Muriel Halsie

" There ' s ne er a place along the rocks to the Arches , ' cept through th' opening under the Avater . " " And we are to stand here , like stocks and stones , without lending a helping hand , while a Avoman drowns . '" exclaimed Eric ,

fiercely . " I Avill not do it ! You say the inn beloAv has a boat ; I Avill get it , and make at least an attempt to save her , or . " He rushed off Avithout concluding the sentence . " Eric ! Eric ! " cried his father , "don't be rash ! Wait ; the tide is going out fast . " A backward wave of the hand was the

only ansAver , as Eric ran on . " Don ' t be afeerd , sir ! I'll foller the gent . Bill , Jack , thee bide here . I'll Avhistle if I wants either on the . " In front of the inn , some distance CIOAVU the beach , the old boatman found Eric , surrounded by several peopleAvho Avere

, trying to dissuade him from attempting to enter Mermaid's Bay with a boat . "If the young lady is safe , another half hour or so can ' t make much difference , " the landlord said . " If she is dead , Avhy , 'tis useless risking your life for nought . "

" I ask none of you to risk your lives , " said Eric . " Get me the boat ; 1 am as good a seaman as any of you , and my life is my own , to do as I please with , " " No it baint , " called a woman , standing by . " Just think o' yer Avife and them children . "

" This is unbearable ! cried Eric , stamphis foot . " TAventy—thirty pounds to any one Avho Avill launch me the boat . " At that moment a hand was laid on his shoulders , and Dan , the old boatman , spoke his name . " What is it ? AVhat do you Avant ? "

asked Eric , excitedly . Dan dreAv him aAvayfrom the little group , down to the Avater ' s edge . "Sir , " he said , "listen to an old man , and Avait ; half-an-hour more , at most , will leave the entrance clear enough for

we sailors to pass . AVhatever have a happened have a happened . Where ' s the sense o' yer killing yerself for naught 1 No boat can stand the bumping o' the rocks ; her bottom would be stove in in less than no . time . None that I ever

knowed on , ever came out o' that bay , that went in ! " Eric turned his gaze slowly from the sea , and faced the man . " Do you see that sun ? " he said ,

pointing to the Avestern sky , streaked Avith bars of amber and rose . "Ay , sure , " replied Dan , Avonderingly . "If it never rose again the Avorld would not be as dark as my life will be without the girl who is yonder . NOAV do

you say Avait ?" " Sir , " cried the old man , stretching out his hand toAvards the rocky headland - " sir , if my OAVU girl lay droAvning there I should say , ' Wait and hope . '" Then he added quietly , " God knows I can feel

for yer ! A seaman ' s life is full o' parting . My father and three brothers went down in my sight , and I could give the poor felloAvs no help . I landed only to find my lass gone , an' they tAvo—lads then , sir—in the workus . 1 know summat o '

trouble , sir ; so you may e'en trust me . The moment Ave can start safely , we will start . Yer honour believes me ?" "AVith a groan half of anger , half of despair , Eric threw himself doAvn on the sands , burying his face in his arms . Visions of Muriel floated through his mind

not in bright , glowing beauty , but pale and still in death , Avith sea-grasses twined among the dishevelled dark hair ; but even such thoughts of his darling were faint and indistinct ; suspense had almost paralyzed his faculties . The half hour dragged itself slowly

along ; Time's chariot wheels seemed clogged with the Aveight of years . The waves kept up their continuous chant as they rolled up the sands , each less high than the preceding , until , spent with their futile efforts to overstep the bounds they

might not pass , they dropped sullenly back iuto their rocky bed , there to recruit their shattered forces , and gain fresh strength for another essay that Avould be as vain as the last . The Avaters gradually ebbed away ,

leaving the entrance to Mermaid's Bay to the watchers . Fear-oppressed Avere the hearts that crossed the rocky threshold . The fisherman ' s sons , used to the rough Avalking , took the lead , and hastened across to the arches . For a few minutes their

search Avas fruitless , then one , m looking up , caught sight of a woman ' s shaAvl half hanging over a projecting ledge ; it was quickly reached by the agile lad , a loud huzzah proclaimed the lost found , and in a few minutes more Eric held in his arms Muriel , wet , unconscious , but living still . ( To be continued . )