Glen of the High North | Page 6

a glimpse of
her face as she swung around at the end of the beat, and it was always a
happy, animated face he beheld.
For about fifteen minutes this walk was continued, and Reynolds had
been unable to distinguish any of the conversation between the two.
But as they ended their promenade, and started to go below, they

almost brushed him in passing, and he heard the captain say, "Jack will
be home soon, and he will----" That was all Reynolds was able to
overhear, and yet it was sufficient to cause him to stop so abruptly that
he nearly collided with a man a few steps behind. Was all that talk
about Jack? he asked himself, and was that why the girl seemed so
happy in listening to her companion? Was Jack the captain's son, and
did he have the first claim upon the girl? Perhaps he was overseas, and
was expected home shortly. No doubt the girl had been visiting his
people.
Such an idea had not occurred to Reynolds before, but as he thought it
all over that night as he sat silent in the smoking-room, it did indeed
seem most reasonable. Why should he think any more about the girl?
he mused. He had been a fool for allowing his heart to run away with
his head. How could he for one instant imagine that such a girl would
be left until now without many admiring suitors, with one successful
over all the others? And no doubt that one was Jack, whose name had
fallen from the captain's lips.
Although Reynolds felt that the girl was not for him, yet he could not
banish her from his mind. She had aroused him from the paralysis of
indifference, for which he was most grateful. He would make a
desperate effort not to be again enmeshed in such a feeling. He would
throw himself ardently into the search for gold, and then turn his
attention to Henry Redmond, and strive to solve the mystery
surrounding the man.
After breakfast the next morning he went out on deck, and found the
girl already there comfortably seated in a large steamer chair. She had
evidently been reading, but the book was now lying open upon her lap,
and her hands were clasped behind her head. Reynolds caught the
gleam of a jewel on one of her fingers, and he wondered if it was an
engagement ring she was wearing. Her eyes were looking dreamily out
across the water, away to a great fog-bank hanging and drifting over the
face of the deep. Reynolds, too, looked, and the sight held him
spellbound. The mass of fog slowly rose and rolled across the
newly-bathed sun. Then it began to dissolve, and dim forms of trees

and islands made their appearance, growing more distinct moment by
moment. The scene fascinated him. It was truly a fairy world upon
which he was looking.
And as he looked, his eyes rested upon a dark speck just beneath the
overhanging fog. For a few minutes it made no impression upon his
wandering mind. But slowly he began to realize that the object was in
motion, and moving toward the steamer. Then he saw something dark
being waved as if to attract attention. He was all alert now, feeling sure
that someone was hailing the steamer. In a few minutes she would be
past, when it would be too late to be of any assistance.
Turning almost instinctively toward the pilot-house, Reynolds' eyes fell
upon the captain, who was again talking to the girl. Only for an instant
did he hesitate, and then walking rapidly along the deck, he reached the
captain's side and touched him lightly upon the arm.
"Excuse me, sir," he began, as the officer wheeled suddenly around.
"Someone seems to be signaling to you over there, just where that
fog-bank is lifting," and he pointed with his finger.
The captain and the girl both turned, and their eyes scanned the watery
expanse.
"Can you see anything, Glen?" the captain asked. "My eyes must be
failing me."
"I do now," was the reply. "Over there to the left," and she motioned
with her hand. "I see it quite plainly. It is a boat of some kind with
people in it, and they are waving to us."
"So it is!" the captain exclaimed. "Who can it be? However, we shall
soon find out."
He hurried away, and soon a long raucous blast ripped the air. Then the
steamer swerved to the right and made for the small craft which was
now plainly visible. Many of the passengers were already crowding the
rail, all greatly interested in this new diversion.

Reynolds stepped back and gave his place to another. He could watch
the approaching boat just as well