"No mistakes--mind!"

"No, master."

Renouard walked back towards the sea. Luiz, following him,
proposed to call out half a dozen boys and man the canoe.

"Imbecile!"

"Tse! Tse! Tse!"

"Don't you understand that you haven't seen me?"

"Yes, master. But what a long swim. Suppose you drown."

"Then you can say of me and of Mr. Walter what you like. The dead
don't mind."

Renouard entered the sea and heard a faint "Tse! Tse! Tse!" of
concern from the half-caste, who had already lost sight of the
master's dark head on the overshadowed water.

Renouard set his direction by a big star that, dipping on the
horizon, seemed to look curiously into his face. On this swim back
he felt the mournful fatigue of all that length of the traversed
road, which brought him no nearer to his desire. It was as if his
love had sapped the invisible supports of his strength. There came
a moment when it seemed to him that he must have swum beyond the
confines of life. He had a sensation of eternity close at hand,
demanding no effort--offering its peace. It was easy to swim like