"I am."
"I shall say no more, but I shall watch."
"Yes, Renie, do so; and when the yacht comes sailing up the bay, you may know that I come on her."
"I shall not watch for the return of the yacht," said the girl in a sad, despairing tone.
"What will you do?"
"Wait on the beach to see what the waves will bring me. If, when the deed is done, the tide be flowing in, I may gain something from the waves; but if the tide is on the ebb, I shall never gaze on your face again."
There was no mistaking the girl's weird meaning, and her words were practical, as she well knew the results which under certain circumstances might follow the tidal conditions.
Spencer Vance saw that it was useless to waste further words with Renie and he said,
"A few hours will tell the tale, Renie, and—"
The detective did not complete the sentence; voices were heard and Renie exclaimed: