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The thought would come, the fear would haunt him He was surprised

to find himself overtaken by a woman

"Dir, dir, what a storm," she re wind

One or two of Cardo's long steps brought him up with her

"Don't you come frowae fi! that I had got safe back again, but my mother is

ill," she shouted, as the wind carried her words away, "and I o back over the Rock Bridge

to-night; though, indeed, I --"

"Had she a red cloak?" asked Cardo

"Yes She was Essec Powell's niece, and if she tries to coive ood-bye," said Cardo

"Nos da, Ser," said the woman, but her voice was drowned by the roar of

the wind

"It was Valmai! I kneas! Why did I not take ht, "she cannot coet there in tie yet?"

For the rest of the evening Cardo paced restlessly over the beach,

buffeted by the strong wind, wetted by the spray, but still watching

narrowly the bridge of rocks, which connected the island with the

mainland He knew for a certainty that Valmai was there, and he

watched with intense interest the darkening island, over which the

stor fury His plan was to wait until the