Vernon Blythe had found time more than once that day, in the midst of his active duties, to glance round the decks in search of Miss Douglas, but he had seen her nowhere, which, as they were still in fresh water, seemed rather strange to him. But perhaps she was very unhappy at leaving home, and could not trust herself in public. Godfrey Harland, on the other hand, had made himself generally conspicuous by his attentions to Mrs and Miss Vansittart, and the more Jack saw of him, the more he disliked him. His handsome face was knitted into a frown even now, as in the pursuit of his duty he passed Harland leaning over the bulwarks, and watching the lights of Gravesend gradually receding from view, as the vessel was towed towards the bend. Could Vernon Blythe have read the thoughts which were passing through Harland’s mind at that moment, he would have pitied, as much as he despised him. For no one is to be pitied more than the man who casts an honest love on one side, in order to pursue, with unfettered hands, the phantom Fortune. He was thinking then of Iris. He had gained his object. The prize he had unlawfully striven for was in his hand. In a few more hours, miles of water would stretch between him and his domestic cares and troubles. Yet he was not elated with his good luck. His last thoughts, as he saw his country fading from his sight, were given to his deserted home and wife. What would Iris do when she found he did not return? Would she inform the police, and would they trace him to the shipping office? What a fool he was not to have sailed under another name! He might have thought of some excuse to satisfy the simple Vansittarts, and put himself for ever out of the clutches of his pursuers. But it was too late to think of that now. Still he did not believe it possible that Iris would betray him. She had always been an honest, generous, stout-hearted little woman, and he had more faith in her than in himself; but she was passionate and determined, and others might advise her to take the law into her own hand. How could he possibly prevent such a catastrophe? Bright thought! The sea pilot who had come aboard at Gravesend would land at the Start. He would send a carefully-composed letter to his wife by him, explaining that on account of being unable to meet some heavy losses at the Newcastle Meeting, he had been compelled to leave England, and finding Harfleur was too near for him, was on his way to Spain, under an assumed name, whence he intended to get across to the Brazils, where he had been promised employment. This would put her off the idea (if she had any) of applying to the police for his whereabouts, and he could wind up his letter with a few vague promises of sending her money as soon as he landed in Brazil.