“It is only about half way to the Wilderness Manor Landing that we have to go to reach The Breezes, I believe,” said Mrs. Lynn, as she permitted herself to be assisted into the boat and accommodated with a cushioned seat in the stern. “Scarcely so far. We shall reach The Breezes in half an hour with _our_ rowing,” answered Ronald Bruce, as he pushed off the boat. Then both gentlemen laid themselves to the oars and the boat sped on. CHAPTER XXIX BEARDING THE LION IN HIS DEN By hope I see the landscape bathed in light; And where the golden vapor vails the gaze, Guess out the spot and mark the site of happy days. BULWER. It was a glorious autumn day. The sky, of a deep and brilliant hue, was without a single cloud. The moss-covered mountain rocks on the right hand and the wooded hills on the left glowed and burned in all the most gorgeous hues—scarlet, golden, purple, green, crimson and orange—all reflected as by a clear mirror in the calm deep waters of the river. “Oh, surely this glowing day is a happy augury!” said the Lady of Edengarden, as the boat skimmed the water. “Let us believe that it is so. Faith works miracles,” replied the doctor. The young officer turned a grateful glance on his good fairy, but said nothing. In a few more minutes they caught sight of the low, broad, gray front of the old mountain manor-house, roosted on its natural plateau of rock, half way up the precipice, and known to the country round by the name given it by its nautical proprietor—The Breezes. In a few more minutes the boat touched the sands on the lower landing, and Lieutenant Bruce sprang out and assisted his lady passenger to do the same. The ascent of the steep was difficult and wearisome, but not dangerous. Dr. Willet and Lieutenant Bruce each proffered strong arms to assist the lady in climbing, but she, who in the course of her travels had ascended more than one celebrated mountain, smilingly declined their aid, and with the help of her long-handled parasol, folded and used as a walking-stick, she went up the precipitous path as safely as a kid could have done. When they reached the plateau on which the house was built, they entered a gate in the stone wall upon the very brink of the precipice, and passing through the enclosed space went up to the front entrance. Lieutenant Bruce being at home, did not wait to knock, but opened the door and admitted the party. Dr. Willet led Mrs. Lynn at once into a little study, which had been placed at his disposal by the commodore on his first arrival at The Breezes. He placed a chair for his companion, and said: