"Oh, I do not wish to alarm your friend. Let me return," she murmured, clinging to him.
"No, no, my darling, forgive my foolish jest!" he cried, and strained her to him with a solemn, yearning passion.
Blushing warmly, she escaped from his lingering caresses, and then he led her back on deck.
"Mr. Irwin will amuse you while you are waiting for me," he said, and then shook hands with the gentleman ere he climbed down the yacht's side to the little boat.
Captain Van Hise was carrying a black leather case, and he was very cheerful—two facts that would have impressed an initiated person. The two young women suspected nothing.
Mr. Irwin did not look especially attractive to a young girl's eyes. He was more than middle-aged, and his attire had a clerical cut in keeping with his formal gray whiskers. His voice, when he essayed a remark, was nervous, and the slight attempt at conversation fell through soon, for a sudden shadow had fallen over Nita.
In a few minutes she became very restless, and strained her eyes through the deep purple haze of twilight toward the shore.
"It is time for Dorian to return, but I do not hear the oars yet," she ventured tremulously.
At that moment there came across the water the sound of pistol-shots from the shore!