while　we　are　brothers　still！〃
  Allan　turned　away　quickly；　convinced　that　his　mind　had　not　yet
  recovered　the　shock　of　the　fainting　fit。　〃Don't　forget　the
  whisky！〃　he　said；　cheerfully；　as　he　sprang　into　the　rigging；　and
  mounted　to　the　mizzen…top。
  It　was　past　two；　the　moon　was　waning；　and　the　darkness　that　comes
  before　dawn　was　beginning　to　gather　round　the　wreck。　Behind
  Allan；　as　he　now　stood　looking　out　from　the　elevation　of　the
  mizzen…top；　spread　the　broad　and　lonely　sea。　Before　him　were　the
  low；　black；　lurking　rocks；　and　the　broken　waters　of　the　channel；
  pouring　white　and　angry　into　the　vast　calm　of　the　westward　ocean
  beyond。　On　the　right　hand；　heaved　back　grandly　from　the
  water…side；　were　the　rocks　and　precipices；　with　their　little
  table…lands　of　grass　between；　the　sloping　downs；　and
  upward…rolling　heath　solitudes　of　the　Isle　of　Man。　On　the　left
  hand　rose　the　craggy　sides　of　the　Islet　of　the　Calf；　here　rent
  wildly　into　deep　black　chasms；　there　lying　low　under　long
  sweeping　acclivities　of　grass　and　heath。　No　sound　rose；　no　light
  was　visible；　on　either　shore。　The　black　lines　of　the　topmost
  masts　of　the　wreck　looked　shadowy　and　faint　in　the　darkening
  mystery　of　the　sky；　the　land　breeze　had　dropped；　the　small
  shoreward　waves　fell　noiseless：　far　or　near；　no　sound　was　audible
  but　the　cheerless　bubbling　of　the　broken　water　ahead；　pouring
  through　the　awful　hush　of　silence　in　which　earth　and　ocean　waited
  for　the　coming　day。
  Even　Allan's　careless　nature　felt　the　solemn　influence　of　the
  time。　The　sound　of　his　own　voice　startled　him　when　he　looked　down
  and　hailed　his　friend　on　deck
  〃I　think　I　see　one　house；〃　he　said。　〃Here…away；　on　the　mainland
  to　the　right。〃　He　looked　again；　to　make　sure；　at　a　dim　little
  patch　of　white；　with　faint　white　lines　behind　it；　nestling　low　in
  a　grassy　hollow；　on　the　main　island。　〃It　looks　like　a　stone　house
  and　inclosure；〃　he　resumed。　〃I'll　hail　it；　on　the　chance。〃　He
  passed　his　arm　round　a　rope　to　steady　himself；　made　a
  speaking…trumpet　of　his　hands；　and　suddenly　dropped　them　again
  without　uttering　a　sound。　〃It's　so　awfully　quiet；〃　he　whispered
  to　himself。　〃I'm　half　afraid　to　call　out。〃　He　looked　down　again
  on　deck。　〃I　shan't　startle　you；　Midwinter；　shall　I？〃　he　said；
  with　an　uneasy　laugh。　He　looked　once　more　at　the　faint　white
  object；　in　the　grassy　hollow。　〃It　won't　do　to　have　come　up　here
  for　nothing；〃　he　thought；　and　made　a　speaking…trumpet　of　his
  hands　again。　This　time　he　gave　the　hail　with　the　whole　power　of
  his　lungs。　〃On　shore　there！〃　he　shouted；　turning　his　face　to　the
  main　island。　〃Ahoy…hoy…hoy！〃
  The　last　echoes　of　his　voice　died　away　and　were　lost。　No　sound
  answered　him　but　the　cheerless　bubbling　of　the　broken　water
  ahead。
  He　looked　down　again　at　his　friend；　and　saw　the　dark　figure　of
  Midwinter　rise　erect；　and　pace　the　deck　backward　and　forward；
  never　disappearing　out　of　sight　of　the　cabin　when　it　retired
  toward　the　bows　of　the　wreck；　and　never　passing　beyond　the　cabin
  when　it　returned　toward　the　stern。　〃He　is　impatient　to　get　away；〃
