garment of spray like a flimsy veil over her perfect form. He wanted
that as he wanted nothing else on earth. And then--then--he would catch
his dream, he would chain for ever the fairy vision that might never be
granted again.

There came a boom like a distant gunshot on the other side of the Spear
Point Rock, and again, but very far away, there sounded the tolling of
the bell beyond the reef. The man's heart gave a great leap. It was
coming!

In the same moment the girl's voice came to him across the pool,
mingling with the rushing of great waters.

"The tide is coming up fast. It won't be safe much longer."

"Don't move! Don't move!" he cried back almost frantically. "It is
absolutely safe. I will swim across and help you if you are afraid. But
wait--wait just a few moments more!"

She did not urge him. Her surrender had been too complete. Perhaps his
promise reassured her, or perhaps she did not fully realise the danger.
She waited motionless and the man worked on.

Again there came that sound that was like the report of a distant gun,
and the roaring of the sea swelled to tumult.

"Don't move! Don't move!" he cried again.

But she could not have heard him in the overwhelming rush of the sea.