oars, and saw shooting away along a dis tant part of the creek a small boat, rowed rapidly by a solitary form. He was 100 far away to distinguish whether the rower was man or woman, and before he approached nearer both boat aud form had shot into the shadows and disappeared. Although the mystery now seemad satisfactorily explained; in so far that it was clear that what he,, had seen was lioihing supernatural, he was still greatly' interested and puzzled, - and eager to retail his ad-" venture to the companion of his solitude, he hastened back to the inn. He foung Bufton dozing in the armchair . by the fire. " Oh, Billy, such an adventure !" he cried, closing the door behind him, £.nd •facing his friend with flushed cheek and flashing eyes. " I've seen 1 ' "What have you scon, you jnoo",.i- e huck idiot?" returned the cynic. " A vision .' An apparition ? Billy, I'm a jolly young Greek and not a cockney ! And this isn't Essex, it's a part of ancient Hellas!" "Eh? You've been drinking!" " I haye — at the very fountain of the Muses ! And then — oh, Billy, ' out of the Baths of Night came the divine one, imked and beautiful !' " "What?" growled Bufton. "Whom are you talkmg about?" "Aphrodite! Astarte!" answered Somerset., smiling delightedly. " Venus AnadyI omene! . The goddess of Canvey Island." CHAPTER III.— ENTER ANDROMEDA. ! At first, of course, Bufton thought that his friend was merely romancing, in the light-hearted manner of youth. To convince him that this was not the case, the young man described his adventure fully, expatiating on all the details. " You'd been dining, youngster," observed Bufton, when he had heard everything. "My dear Billyj I'd only had a pint of bitter ale, and I was as sober as a judge. I saw exactly what I have described, and am entirely at a loss what to make of it. tSave for the circumstance of the boat, l should be inclined to think that the whole Ibing was supernatural ; but goddesses and water sjnrits don't go about in boats, and I'm convinced that what I saw was flesh and blood."

" Rum affair," muttered Bufton, "if you're not lying." " I'm telling you the simple truth. Who' the deuce could the person have been?" " Young bargee, perhaps, having a bath by moonlight." " Absurd !" cried Somerset, indignantly. " I tell you it was a woman. 1 ' " Female labourer from one of the marsh farms having her annual wash!" " There are no farms in that direction and no females. It's the most desolate and out of the way part of all the island. Suppose we call jn old Endell and consult him? He may be able to explain matters." " Endell' s busy," said Bufton, nodding his head towards the room-door, through which there came the murmur of loud laughter and gruff voices. A party of men from Gravesend had landed from a barge, and joined by some fishermen from Leigh, were thronging the tap-room which adjoined the bar.

" I should keep Endell out of it for the present," continued Bufton. " He'll only think we're chaffing, as usual. Wait till morning, youngster; your wits will be clearer, and we may hear something." So it was decided, and presently the two friends retired to rest in their rooms upstairs, two small but habitable chambers which the old woman of the house had made f,.irly comfortable. Long after they had retired the noise continued to come from below, but at length the last wayfarer was thrust out, the door closed and bolted, and silence reigned in the Lobster Smack.. Too excited to rest, Somerset remained for hours " en deshabille,'' smoking and gazing out into the night. The window of his room commanded the little haven and the

