The silent night was split and riven asunder by the mighty echoes; the robe of enchantment fell, the prince and princess were prince and princess no longer. Barbara sighed. Their throne was but a rugged boat and themselves but castaways wildly seeking a refuge. The dream of an hour was over. But none the less she helped monsieur load the muskets, and cried gladly when a flash and a puff of smoke came from the side of the stranger, and the low reverberation of the echoes of the shot told her that they were rescued. The ship came slowly down. ’Twas evident she brought the wind with her, for about the pinnace all was a dead calm. Barbara’s qualms that she, too, might be a _boucanier_ were speedily set at rest; for as she came nearer they discovered that she sat tall upon the water, and the glint of her ordnance along her larboard streaks proclaimed her trade. No sign of her nationality she gave until she had come within long earshot. Then a round, honest English voice rang heartily: “Ahoy the boat! Who are ye? Whence d’ye come?” To this Bras-de-Fer replied that they were castaways, marooned, and in sore need of help. The ship, they learned, was his Majesty’s _Royal Maid_, war brig of his excellency the governor of Jamaica. “See, madame,” he murmured as the ship drew near. “’Tis manifest you are my destiny. While you have frowned, Dame Fortune would have none of me. And now she is benignity itself.” He paused, sighing. “And yet I could almost wish she had not smiled so soon.” Her hand under cover of the cloak sought his. “Insatiable man, can you not be content?” “It was too, too sweet an enchantment to be so soon ended.” “Nay,” she whispered. “It is but just begun.” THE END “_The Books You Like to Read at the Price You Like to Pay_” _There Are Two Sides to Everything_-- --including the wrapper which covers every Grosset & Dunlap book. When you feel in the mood for a good romance, refer to the carefully selected list of modern fiction comprising most of the successes by prominent writers of the day which is printed on the back of every Grosset & Dunlap book wrapper. You will find more than five hundred titles to choose from--books for every mood and every taste and every pocketbook. _Don’t forget the other side, but in case the wrapper is lost, write to the publishers for a complete catalog._ _There is a Grosset & Dunlap Book for every mood and for every taste_ THE NOVELS OF TEMPLE BAILEY May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap’s list. “Although my ancestry is all of New England, I was born in the old town of Petersburg, Virginia. I went later to Richmond and finally at the age of five to Washington, D. C., returning to Richmond for a few years in a girl’s school, which was picturesquely quartered in General Lee’s mansion.” PEACOCK FEATHERS The eternal conflict between wealth and love. Jerry, the idealist who is poor, loves Mimi, a beautiful, spoiled society girl. THE DIM LANTERN