“I did not know the danger of the road. I took prompt measures enough when I discovered the hazard. I sent two boats from Halko’s Head, in search of your nephew. Please God, he may return in one of them!” “Amen!” cried Daniel, solemnly; and then, for the first time, he seemed to awake from the stupor that had come upon him with the dread horror of his kinsman’s peril. He began to question the men closely as to the distance between the two places, and the time in which the boats might be expected to make the voyage. By the showing of the fishermen, the boats were already due. After these questions and calculations, the watchers relapsed into silence. Daniel still stood looking seaward, but no longer with the blank stare of stupefaction. He watched the waves now with eagerness--nay, even with hope. The night closed in, cold, wet, and stormy, while he watched; and by and by, through the thick darkness, and above the roar of the waves, came the voices of the boatmen, calling to the men on the jetty. One of these men had lighted a lantern, and swung it aloft to a mast, at the end of the rough landing-place. By the red glimmer of this light Daniel Mayfield saw the boats coming in, and the faces of the men looking upward, but no face he knew. The wonder is that humanity can survive such anguish. He called to the men hoarsely-- “Is he found?” “No.” Short phrases best fit such announcements. “There is the boat that set out from here,” murmured Mr. Jerningham; “he may be picked up by that.” “Not if these have failed to find him. These men had the start by an hour and a half, and have come close along the shore. Oh, damnable, ravenous waves, roar your loudest for evermore, and overwhelm this miserable earth!--You have swallowed up my boy!” He fell on his knees, and beat his forehead against the rough timber rail of the jetty. In broad daylight he would, perhaps, have shown himself a stoic; but in the darkness, and amidst the thunder of the stormy sea, he abandoned himself to his despair. Nor did Mr. Jerningham attempt to console him. To him also the return of the boats had brought despair, but he betrayed his grief by no passionate word or gesture.