"We are near enough now," she said, "and the fog is quite gone. May I thank you and depart without further arousing you to psychological philosophy?" "If you must," he said; "but I'd rather row you in." "If I must? Do you expect to paddle me around Cape Horn?" And she rose and stepped lightly onto the bow, maintaining her balance without effort while the boat pitched, fearless, confident, swaying there between sky and sea. "Good-bye," she said, gravely nodding at him. "Good-bye, Calypso!" She joined her finger tips above her head, preliminary to a plunge. Then she looked down at him over her shoulder. "I _told_ you that Calypso was a _land_ nymph." "I can't help it; fabled Calypso you must remain to me." "Oh; am I to remain--anything--to you--for the next five minutes?" "Do you think I could forget you?" "I don't think so--for five minutes. Your satisfied vanity will retain me for so long--until it becomes hungry again. And--but read the history of Ulysses--carefully. However, it _was_ nice of you--not to name yourself and expect a response from me. I'm afraid--I'm afraid it is going to take me almost five minutes to forget you--I mean your boat of course. Good-bye!" Before he could speak again she went overboard, rose swimming with effortless grace. After a dozen strokes or so she turned on one side, glancing back at him. Later, almost among the breakers, she raised one arm in airy signal, but whether to him or to somebody on the raft he did not know. For five minutes--the allotted five--he lay on his oars watching the sands. At moments he fancied he could still distinguish her, but the distance was great, and there were many scarlet head-dresses among the bathers ashore and afloat. And after a while he settled back on his oars, cast a last glance astern, and pulled for the _Ariani_, aboard of which Portlaw was already bellowing at him through an enormous megaphone. Malcourt, who looked much younger than he really was, appeared on the after deck, strolling about with a telescope tucked up under one arm, both hands in his trousers pockets; and, as Hamil pulled under the stern, he leaned over the rail: "Hello, Hamil! Any trade with the natives in prospect? How far will a pint of beads go with the lady aborigines?" "Better ask at the Beach Club," replied Hamil, laughing; "I say, Malcourt, I've had a corking swim out yonder--" "Go in deep?" inquired Malcourt guilelessly. "Deep? It's forty fathoms off the reef." "I didn't mean the water," murmured Malcourt. CHAPTER II A LANDING The _Ariani_ was to sail that evening, her destination being Miami and the West Coast where Portlaw desired to do some tarpon fishing and Wayward had railroad interests. Malcourt, always in a receptive attitude, was quite ready to go anywhere when invited. Otherwise he preferred a remunerative attention to business.