"Miss Gaston has taken a deep interest in her," said Winslow, leading up to the subject carefully which he had had in mind for some time.
"She has spoken to me about her. I cannot keep her here during the long, cold winters on the island, and the young woman, whom Marie has learned to love, has offered to find her a good school in New York, and to care for her there."
"I have every confidence in Miss Gaston," said Winslow, "and I esteem her very much."
"It seems strange," Pierre broke in, "that we should have found two friends at the same time in our remote home here. We were unknown to each other a few weeks ago."
"My coming to your island, sir, is the most important event of my later life," said Winslow, warmly.
It was three days before Pierre and Winslow found it convenient to go to inspect the blue vein. After the turn of the tide they started together over the same course which Winslow had taken when he met with the accident. They went past the cove and found themselves in the midst of the largest rocks that strewed the shore. They had to pick their way carefully till Pierre led his friend towards a more open space surrounded by immense boulders and in front of a huge mass of fallen rock which extended some distance up the side of the bluff from which it had separated.
"Somebody has been here since the last high tide," exclaimed Pierre, examining some faint marks left in the sand, "and foot-prints seem to be going in the direction of the blue vein."
His words proved true. The tracks made a line to the place where the opening in the rocks led to the base of the cliff, as Pierre explained.
"The person went past the entrance, but I do not know whether he went in or not, as the rock shows no track there."
Winslow now looked about them as they stood before a small opening between the rocks.