Flashes of lightning chased one another like eagles at play, and growling on the horizon announced the awaking of the storm that tossed itself hither and thither in its dense, dark cradle of clouds. Blanden's anxiety waxed stronger; his confidence in the idiot girl's instinct diminished. Could not the weather-wise determination of that child of Nature fail for once? There, see! The black speck appeared again on the horizon, and, with the greatest exertion of his ocular powers, Blanden could perceive that it gradually increased and approached the shore. "God be thanked! Idiot Kätchen has done her duty," said Blanden. "But now, too, it is certain that we shall not have to wait long for the storm." And with a lightened heart he added, cheerfully-- "Dear friend, I rejoice that the carpenter's work of your domestic happiness stands so firmly already that you can have a housewarming; I wish Fate may deal more kindly with you than it has with me, and that the lightning may not strike the timbers before the masonry of the house is firm and you can make your entry into it. Good luck to you! I dread my meeting with Eva, and I fear--" Blanden suddenly stopped in the middle of his speech; he stood up, stepped to the railing, and gazed out fixedly. "What is the matter with you, my friend?" "It may be caused by the light, or my eye be dazzled from having previously looked too long at the evening sun." "Why?" asked Wegen, wiping his glasses hastily, so as to assist his friend as much as possible. "It seems to me--I cannot distinguish properly--let us wait until the boat is nearer." Blanden did not dare to give utterance to his fears; the words would not pass his lips. "The boat is drawing nearer," said Wegen quietly. "I even recognise it now, although I am convinced that my glasses in future must be one number lower; too often they leave me in the lurch." After a pause of terrified expectation, Blanden cried suddenly-- "No, no--I am not mistaken--and yet--it is impossible; I only see _one_ girl now in the boat. Can idiot Kätchen be making another swimming excursion and Eva be holding the oars?" "You are right--I only see one living creature in the boat; perhaps Eva has become unwell from the swell of the waves and laid herself down in the bottom of the skiff; the best remedy for sea sickness--I always lie upon deck like a mummy." "But the boat is not deep; I must in that case see her dress," replied Blanden. Again an anxious pause ensued; then with a loud cry he shouted out Eva's name and rushed down the mountain path to the landing-place. Wegen followed, shrugging his shoulders. Soon both friends stood below on the strand. The boat approached, with regular strokes of the oars; more quickly rolled the thunder across the western sky. Blanden's pulses throbbed feverishly. "Where is Eva?" cried he to the idiot boat-woman across the mighty roar of the surf.