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He waded out of the hut； and the water rose to his middle。 He looked round him by the lurid light of the eruption。 The one visible object within the range of view was the sea； stained by reflections from the blood…red sky； swirling and rippling strangely in the dead calm。 In a moment more； he became conscious that the earth on which he stood was sinking under his feet。 The water rose to his neck； the last vestige of the roof of the hut disappeared。
He looked round again； and the truth burst on him。 The island was sinkingslowly； slowly sinking into volcanic depths； below even the depth of the sea！ The highest object was the hut； and that had dropped inch by inch under water before his own eyes。 Thrown up to the surface by occult volcanic influences； the island had sunk back； under the same influences； to the obscurity from which it had emerged！
A black shadowy object； turning in a wide circle； came slowly near him as the all…destroying ocean washed its bitter waters into his mouth。 The buoyant boat； rising as the sea rose； had dragged its anchor； and was floating round in the vortex made by the slowly sinking island。 With a last desperate hope that Aimata might have been saved as _he_ had been saved； he swam to the boat； seized the heavy oars with the strength of a giant； and made for the place （so far as he could guess at it now） where the lake and the Temple had once been。
He looked round and round him； he strained his eyes in the vain attempt to penetrate below the surface of the seething dimpling sea。 Had the panic…stricken watchers in the canoes saved themselves； without an effort to preserve the father and daughter？ Or had they both been suffocated before they could make an attempt to escape？ He called to her in his misery； as if she could hear him out of the fathomless depths： 〃Aimata！ Aimata！〃 The roar of the distant eruption answered him。 The mounting fires lit the solitary sea far and near over the sinking island。 The boat turned slowly and more slowly in the lessening vortex。 Never again would those gentle eyes look at him with unutterable love！ Never again would those fresh lips touch his lips with their fervent kiss！ Alone； amid the savage forces of Nature in conflict； the miserable mortal lifted his hands in frantic supplicationand the burning sky glared down on him in its pitiless grandeur； and struck him to his knees in the boat。 His reason sank with his sinking limbs。 In the merciful frenzy that succeeded the shock； he saw afar off； in her white robe； an angel poised on the waters； beckoning him to follow her to the brighter and the better world。 He loosened the sail； he seized the oars； and the faster he pursued it； the faster the mocking vision fled from him over the empty and endless sea。
IX。
THE boat was discovered； on the next morning； from the ship。
All that the devotion of the officers of the _Fortuna_ could do for their unhappy commander was done on the homeward voyage。 Restored to his own country； and to skilled medical help； the Captain's mind by slow degrees recovered its balance。 He has taken his place in society againhe lives and moves and manages his affairs like the rest of us。 But his heart is dead to all new emotions； nothing remains in it but the sacred remembrance of his lost love。 He neither courts nor avoids the society of women。 Their sympathy finds him grateful； but their attractions seem to be lost on him； they pass from his mind as they pass from his eyesthey stir nothing in him but the memory of Aimata。
〃Now you know； ladies； why the Captain will never marry； and why （sailor as he is） he hates the sight of the sea。〃
MR。 MARMADUKE AND THE MINISTER。
I。
September 13th。Winter seems to be upon us； on the Highland Border； already。
I looked out of window； as the evening closed in； before I barred the shutters and drew the curtains for the night。 The clouds hid the hilltops on either side of our valley。 Fantastic mists parted and met again on the lower slopes； as the varying breeze blew them。 The blackening waters of the lake before our window seemed to anticipate the coming darkness。 On the more distant hills the torrents were just visible； in the breaks of the mist； stealing their way over the brown ground like threads of silver。 It was a dreary scene。 The stillness of all things was only interrupted by the splashing of our little waterfall at the back of the house。 I was not sorry to close the shutters； and confine the view to the four walls of our sitting…room。
The day happened to be my birthday。 I sat by the peat…fire； waiting for the lamp and the tea…tray； and contemplating my past life from the vantage…ground； so to speak； of my fifty…fifth year。
There was wonderfully little to look back on。 Nearly thirty years since； it pleased an all…wise Providence to cast my lot in this remote Scottish hamlet； and to make me Minister of Cauldkirk； on a stipend of seventy…four pounds sterling per annum。 I and my surroundings have grown quietly older and older together。 I have outlived my wife； I have buried one generation among my parishioners； and married another； I have borne the wear and tear of years better than the kirk in which I minister and the manse （or parsonage…house） in which I liveboth sadly out of repair； and both still trusting for the means of reparation to the pious benefactions of people richer than myself。 Not that I complain； be it understood； of the humble position which I occupy。 I possess many blessings； and I thank the Lord for them。 I have my little bit of land and my cow。 I have also my good daughter； Felicia； named after her deceased mother； but inheriting her comely looks； it is thought； rather from myself。
Neither let me forget my elder sister； Judith； a friendless single person； sheltered under my roof； whose temperament I could wish somewhat less prone to look at persons and things on the gloomy side； but whose compensating virtues Heaven forbid that I should deny。 No； I am grateful for what has been given me （from on high）； and resigned to what has been taken away。 With what fair prospects did I start in life！ Springing from a good old Scottish stock； blessed with every advantage of education that the institutions of Scotland and England in turn could offer； with a career at the Bar and in Parliament before meand all cast to the winds； as it were； by the measureless prodigality of my unhappy father； God forgive him！ I doubt if I had five pounds left in my purse； when the compassion of my relatives on the mother's side opened a refuge to me at Cauldkirk； and hid me from the notice of the world for the rest of my life。
September 14th。Thus far I had posted up my Diary on the evening of the 13th； when an event occurred so completely unexpected by my household and myself； that the pen； I may say； dropped incontinently from my hand。
It was the time when we had finished our tea； or supperI hardly know which to call it。 In the silence； we could hear the rain pouring against the window； and the wind that had risen with the darkness howling round the house。 My sister Judith； taking the gloomy view according to customcopious draughts of good Bohea and two helpings of such a mutton ham as only Scotland can produce had no effe