"Far from it," I answered, "but as it so happens I am slightly better acquainted with the Bay than you are and I merely wished you to benefit from my knowledge." "I am obliged to you for your interest, Mr. Bremner. However, I know my own capabilities in the water, just as you know yours. Now,--if you do not desire to spoil what to me has been a pleasure so far, you will leave me." I fell back a few yards, feeling that it would have given me extreme pleasure to have had the pulling of her ears. And, more out of cussedness,--as Jake would put it,--than anything else, I kept plodding along slowly, neither increasing nor diminishing the distance between us. She was well aware of my proximity, and, at last, when we were little more than a hundred yards from the point of the rock at the farthest out end of the wharf, she wheeled on me like the exasperated sea-nymph she was. "I told you the other day, Mr. Bremner, that you could not hide the fact that you were a gentleman. If you do not wish me to regret having said that,--you will go away. I am perfectly capable of looking after myself." That was the last straw for me. I could see that she was a splendid swimmer and that she was likely to make the shore without mishap, although I could also tell that she was tiring. "All right!--I'll go," I shouted. "But please be sensible,--there was a heavy drift of wood and seaweed last night. The seaweed always gathers in at your side of the wharf, and it is treacherous. Come this way and land ashore from my side." "Thank you! Mr. Bremner," she called back quite pleasantly, "but I came this way and saw very little seaweed, so I fancy I shall be able to get back." Maddened at her for being so headstrong, I veered to the left of the rocks, while she held on to the right. I did not look in her direction again, but, with a fast, powerful side-stroke, I shot ahead and soon the rocks divided us. I was barely a hundred yards from the beach, when I heard, or fancied I heard, just the faintest of inarticulate cries. I listened, but it was not repeated. In the ordinary course, I would have paid no heed, but something above and beyond me prompted me to satisfy myself that all was right. I swung round and started quickly for the point of the rocks again. In a few seconds, I reached it and swam round to the other side. I scanned the water between me and the shore,--it was as smooth as glass, with only bobbing brown bulbs everywhere denoting the presence of the seaweed. I looked at the beach, and across to Miss Grant's house,--there was no one in sight. A feeling of horror crept over me. It was improbable,--impossible,--that she could have reached the shore and got inside the house so quickly. I glanced over the surface of the water again. Good God!--what was that?