  thought　Allan；　〃I'll　try　again。〃　He　hailed　the　land　once　more；
  and；　taught　by　previous　experience；　pitched　his　voice　in　its
  highest　key。
  This　time　another　sound　than　the　sound　of　the　bubbling　water
  answered　him。　The　lowing　of　frightened　cattle　rose　from　the
  building　in　the　grassy　hollow；　and　traveled　far　and　drearily
  through　the　stillness　of　the　morning　air。　Allan　waited　and
  listened。　If　the　building　was　a　farmhouse　the　disturbance　among
  the　beasts　would　rouse　the　men。　If　it　was　only　a　cattle…stable；
  nothing　more　would　happen。　The　lowing　of　the　frightened　brutes
  rose　and　fell　drearily；　the　minutes　passed；　and　nothing　happened。
  〃Once　more！〃　said　Allan；　looking　down　at　the　restless　figure
  pacing　beneath　him。　For　the　third　time　he　hailed　the　land。　For
  the　third　time　he　waited　and　listened。
  In　a　pause　of　silence　among　the　cattle；　he　heard　behind　him；　on
  the　opposite　shore　of　the　channel；　faint　and　far　among　the
  solitudes　of　the　Islet　of　the　Calf；　a　sharp；　sudden　sound；　like
  the　distant　clash　of　a　heavy
  door…bolt　drawn　back。　Turning　at　once　in　the　new　direction；　he
  strained　his　eyes　to　look　for　a　house。　The　last　faint　rays　of　the
  waning　moonlight　trembled　here　and　there　on　the　higher　rocks；　and
  on　the　steeper　pinnacles　of　ground；　but　great　strips　of　darkness
  lay　dense　and　black　over　all　the　land　between；　and　in　that
  darkness　the　house；　if　house　there　were；　was　lost　to　view。
  〃I　have　roused　somebody　at　last；〃　Allan　called　out；
  encouragingly；　to　Midwinter；　still　walking　to　and　fro　on　the
  deck；　strangely　indifferent　to　all　that　was　passing　above　and
  beyond　him。　〃Look　out　for　the　answering；　hail！〃　And　with　his　face
  set　toward　the　islet；　Allan　shouted　for　help。
  The　shout　was　not　answered；　but　mimicked　with　a　shrill；　shrieking
  derision；　with　wilder　and　wilder　cries；　rising　out　of　the　deep
  distant　darkness；　and　mingling　horribly　the　expression　of　a　human
  voice　with　the　sound　of　a　brute's。　A　sudden　suspicion　crossed
  Allan's　mind；　which　made　his　head　swim　and　turned　his　hand　cold
  as　it　held　the　rigging。　In　breathless　silence　he　looked　toward
  the　quarter　from　which　the　first　mimicry　of　his　cry　for　help　had
  come。　After　a　moment's　pause　the　shrieks　were　renewed；　and　the
  sound　of　them　came　nearer。　Suddenly　a　figure；　which　seemed　the
  figure　of　a　man；　leaped　up　black　on　a　pinnacle　of　rock；　and
  capered　and　shrieked　in　the　waning　gleam　of　the　moonlight。　The
  screams　of　a　terrified　woman　mingled　with　the　cries　of　the
  capering　creature　on　the　rock。　A　red　spark　flashed　out　in　the
  darkness　from　a　light　kindled　in　an　invisible　window。　The　hoarse
  shouting　of　a　man's　voice　in　anger　was　heard　through　the　noise。　A
  second　black　figure　leaped　up　on　the　rock；　struggled　with　the
  first　figure；　and　disappeared　with　it　in　the　darkness。　The　cries
  grew　fainter　and　fainter；　the　screams　of　the　woman　were　stilled；
  the　hoarse　voice　of　the　man　was　heard　again　for　a　moment；　hailing
  the　wreck　in　words　made　unintelligible　by　the　distance；　but　in
  tones　plainly　expressive　of　rage　and　fear　combined。　Another
  moment；　and　the　clang　of　the　door…bolt　was　heard　again；　the　red