;|ark reaches of the adjoining river. Hi, iffrS^shed dark ships passing to and fro, with; Wran§e ghostly sounds, ip.-ihe .'darkness ;)''• barges and fishing boats drifting down with the tide.; lights flashing and moving ; and over all the moon, still radiant, rising higher and higher towards the zenith. But his thoughts were elsewhere — far away in the- old world of fable, or down among tha lonely marshes- where his dream of the past seemed to hare assumed a human form and' likeness. At last, tired and weary, he slipped intd bed. He was just dropping off, when he heard feet moving and voices^, murmuring,^ outside his bedroom door." ;^ '"-t, -'•"*"• '*-F~ -,{ "Quiet!" said a voice which L^^re'cog^ nised as that of his landlord; "c[uiefc;?of v you'll wake the gentlemen." Another voice replied in a whisper; ifc seemed too clear for that of the old dame;, but that. Somerset thought, was only his fancy. The next moment he was fast asleep, dreaming that he was Adonis the hunter,,' or some such happy ; creature of old*- days, < chasing- the.' goddess ".of —Love and r-Beauliy; through the moonlit ' groves. . « - Again and again he came near and was about ,to seiza . her in .his arms, but_ again ' afadj"agairi sKef* vanished despite his prayers and: entreaties. , ' * ''".'.; He awoke very early, as t was his custom, but early as he was the, suh'wa's''up before' him, -preparing the. f glories." .of l £< splendid; summer morning. ' -He slipped } on his clothes, threw a towel on his'arm;.jand'weni> downstairs. No one wasas yet astir, for neither Job Endell nor his wife belonged to> th/$ class ' that rises with the lark. 'He peeped into the taproom and " bar ; they were dark/ and smelt unpleasantly of the fumes of beer and spirits. Unbolting the door he slipped out into the fresh air, which was already warm with sunshine, only the sin was still low in the east. A stroll of a quarter of a mile brought him to a little inlet of the river, where hd was accustomed to take his" morning bath. It was about mid-tide, and the water, though- brackish, was clear and refreshing.After a plunge and a short swim he returned to land, dressed; and went for & sharp walk along the sea wall. Curiosity brought him again to the scene of his last night's adventure. How different it looked by daylight — bereft of the glamour cast by moon and stars. The water Sn the creek" was low, and the bonky of hard mud looked black and ugly. All around onthe marshes hung folds of damp 'mist melting away with the warmth of the midday sun. I He .leapt down from the wall, and stood oii the tiny promontory., where the yision, had stood on the previous night. It was. covered .with* coarse sea grass; and loose; stones, with here and there a tuft of white" carirlyworb and a flower of the dandelion. ; He stooped down .and, Grusoe-lik^- saw/ or fancied, he saw, marks like the .print ofw>i ed feet. < ' - ; Then, still greatly puzzled, he walked" back to ths inn. By this time the landladywas up and astir. The front door and the lower windows were wide open, and he saw. Mrs Endell moving about within, tidying ■the sitting-room,. He sat "down on the seat in front of the inn, and lit his -pipe. As lift did so his attention was attracted to a small rowing-boat, stranded on the banks of the haven — a canoe-like boat with two light paddles lying in it, and its name painted, "The Seaniew," in white letters' on the stem. It X was drawn up close to the tiny dingey of the yawl, which was anchored out in the. muddy bay. " Hullo !" shouted a voice, and looking up he saw the head of Bufton projecting from his bedroom window. "Hullo, Billy! Coming down?" Bufton nodded. "I say,"' continued Somerset, pointing to the rowing boat, "who does that belong to? It wasn't here yesterday." "Your Venus perhaps," returned Bufton, . grinning cy-nically and disappearing. " I'll question * the old man," muttered

Somerset, rising and preparing to enter the house. He had just crossed the threshold when lie heard the landlord's voice in the bar talking to someone. He pushed the tap-room door open, and strolled in. 1 The window had been thrown open, the. \ fumes of overnight had disappeared, and close- to the window, looking out, stood a a young girl, at whose unexpected appearance Somerset . paused in amazement — his surprise being two fold, surprise at finding there a strange young person of the opposite sex, and surprise at her wonderful personal beauty. Hair as black as night, yet shot through where the sunlight struck ,it with chestnut gleams; black eyebrows which nearly met over the forehead, giving to her face in. moments of passion a strangely troubled and almost sinister expression of power and intensity; eyes large and grey, shofc with agate rays ; a perfect Grecian nose, with nostrils delicately dilated ; a full ripe mouth slightly open and disclosing ivory teeth ; and an alabaster complexion, darklytinted on the cheeks with the sunny ruddiness of a ripe pear. Such was the girl's " face and head, and the form matched then* in comeliness, from the white throat to tha finger tips, and thence to the shapely feet. Her whole appearance* gave an extraordinary appearance of youth and strength, combined with agility and grace. Her dress was that of a peasant girl or fisherman'-s daughter: a dark petticoat of blue serge, reaching to' just above the ankles, above it a white jacket or " short gown," of cotton, open at the throat, coarse woollen stockings and rough leather shoes., Her black hair was gathered up in aiknot, and secured by a net or snood. As Someiset approached her she looked at him with the utmost self-possession and 1 the faintest shadow of a smile. _ - " I beg your pardon," he murmured awlc-t wardly, "I — I was looking for Endell." As he spoke the landlord appeared be« hind the bar. "Now, then, Anniedromedy l" he said, " don't stand idling there, the missis want* ye." " AH right," answered the girl, in a clear,ringing voice, and with another glance ab Somerset a I?su:fchjan glaace wluck ttififc. Jlifii

■ lull in the eyes, passed him by and left ihe room. . . .

. Utterly amazed Somerset stood for some moments looking after her, then glancing towards the bar he met, the cx-afty eyes of the landlord, who was leaning over and ■watching him keenly.

