A Silver Brand — page 194: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

186 : A SILVER BRAND. ‘Aubrey Dalberg!” repeated Serena, and there was a little shade of astonished recognition in her voice. “Do you know him?” queried Lina, turning upon her swiftly. “T met a gentleman this afternoon. He rowed me to the island in my boat, and a card such as that dropped into the boat when he drew out his handkercheif. That is all lI know,” answered Serena. “Was he young and handsome, and oh—so true and manly in his carriage?” asked the eager, excited Lina. ““Yes,” was Serena’s low reply. Lina clapped her hands joyfully. “Did I not tell you that the monotonous calm had broken up, that my life was drifting toward my golden hopes? It is he. Yes, yes, I must go. Shall I get into his boat, or will you row me there, Serena ?” “T should rather see you safely back to the land, dear Pee EAnNa.” ‘‘Let me fasten your anchor in my boat, and I can tow you. along,” volunteered the man, proceeding at once to put the proposition into execution. The two girls sat silent, with arms twined about each other, while their boat was borne swiftly along, Lina trembling with joyous anticipation, thrilling in every nerve with delicious consciousness of coming triumph, Serena wondering at herself for the chill, dark shadow that seemed creeping over her, into her very heart. She scarcely knew why, but it was a relief to discover that the other boat had seemed to change its course as if to follow them. She did notallude tothe fact, however, but she spoke abruptly and decisively when she discovered the course their own boat was taking. “You are steering too far to the right. That is a danger- ous spot. Itis where the surf beats ceaselessly, and there is an under-current that the fishermen say sucks a boat into the Witch’s Cave. Turn off to the left.” - The rower either did not hear, or did not choose to heed, but kept on his course. Serena sprang up promptly and took hold of the chain which connected her boat to his to draw back the anchor. : “TI say that you are going too far to the right, and we are no? willing to risk the danger,” she repeated. ‘‘I shall cut my boat adrift if you do no change your course’”’ The man paused a moment, and looked over to the reso- lute figure doubtfully. : Eomicbooks com ~