Wherefore, she decided to attach Mr. Applebo forthwith, to keep him on the end of her line until she made up her mind just what she wanted to do with him. She came to this conclusion shortly after awakening, and she was lazily studying out some plan for bringing the Pilot-fish within reach of her landing-net, when there descended through the skylight of her room the sound of the quartermaster's voice, as in low but excited tones he conveyed to Captain Heldstrom certain information regarding "der Bilot-vish..." Cécile lay listening, and a moment later heard Heldstrom's gruff voice say, "Yoomp back in der gig ... get a move on you, now ... lower avay, dere..." followed by the squeal of the falls and the splash of the boat as it took the water just outside her port-hole. Cécile looked out, but could see nothing of interest. She was still looking when she heard Olesen growl something about, "Miss Hermione svimmin' a r'race mit der Bilot-vish..." Cécile was "brought up all standing" at the coupling of these names. She sprang out of bed, slipped on her kimono, and hastened to the companionway, where she thrust up through the hatch a very lovely face, flushed and still dewy with sleep, a heavy, opalescent chevelure which seemed to gather all of the sunlight in its vicinity, and two eyes of a deep, misty grey. Even as she looked, the gig, with Heldstrom in the stern, leaped clear of the schooner's side. "What's the matter, Olesen?" cried Cécile, alarmed. The quartermaster turned, with a tug at his watch-cap. "It vas Mees Hermione out dere svimmin' ar'round mid der Bilot-vish. Dot's mighty funny. She vent avay mit her skiff, and here she comes back mitoudt it und der Bilot-vish. Dot's awful funny." He handed her his glasses, which Cécile raised to her eyes. The faces of the two swimmers were quite distinct, but as she looked Hermione's head was eclipsed by that of Applebo. Cécile could see that they were apparently treading water and waiting for the boat. "How very odd!" exclaimed Cécile, sharply. "What is that mad girl up to now, I wonder?" Much disturbed, she laid down the glass ... just in time to miss the cream of the performance! Had Cécile witnessed that good-bye kiss it would have changed considerably subsequent events, and have saved herself much wear and tear. But when she looked again, Heldstrom was lifting Hermione into the gig, and she caught the flash of Applebo's hand as he flourished it in farewell. Cécile then went below and waited impatiently for her sister's arrival on board. A few minutes later she heard outside a light step and the swish of a wet bathing skirt as Hermione hurried to her room. "Is that you, Hermione?" called Cécile. "Yes." Hermione looked in at Cécile's door. Her face was quite pale, and her eyes looked almost black. "What _have_ you been up to?" cried Cécile. "I'll tell you all about it when I've changed..."