The Tidal Wave and Other Stories

ant, in the fitful moonlight. The sky was covered with broken clouds, and a rising storm-wind blew in gusts along the cliffs.

s some trouble tonight," said

d Mrs. Peck sensibly.

e of alert expectation that to a woman as hard-working as Mrs. Peck was most exceptionally trying. When Adam scented disaster at sea there was no peace for either. As she was wont to remark, being the

ite futile even as she made it. Adam the coxswain was considerate only for those who might be in peril. At the next heavy gust that r

"I'll lay the fire in the kitchen, and you

bedclothes back about her in expressive silence. It was quite useless to argue with Adam when he got the jumps. Experi

ng storm was calling him, and he could not be deaf to the call. He had belonged to the lifeboat ev

ying the fire. The kettles were already filled. Mrs. Peck always saw to that before retiring. There was milk in the pantry, brandy in the cupboard. According to invaria

he emerged, and he turned back to clap his sou'wester upon h

eak of lightning reft the dark sky, and the wild crash of th

s very nature to seek shelter in a storm. He went swinging on to the very edge of the quay,

the pouring rain and looked first one way, then the other, with a quick birdlike scrutiny, but as far as his

awake," he speculate

ight shone towards him now, casting a weird radiance across the tossing water, and as if in accom

ck up Rufus," he decided. "It'd be

cked him, but there was something besides the brightness that sent an odd sensation through him-a curious, sick feeling as if he had suddenly received a blow between the shoulders. For in that fraction of time he had seen something which reason, clamouring against the evidence of his senses, d

round him when with a great sha

e Spear Point, let alone live on a ledge that wouldn't harbour a sea-g

he quay, struck upwards along the cliff in the direction of the narro

strong gusts, and the raging of the sea below was as the roaring of a thousand torrents. The great waves boomed against the cliff far

seconds another great flash lit up the whole wild scene. He saw again the Spear Point Rock standing out, scimitar-like, in the sea. The water was dashing all around it. It stood up, grim and unapproachable, th

sting path that led to his old home. He knew every foot of

when finally he reached the little garden-gat

so. Almost unconsciously he quicke

ut ere he found it, it was flung open, and a str

voice. "It is you! W

es nearly leapt from his he

folds, and over her shoulders and about her snow-white throat her gloriou

" she said. "Have you seen them? Have you seen Rufus? He wen

e way she had discovered Knight in danger, and had rushed to Rufus for help. Then-then-that vision of his from the quay-t

figure that had hung above the leaping waves. Then the tragedy in Columbine

g on to a bit of rock half-way up the Spear Point, and t'other chap was lying across his shoulder. They've both been washed away by

upon her breast. Then suddenly a burst of wild tears came to her. She leaned ag

her grief. It made him feel that his own was almost insignificant beside it. He had

d a very gentle hand up

r thought as you cared a ha'p'orth for poor Rufus, th

"And now I've killed him!" she gasped

You don't know what you're saying. My Rufus is a fine chap. He'd take most any risk

he said. "He wouldn't have gone but for me. It was I as made him go. But I thought he'd be in time. I hoped he'd be in time." Her voice rose wildly;

a tide as this. We couldn't get anywhere near. No-no, there's nothing we can do. The lad's gone-my Rufus-fi

t followed, but the battering of the rain upon the cotta

d in his hands. All the wiry activity seemed to

r faculties were numbed, animation itself were suspended. She leaned against the wall, staring with wide, tragic eyes at the flame of the lam

she knew that what he said was true, knew by the utter dejection of his attitude, the completeness of his despair. She had never seen Adam in despair before; probably no one had ever seen him as he was now. He was a man to strain every nerve while th

out the great sound of the breaking seas filled all the world. The storm above had passed. Now the thunder-blast no

of terrible visions, the girl

da

d not stirred for the

wrenched herself free from some constricting

ng. The tide must be on

at's the good?" he said. "Do you think I want t

e can't stay here," she urged. "Aunt

zed way. "You'd better go and tell your Aunt Liza," he said. "I think I'll stay here a bit longer. Maybe my boy'll come and talk to me if I'm alone. We're partners, you know,

ss urged her, moreover, to be gone. The awful inertia of the past two hours had turned into a fevered desire

e chair upon which he had leaned for so long. His attitude was one of almost stubborn patience, but it was evident that her presence had ceased to count with him.

back. Then, barefooted, she stepped out into the grey dimness that v