"Who's that?'" asked the young man.

"That?" repeated Endell, with his stereotyped grin. " Our gel. Anniedromedy we calls her, and so she were christened !"

" Curious name," muttered Somerset.

''You're right, sir," said the old man, confidentially, " and she's a curious girl. But she's a spanker for all that, ain't she? With a splendid pair of eyes in her figure head, eh? But, harkee, governor," hs continued, sinking his voice, " don't let the .missis catch- you looking at her and admiring of ncr! She watches her as a cat watches a kitten, the old woman do.es. . Sh3 won't even let me ba extra civil." "n

"Who is she, though? Surely not .your servant?"

" Well, no, not exactly that ,though she's got to make herself useful. She helps my •missis a bit when she's in the humour, does ■Anniedromedy, but bless ye, she's a queer little devil, and does pretty much as she pleases." .

- "I ctidn't .know she" was here," said Somerset, more and "more puzled. "When did she come?"

" She'came "last night,' sir, arter you was a-bed. The old woman didn't expect her, but I did." •' Somerset started. A new light flashed suddenly into his. mind as he exclaimed : ' " I've got it ! She came in that boat wtich is lying on the shore in front of the inn. Am I right?"

" Sure enough you're right," was the "reply. " She rowed herself over from Leigh at high water, and dropped in like a ghost when me and the missis was at supper."

Somerset's next remark, or rather question, was a peculiar one. Leaning eagerly across to Endell, he asked, in a low voice:

"Can she — she swim?"

The old man opened his eyes, and then, tickled* by the question, burst into a hoarse chuckle.

" Now that'a the rummest question ever I heerd!" he cried.

"Answer it for all that."

" Oh, I'll answer it straight enough," returned the landlord. "Swim? Lor' bless you, she can swim like a duck, she can, and slip under water like an eel. There ain't much she can't do in that line, mister, or in the boating line, or the sailing line, or the fishing line. She's half mermaid and naif able seaman is our gel."

. At this moment the voice of Mrs Endell, calling " Job — Job Endell 5-" in peremptory tones, summoned him away. He winked and touched his lips significantly. '- <■ ■ '_ "Mum's 'the word, sir," he said, "especially afore the old woman."

The effect -on Somerset of that meeting _Tvith°the young girl and of Endell's mysterious hints concerning her was somewhat peculiar. Instead „ of hastening to pour his news into Bufton's ears, as was generally his custom, he became suddenly taciturn and uncommunicative. While they were breakfasting together in the parlour, •waited on as usual by Mrs Endell, he ate and drank like a man in a brown study, fidgeted in his chair, and once or twice began whistling a tune.

, "What the devil's the matter with you?" demanded Bufton, who had been observing him for some time quietly. " Eh? What?" answered Somerset, starting. "Nothing's tho matter!" he added, irrelevantly. "We're going to have another lovely day."

There was a long pause. Bufton began making his preparations for work in th J open air, while Somerset sat smoking on the sill of the open window.

" What are you going to be up to today?" asked Bufton presently.

The young man did not seem to hear, and the question was repated. " Perseus and Andromeda !" murmured Somerset, as if to himself.

"Eh? What the deuce do you mean?" " Nothing, Billy, only " He paused and met Bufton's astonished gaze; then as if suddenly tickled by the tumour of the situation, he began laughing and -singing the -following doggerel: Anniedromedy'a her name, And England is her nation! Canvey is her dwelling-place, And blessed be creation! " Hang me if I can make you out !" cried

" Hang me if I can make myself out !" said Somerset, laughing. "It's this way, Billy! Fm transmogrified, as I told you last night into a jolly-young Greek of the prehistoric period. This isn't Carivey Island at all— it's Helios. Old Endell's a King of the Isles, and Mother Endell's a Sybilline oracle. As for you '*

" Look here," exclaimed Bufton, strolling over to him and putting a strong hand on his shoulder, " either j'ou've made some new discovery or you're going off your head?"

" Both, Billy, both," was the instantaneous reply ; " I've made a new discovery and I'm going off my head. So would you," he added emphatically, " if you'd seen what I havo seen."

"Well, what have you seen, you mooncalf?"

