tide is low; we must turn and get out of this, miss, in a quarter of
an hour at the farthest."

"Oh, I could just do it in a quarter of an hour," said Nora.

She jumped up, and the next moment had sprung out of the boat into
the water, which nearly reached up to her knees.

"Oh, Nora! Nora! you'll be lost; you'll slip and fall in that awful
darkness, and we'll never see you again," said Biddy, with a cry of
terror.

"No, no; let her go," said Andy. "There ain't no fear, miss; you
have but to go straight on, holding your candle and avoiding the
rocks to your left, and you'll come to the opening. Be as quick as
you can, Miss Nora; be as quick as you can."

His voice had a queer note in it. Nora gave him a look of gratitude,
and proceeded on her dangerous journey. Her one fear was that the
candle might go out; the flame flickered as the air got less good; the
hot grease scalded her fingers; but suddenly a breeze of fresher air
reached her, and warned her that she was approaching the aperture.
There came a little puff of wind, and the next moment the brave girl
found herself in total darkness. The candle had gone out. Just at that
instant she heard, or fancied she heard, a splash behind her in the
water. There was nothing for it now but to go forward. She resolved
not to be terrified. Perhaps it was a water-rat; perhaps it was the
Banshee. Her heart beat high; still she had no fear. She was going to
plead for her father. What girl would be terrified with such a cause
in view? She walked slowly and carefully on, and at last the fresher