  spark　of　light　was　quenched　in　darkness；　and　all　the　islet　lay
  quiet　in　the　shadows　once　more。　The　lowing　of　the　cattle　on　the
  main…land　ceased；　rose　again；　stopped。　Then；　cold　and　cheerless
  as　ever；　the　eternal　bubbling　of　the　broken　water　welled　up
  through　the　great　gap　of　silencethe　one　sound　left；　as　the
  mysterious　stillness　of　the　hour　fell　like　a　mantle　from　the
  heavens；　and　closed　over　the　wreck。
  Allan　descended　from　his　place　in　the　mizzen…top；　and　joined　his
  friend　again　on　deck。
  〃We　must　wait　till　the　ship…breakers　come　off　to　their　work；〃　he
  said；　meeting　Midwinter　halfway　in　the　course　of　his　restless
  walk。　〃After　what　has　happened；　I　don't　mind　confessing　that　I've
  had　enough　of　hailing　the　land。　Only　think　of　there　being　a
  madman　in　that　house　ashore；　and　of　my　waking　him！　Horrible；
  wasn't　it？〃
  Midwinter　stood　still　for　a　moment；　and　looked　at　Allan；　with　the
  perplexed　air　of　a　man　who　hears　circumstances　familiarly
  mentioned　to　which　he　is　himself　a　total　stranger。　He　appeared；
  if　such　a　thing　had　been　possible；　to　have　passed　over　entirely
  without　notice　all　that　had　just　happened　on　the　Islet　of　the
  Calf。
  〃Nothing　is　horrible　_out_　of　this　ship；〃　he　said。　〃Everything　is
  horrible　_in_　it。〃
  Answering　in　those　strange　words；　he　turned　away　again；　and　went
  on　with　his　walk。
  Allan　picked　up　the　flask　of　whisky　lying　on　the　deck　near　him；
  and　revived　his　spirits　with　a　dram。　〃Here's　one　thing　on　board
  that　isn't　horrible；〃　he　retorted　briskly；　as　he　screwed　on　the
  stopper　of　the　flask；　〃and　here's　another；〃　he　added；　as　he　took
  a　cigar　from　his　case　and　lit　it。　〃Three　o'clock！〃　he　went　on；
  looking　at　his　watch；　and　settling　himself　comfortably　on　deck
  with　his　back　against　the　bulwark。　〃Daybreak　isn't　far　off；　we
  shall　have　the　piping　of　the　birds　to　cheer　us　up　before　long。　I
  say；　Midwinter；　you　seem　to　have　quite　got　over　that　unlucky
  fainting　fit。　How　you　do　keep　walking！　Come　here　and　have　a
  cigar；　and　make　yourself　comfortable。　What's　the　good　of　tramping
  backward　and　forward　in　that　restless　way？〃
  〃I　am　waiting；〃　said　Midwinter。
  〃Waiting！　What　for？〃
  〃For　what　is　to　happen　to　you　or　to　meor　to　both　of　usbefore
  we　are　out　of　this　ship。〃
  〃With　submission　to　your　superior　judgment；　my　dear　fellow；　I
  think　quite　enough　has　happened　already。　The　adventure　will　do
  very　well　as　it　stands　now；　more　of　it　is　more　than　I　want。〃　He
  took　another　dram　of　whisky；　and　rambled　on；　between　the　puffs　of
  his　cigar；　in　his　usual　easy　way。　〃I've　not　got　your　fine
  imagination；　old　boy；　and　I　hope　the　next　thing　that　happens　will
  be　the　appearance　of　the　workmen's　boat。　I　suspect　that　queer
  fancy　of　yours　has　been　running　away　with　you　while　you　were　down
  here　all　by　yourself。　Come；　now；　what　were　you　thinking　of　while
  I　was　up　in　the　mizzen…top　frightening　the　cows？〃
  Midwinter　suddenly　stopped。　〃Suppose　I　tell　you？〃　he　said。
  〃Suppose　you　do？〃
  The　torturing　temptation　to　reveal　the　truth；　roused　once　already
  by　his　companion's　merciless　gayety　of　spirit；　possessed　itself