"First you must swear, by all the gods, to keep my secret!" "All right," said Bufton, grinning. "Well, then, hear and wonder. The vJEibn that I saw last night has become a reality this morning. My Venus Anadyomene has clothed herself in modern raiment, and is here — here in the Lobster Smack. She came hither in yonder shallop— as I suspected. She arrived at hush of night, •when you were snoring. I have seen her, I li&,e spoken to her. Her name is Andromeda — or Anniedromedy in the Doric of the vulgar, and oh, Billy, I adore her to distraction !" Whereupon he proceeded to explain in detail what had taken place, — his meeting ,-with the strange young girl, and his subasquent conversation with the landlord.

Bufton listened quietly and then observed with a shrug of his shoulders :

" I see ! Job Engell's ' gel,' as he called her. A kitchen wench! A maid-of-all-work! Your swan turns out to be a goose as usual."

" Substitute the word ' duck,' and I'll accept your description.- Wait till you've seen her, that's all. But mind, mine is the firs; call ! If she sits to anyone she sits to me!"

" Take my advice, and whoever the girl is let her alone," said Bufton. "If you don't I shall have to warn her that you're a young fool who falls in love with eveiy petticoat he sees. We're down here to study, not to gallivant, and by Jove, if you don't behave yourself, I'll soon put a stop to your philandering!" So saying, Bufton sallied forth, carrying with him his portable easel and other materials for sketching. He was soon busy at work under the shade of his umbrella. As for Somerset, he seemed at a loss what to do. He fidgetted over his sketch-book, toyed with his colours and brushes, went in and out of the room, ever with both eyes and ears alert towards the recesses of the inn where the mysterious maid was hidden. At last he joined his friend outside, and sitting down on the .form in front of the urn, placed his sketch-book, on his knees and began drawing. The day advanced, and there was no sign whatever of the newcomer. -

From time to time Mrs Endell appeared at the windows or at the door, while Job wai busy in the bar, waiting for customers who never came. The day was close anl sultry, and a mist of mingled sunshine and vapour nung over the . marshes. Beyond the little haven, steamboats, ships and barges passed to and fro continually oa the Great River, but the sounds they brought with them only made the silence which followed the deener and intenser.

At midday the two friends partook of a frugal lunch in the open air, for indoors the heat was positively unbearable. Job brought out a small wooden table, and placed it in the shadow of the inn, Mrs Endell laid the cloth and brought out th«>. meal, — cold mutton and salad, with bread and cheese. All the time Somerset kept his eyes on the door, and irade frequent excuses to run into the house and up to his bedroom. Still there was no sign of Andromeda.

" This is beastly," he muttered, scowling at his companion. " Where, oh, where, is my divinity?"

Bufton grinned mockingly.

" Your divinity is a female of the name of Hams," ho said, alluding to a wellknown creation of the immortal " Boz." "'I don't believe there's no sich person.'"

His back was towards the door of the inn, which Somerset sat facing. Suddenly ho saw the young man's face change and brighten.

, "Don't you? Look there!" Turning quickly on his seat, Biifton saiv at the inn dooc,-the very individual who&e existence lie hod been doubting. She was standing on the threshold, shading her eyes with her hands and gazing across the haven in the direction of the river. She was apparently quite unconscious of, or indifferent to, the presence of the two men.

Somerset, however, saw his opportunity. Holding up a tankard which he had just en.ptied, he knocked vigorously on tho table with the handle of his knife. The girl turned, nodded, and came towards him.

"Yes, sir?" she said, quietly.

"I 'was summoning Mrs Endell," he repl'ed, looking up into her face with a selfassured smile: " The fact is 1 should like another half -pint of ale." The girl nodded again, took the tankard, and ran into the house. The eyes of the two men met.

'"Well?" exclaimed Somerset, triumphantly.

"Is that the girl?" said Bufton

" That, sir," replied Somerset, with assumed pomposity, "is the individual whom you have coarsely designated Mrs Harris ! Tell me honestly what you think of her. If you are any judge whatever, which I doubt, of the female form divine "

"Shut up!" growled the other, as the girl re-appeared, carrying in her hand the replenished tankard, which she placed down before Somerset. The young man seized the tankard, ' and bowing smilingly to the girl, raised it to his lips, still with his eyos fixed on hers. With perfect selfpossession, she- returned his gaze, glanced quietly at Buftjn, and then, turning carelessly away, walked down to the shoie, and began examining the rowiug-boat, which was drawn up high above high-water mark.

" ' Drink to me only with thine eyes, and ,1 will pledge With mine!" murmured Somerset, with a wink. " Your health, Anniedromedy."

He had 'sunk his voice to a whisper, so that it was impossible she could have heard him, but as he pledged, her, ' she looked towards him with an amused smile. He waved the tankard towards her, and she turned laughingly away. " Isn't she splendid ?" said Somerset.

