it?"

"Wonderful!" he agreed, with emphasis. "I must study the geological
formation of that hill," he continued, with interest. "Why, it looks
almost like an island now."

"That is because of the floods," she told him. "Even at high tide
the creeks never reach so far as the back there. All the water you
see stretching away inland is flood water--the result of the storm,
I suppose. This is where you get out," she concluded, rising to
her feet.

She turned away with the slightest nod. A maid was already
awaiting her at the door of the compartment. Hamel was suddenly
conscious of the fact that he disliked her going immensely.

"We shall, perhaps, meet again during the next few days," he
remarked.

She half turned her head. Her expression was scarcely encouraging.

"I hope," she said, "that you will not be disappointed in your
quarters."

Hamel followed her slowly on to the platform, saw her escorted to
a very handsome motor-car by an obsequious station-master, and
watched the former disappear down the stretch of straight road
which led to the hill. Then, with a stick in one hand, and the
handbag which was his sole luggage in the other, he left the
station and turned seaward.