It was still so dark that the crowd ashore could not see that the crew of the wrecked vessel had taken their departure. It was lighter out here at sea than it was inshore. The lifeboat was speeded for the mouth of Clinkerport Bay. Chilled and almost water-logged, Ralph Endicott crouched with the other members of the rescued fishing boat’s crew in the surf boat. The dash through the breakers at the entrance to the bay did not excite the party, for they were merely wretched and exhausted. It was one of the crew from the life saving station that hailed another motor-boat sputtering toward the cove between Clay Head and the Twin Rocks Light. "Cap, there’s that plucky girl and Tobe Bassett, I do believe. They are just getting back from across the bay." "Who is she?" asked one of his mates. "One of the summer visitors, did you say? Bassett was plum’ winded, and she ran all the way to the station and told us that the schooner was on the rocks. Some girl, that!" "She’s Mr. John Nicholet’s daughter," shouted the captain of the life saving station. "Lives in that big house up yonder on the Clay Head." On hearing this Ralph roused himself. These men spoke of Lorna Nicholet. In the increasing dawn he saw and recognized his own _Fenique_. The lifeboat swept on past the smaller craft. Tobias, at the helm of the latter, shouted a cheery word. Both boats were beached about the same time on the sands below the light. Rafe Silver led the crowd of neighbors and members of the Lower Trillion crew to meet the disembarking fishing schooner’s company. The moment Ralph got out of the lifeboat he hurried to where the _Fenique_ had bored her nose into the sandy beach. "I give it as my opinion, Lorny," Tobias Bassett was saying loudly and cheerfully, "that we mebbe ain’t doing Ralph’s boat any good, beachin’ her this way. But I cal’late ’tis more important—— Hi! Gimme your hand, gal. D’ye feel all in? Sho! I guess——Why! here’s Ralph now." He had his arm about the swaying figure of the young woman. Lorna started forward, uttering a little cry: "Ralph! Oh, Ralph Endicott! Are you safe?" "Tobias Bassett!" ejaculated the young man, angrily, "do you mean to say you let her go out with you in such a sea as this? Man, you’re crazy!" "Now, now, Ralphie! don’t let go all holts. There warn’t no holding of her back when she knowed you was out there in that haddocker. And I didn’t know how to run this dratted engine." Lorna had shrunk back against the sturdy figure of the lightkeeper. She suddenly remembered that Ralph Endicott had played no lover’s part toward her, at least during these past months. "You’re—you’re all right, Lorna?" he asked with hesitation. "Why, yes, Ralph. Only wet. I——" Her speech was terminated abruptly by the appearance of the detective. He put a tentative hand on Ralph’s shoulder. "So this is the chap I’m looking for, is it?" he said. "Do I understand this is Ralph Endicott?"