'You must not think it was always so,' replied Attwater, 'This was once

a busy shore, although now, hark! you can hear the solitude. I find it

stimulating. And talking of the sound of bells, kindly follow a little

experiment of mine in silence.' There was a silver bell at his right

hand to call the servants; he made them a sign to stand still, struck

the bell with force, and leaned eagerly forward. The note rose clear and

strong; it rang out clear and far into the night and over the deserted

island; it died into the distance until there only lingered in the

porches of the ear a vibration that was sound no longer. 'Empty houses,

empty sea, solitary beaches!' said Attwater. 'And yet God hears the

bell! And yet we sit in this verandah on a lighted stage with all heaven

for spectators! And you call that solitude?'

There followed a bar of silence, during which the captain sat

mesmerised.

Then Attwater laughed softly. 'These are the diversions of a lonely,

man,' he resumed, 'and possibly not in good taste. One tells oneself

these little fairy tales for company. If there SHOULD happen to be

anything in folk-lore, Mr Hay? But here comes the claret. One does not

offer you Lafitte, captain, because I believe it is all sold to the

railroad dining cars in your great country; but this Brine-Mouton is of

a good year, and Mr Whish will give me news of it.'

That's a queer idea of yours!' cried the captain, bursting with a sigh

from the spell that had bound him. 'So you mean to tell me now, that

The Ebb-Tide