“Yes, I hinted at it to him. Polly, I’m going--I may not come back.” “Oh--” “I mean--not for awhile. This isn’t the sort of thing you can let the government meddle in--they’d send an expedition after me to investigate, you know they would.” I added suddenly: “Polly, I’m sorry about the last few months--I’ve acted badly--I’ve been--it’s hard to explain.” But she understood. “Like Arturo, Jeff? I knew it.” “Yes, I imagine like that. Only, it’s Arturo calling me, Polly. Not--not any one like Nereid. Oh, Polly dear, you understand, don’t you? It was--or I thought it was--something like that, but I’m all right now. Polly, see here--I called you for this. Later, some time I may, if I can, send you a message from--from down there. You see? If I do--don’t be frightened. If you get to dreaming--nightmares, anything like that, don’t be frightened. Whatever you think the message says--don’t you attempt to come alone!” She was very intent. “No, Jeff. What should I do?” “Tell your father. If you are sure we are calling you--come with him, you see? We may be able to reach you, and not him. Oh, I may be talking nonsense! I don’t know. But if you do get a call from me, or any one, don’t come alone--don’t try it, Polly.” “No. And you know we’ll be waiting, Jeff.” “Yes. Do the best you can. There may be bad times ahead of us all. Good luck.” I was reluctant to cut off. But the operator checked at me for overtime. To be conspicuous was the last thing I wanted. “Good-by, Polly.” “Good-by, Jeff. The best of luck--and love to Arturo. Oh, if he is only safe! I’ll be praying for you.” Her fingers touched her lips for the gesture of a kiss. Dear little Polly! I cut off. In ten minutes more I was away, with six thousand miles of ocean ahead of me to Nereid’s island. * * * * * It was mid-morning when I raised the tiny island. It seemed deserted, upstanding with its naked spreading base in the fallen ocean. I landed in the empty bowl which once was the lagoon. All through the hot glaring day I waited. Night came, and the half moon was high overhead. I left my Wasp and sat on a little promontory under the palms, above the naked beach. The low ocean was rippled with moonlight. A breeze stirred the palms. Upon such a night as this, just about a year before, Arturo had sat here, waiting. I found my heart beating fast. Who would come? Some girl, like Nereid? And doubts assailed me. Was this all, this message I thought I had received, a trick of my fancy? Why should I think it a rational telepathy? Was I a fool, to be sitting here waiting? For what? Yet there was upon me a strong feeling which seemed growing into a definite knowledge: Arturo was nearing me. As though physically he were here, standing out of sight behind me--the accents of his familiar voice ringing in my head as though he had just spoken.