happen then? There will never be such a night as this again, sweet. See
the light against that rock! It is a marvel of black and white, and I
swear that the pool is green. There is magic abroad tonight. Let me
catch it! Let me catch it! Afterwards!--when the tide comes up--we will
drink our fill of love."

He spoke as if urged by strong excitement, and having spoken his arms
relaxed. But she clung to him still.

"Oh, darling, I am frightened--I am frightened! I couldn't come sooner.
I had a feeling--of being watched. I nearly--very nearly--didn't come at
all. And now I am here--I feel--I feel--afraid."

He bent his face to hers again. His hand rested lightly, reassuringly
upon her head. "No, no! There is nothing to frighten you, my
passion-flower. If you had only come to me sooner it would have made it
easier for you. But now there is no time." The soothing note in his
voice sounded oddly strained, as though an undernote of fever throbbed
below it. "You're not going to fail me," he urged softly. "Think how
much it means to you--to me! And there is only half an hour left, dear.
Give me that half-hour to catch the magic! Then--when the tide comes
up"--his voice sank, he whispered deeply into her ear--"I will teach you
the greatest magic this old world knows."

She thrilled at his words, thrilled through her trembling. She lifted
her face to the moonlight. "I love you!" she said. "Oh, I love you!"

"And you will do this one thing for me?" he urged.

She threw her arms wide. "I would die for you," she told him