neck, looking after her, his eyes fixed as though they had just been
witness to a miracle. Then, giving himself a shake, he seized his
oars, and began rowing after her with all the strength he had, while
all the time the bottom of the boat was reddening fast with the
blood that kept streaming from his hand.

Rapidly as she swam, he was at her side in a moment. "For the love
of our most Holy Virgin" he cried, "get into the boat! I have been a
madman! God alone can tell what so suddenly darkened my brain. It
came upon me like a flash of lightning, and set me all on fire. I
knew not what I did or said. I do not even ask you to forgive me,
Laurella, only to come into the boat again, and not to risk your
life!"

She swam on as though she had not heard him.

"You can never swim to land. I tell you, it is two miles off. Think
of your mother! If you should come to grief, I should die of
horror."

She measured the distance with her eye, and then, without answering
him one word, she swam up to the boat, and laid her hands upon the
edge; he rose to help her in. As the boat tilted over to one side
with the girl's weight, his jacket that was lying on the bench
slipped into the water. Agile as she was, she swung herself on board
without assistance, and gained her former seat. As soon as he saw
that she was safe, he took to his oars again, while she began
quietly wringing out her dripping clothes, and shaking the water
from her hair. As her eyes fell upon the bottom of the boat, and saw
the blood, she gave a quick look at the hand, which held the oar as