" She is not bad," replied Bufton. " Mind what I said to you. She's a good little girl, I'm sure, and you've got to let her alcne. If you don't "

He was interrupted by Mrs Endell, who now came from the inn bearing some fruit — apples and oranges — on a willow-pattern plate. As she placed them down on the table she glanced towards the girl with an expression the reverse of amiable, and then as Somerset^ who sat smiling into her face.

" Shall I get you some more ale, mister?" sin asked, frowning. " Thank you," replied Somerset, " the young lady has already done me that honour."

" Chaffing as usual," muttered the old woman. " There's no young ladies here, mister. If you mean the lass yonder, she's no call to wait upon you — that's my business. You let her alone, and she'll let you alone; that's my advice to you."

" Come, come, mother, don't lose your temper," cried Somerset, still with his provoking smib. " I ain't Josing my_ temper neither 1" re-

turned Mrs Endell. " But it's no use talking to you, mister; you're too full of your imperence." She turned to- Bufton and addressed herself to him. "You see, sir, she's under my care, and I've got to look arter her."

"A relation, I suppose?" asked the elder man.

" Well, not xactly a relation ; but I knows her people, and she's under my charse, so I'll take it as a favour, sir. if

you'll remember that. She's no call to be hereaways at all just now. I was hoping she'd stay at Rayleigh till you and your friend had gone."

So saj'ing, with another grim look at Somerset, whose sentiments towards young persons of her own sex she evidently distrusted, she sailed back to the inn. On the threshold she paused and called out:

" Anniedromedy ! "

The girl looked up from the boat over which she had been bending. Mrs Endell pointed into the house as if to imply that the girl was wanted there, and disappeared across the threshold.

"You heard what the old lady said?" observed Bufton. " She has evidently the most perfect comprehension of your rascally character. If you don't mind you may get both the girl and yourself into trouble."

" Rubbish ! " cried Somerset, springing up and looking eagerly towards" the subject of their conversation. "There is a mystery and I'm going to solve it! By Jove, she's launching the. boat! I supposes she going out for a row ! "

Such saemed to be {he. case. The, girl, putting out all her strength was endeavouring to push the boat -into the water ; but although the boat was very light, the shore was muddy, and the task was no easy one. In a minute Somerset had joined her, despite the remonstrances of his friend, who tried to call him back.

" Let me help you," he cried, eagerly. She smiled and nodded, and with his assistance the boat was soon floated. Indifferent both to mud and water, Somerset stood holding the boat, while the girl leapt in, seated herself, and seized a paddle to push off. But the young man still clung to the boat, though he felt himself sinking ankle-deep in the muddy tide.

" Take care, sir," cried tho girl. " You'll get yourself wet ! "

"Oh, never mirid," was the desperate reply. 'May I ask where you are going?" The girl laughed and waved her hand towards the river.

"I suppose I mustn't come with you?" said Somerset.

She looked at him with a little shrug of the shoulders, her dark eyebrows contracting, her eyes inspecting him curiously. Then she shook her head, with a glance towards the inn.

"At least, you'll do me a favour. That's our yawl floating there at anchor. I want to get on board,' and — - — " - "All right. Jump in," answered the girl, carelessly.

In a moment he had sprung into the boat, almost upsetting it in his eagerness, and had sunk down in the stern, while the girl seized the paddles and rowed from the shore. The yawl was only a hundred yards away, and they approached it rapidly.

" You needn't row so fast," cried Somerset, smiling. " I'm not in a hurry ! " Ihe hint was entirely thrown away, and before any further remonstrance could bo made, they were alongside tho yawl. Somerset did not stir.

"It seems, a shame to leave you/ he said. " Shall we change places, and " Another emphatic shako of the head and another glance towards the inn, close to which Bufton was standing in company with Mrs Endell. ,

" Wtauld you mind telling me your name?" said Somerset. " Annie," answered the girl. " Anniedromedy? " The black eyebrows were again contracted, and the eyes flashed almost angrily. " Just Annie ! " answered the girl, with evident impatience, mentioning him to step on board. Thus urged, he clambered on to the yacht, and awift as an arrow the little boat shot away towards the river. He took off his hat and waved it to his new acquaintance. She looked back and nodded. The frown had faded from her face, and her eyes twinkled merrily. " Annie — not Anniedromedy," muttered Somerset. " She's Andromeda to me 'for all that ; and if there's any dragon to be polished off, I'm ' on ' to play Perseus ! "

(To be continued.)