"He is gone," said Bessy at last, her own heart beating furiously with emotion. "No, no, he is waiting," wailed Hester, clinging to her; "he is always watching me." "Hester," said Bessy, sternly, "who is that man?" "I dare not tell you," whispered Hester, with a shudder. "As an old friend of your husband, I insist upon your telling me. This is cowardly weakness." "Yes, yes, I know," wailed Hester, in her helpless misery; "but for his sake, I dare not tell you." "And you have not told your husband?" "No." "Has he asked you?" "Yes--yes," sobbed Hester. "Oh, if I could but die!" "Shame on you," said Bessy. "Hester, I loved your husband very dearly once, and thought it all past now; and I have tried to love you for his sake. I will not be a partner in this mystery. To-morrow morning he shall hear all I know." "No, no, no," cried Hester, in affright. "You must not tell. For heaven's sake do not speak a word. Perhaps help may come." "I shall tell him," said Bessy firmly. "You do not know what you say," wailed Hester, growing more pallid by the faint light of the lamp. "I know a true honest man is being deceived, and that some scoundrel has frightened his weak young wife into silence, and--" She said no more, for Hester rose horror-stricken and threw herself upon her knees, imploring her silence, and then, utterly overcome by her emotion, fainted dead away. So long-continued was the swoon that Bessy was about to summon assistance when there was a faint sigh, and she revived. "I was just going to send for Mr Meldon," said Bessy, kindly, as she kissed her. "That is not as you kissed me to-day, Bessy," said Hester, sadly. "I would tell you gladly--all--all, if I only dared." She hid her face shudderingly, and then, clinging tightly to Bessy, they remained silent for what must have been quite a couple of hours, when Bessy, who had been dozing off to sleep, suddenly started up to find Hester awake and standing up in a listening attitude. "What is it?" said Bessy, in alarm. "Hush! do you not hear?" whispered Hester, hoarsely. "He is maddened and has turned upon them. Oh Dutch, my husband! God--protect--" She said no more, but stood with white face and starting eyes, listening, for at that moment there was the sound of struggling overhead, a hoarse shriek as of a man in mortal agony, a heavy fall--a rustling noise; and then, just by the little round window of their cabin, a heavy splash. STORY ONE, CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. A RACE FOR LIFE. That had been a tremendously hot day, but in the excitement of the silver-seeking the weather had been unnoticed; but as the night came on it seemed almost suffocating to those who were not moved by such passionate emotions as Dutch Pugh and his wife.