It was Arturo now who gave us orders. That Dr. Plantet obeyed them, with the knowledge that Arturo knew more than he, I think is a tribute to the man’s inherent bigness. Nor, after those first hours, were there any clashes or recriminations. We did what Arturo so gently but firmly suggested we should do. But he would give us very little explanation. Even without any compact he may have had with Nereid to enforce his reticence, he was right; had he told us his full purpose, we would have restrained him. We ran northeast, close under the surface. The course would take us south and east of Wake Island, and then we were to head for the northwestern end of the Hawaiian archipelago. Beyond that--the mere laying down of our course and our depth--we knew very little. In thirty-six hours we were near Ocean and Midway Islands. It was late afternoon of August 16. For myself that day and a half, I scarcely saw Nereid. But to the picture of her through Arturo’s eyes which I have given, I can add the woman-impressions as Polly saw her; and glimpse her with Dr. Plantet’s prosaic, classifying viewpoint of the scientist. She would not talk to Polly. But she seemed to understand Polly’s words quite well. A very gentle little girl, shy, but seeming readily to respond to human affection. She evidently took a great liking to Polly, and the feeling was mutual. They sat once, in the gloom of the tiny room with their arms around each other; Nereid’s body was soft and warm and yielding; but there was a firmness to it, and apparently a considerable strength for all its frail aspect. Nereid seemed quickly affectionate toward this other girl; but it was the mistrustful affection of a creature of the wilds. She drew away sharply at one of Polly’s questions. She was a creature of swift-springing moods. Polly admits she tried to win the girl, to gain her trust, to make her answer questions. Once, in that dim light of the tiny cabin, Polly caught the expression on Nereid’s face. A whimsical smile; an amusement that this girl of the great, bright, atmospheric world should think her so simple. It struck Polly with chagrin and humiliation. This Nereid was no fool. * * * * * Dr. Plantet, with Arturo standing watchfully in the doorway, had several opportunities of studying Nereid. Oh, the passionate obsession of science for classification! As though one could capture the moods of the sea and set them down in logical, descriptive sequence! Dr. Plantet found that Nereid was really not her name. He made her say her name, but he could think of no sounds in our earthly languages to represent it fairly. He found her, in height four feet eleven inches. In weight, ninety-one pounds. Coarse, thick, unruly hair, apparently of human structure; in length nearly to her knees; in color, tawny.