"Do you think that he made the crossing in safety?"
"I think not," was the reply. "Captain Ichabod went through the channel to the other side. He looked everywhere for signs of Garnet's having continued on up the beach, but the search was fruitless. I have an idea that the Doctor, in his weakened condition, was unable to breast the tide, and so was carried out to sea. To my mind, it seems, perhaps, the best ending for that drug-crazed man. At the same time, I confess I'm heartily3 sorry for the fellow. Had there been any way to get him clear of the charges it would have been necessary for him to face, I for one would have been willing to go to any length to save him, to get him away to some place where he was not known and could begin life anew."
Roy showed the note to Ethel, and explained how the evidence seemed to indicate that the physician was dead. The girl listened quietly, but when her lover had made an end, she turned quickly and went away to her stateroom, to be alone with her grief.
During Ethel's absence the yacht was got under way for Beaufort. Van Dusen and Ichabod restored their energies by a hearty5 meal. By the time the moon had risen, the party of four were gathered aft, talking together quietly, and enjoying the beauties in the panorama7 of sea and shore and sky unfolded by the yacht's progress. There was rapture8 in the hearts of both lovers in this reunion after so great trials. Each of them had sailed over these waters in an agony of grief and fear while they were separated from each other. Now, they were once again together. The fear and the peril9 were things of the past. For the present, there was only joy, a joy that would endure for the days to come.
Van Dusen explained to the others how he had extended an invitation to Ichabod to make use of the yacht for his honeymoon-trip. Ethel was astonished and delighted to learn of the old fisherman's romance and his intended bridal on the morrow.
"But, do you know," she exclaimed with a smile, to Captain Jones, "I supposed, of course, you were married, and had grandchildren?"
"Not me!" the old man answered, unabashed. "But I do aim to!"
Van Dusen further explained that the only thing now wanting was the consent of the bride herself to the plans. He then spoke10 again of the reward to be paid to Ichabod. Roy declared that this should be made out immediately. Once again, Captain Icky protested against the payment, but without much heart in his objections, and finally, after mumbling11 something as to the time lost from his fishing, he consented to receive the amount. But on a condition. He stipulated12 that the check should be made out to Sarah Porter, and that in the left-hand corner there should be written the words:
"In lieu of all other pre-nuptals."
The fisherman gave it as his positive opinion that this would clinch13 the matter for the following day.
"Anyhow," he added grimly, "if it don't, I'll be dogged if she gits it!"
When the yacht reached Beaufort, the party went ashore14, for it had been decided15 that Ethel should be cared for at the Inlet Hotel, where, if need be, she might prove of service in persuading Sarah into meeting the ardent16 Ichabod's wishes.
The hostess greeted the girl warmly, and fussed over her with a maternal17 solicitude18 that promised well for the fisherman's hopes in the matter of grandchildren. Then, when she had seen her guest comfortably installed, Sarah returned to the porch, where Ichabod, armed with the check, was anxiously awaiting her.
"Oh," she exclaimed tenderly, "I'm so glad you have returned safely! I've really worried about you. I was afraid that dreadful man might do something terrible if you came upon him unexpectedly."
"No, sir," was the spirited retort; "there ain't nothin' kin6 git me now but you!"
The gallant19 remark so pleased the spinster that she patted his hand affectionately, as they sat down side by side on a porch settee.
Ichabod braced20 himself for the encounter. He felt that there was to be no shilly-shally now. Moreover, his backbone21 was amazingly stiffened22 by the five-thousand-dollar check. He meant business! Besides, it would never do to disappoint his new friends. He was going to make that honeymoon-trip, or "bust23!"
"Sarah," he began, "do ye remember as how in the old days I was always said to be a man o' very few words?"
"Why, yes, Ichabod," Sarah agreed—perhaps a little doubtful, "come to think about it I believe you were. But what's agitating24 of you to-night? There seems to be something heavy-like on your mind."
"Thar is, Sary—somethin' mighty25 big an' I reckin as how you'll think it sudden. But that's the only way to do—jest speak right plumb26 out an' have it over."
His hearer paled slightly. She had a horrid27 suspicion that her lover had backslidden, that he meant to return to his hermit28 life on the Island, and was here now to jilt her.
"Of course, ye understand that me an' you are promised to wed4?" Ichabod went on.
"Yes," came the faltered29 response.
"Wall, thar ain't but one thing now as I see it that is a-standin' in the way, an' that is them-thar pre-nuptals you mentioned when I wanted to hurry things a leetle. Now, what I'm a-comin' to is this: I'm mighty well aware that them things takes time an' costs money. In lieu o' them as the lawyers say I'm servin' ye with this"—he extended the check—"an' we'll fix the hull30 thing up in the mornin', an' sail no'th in the evenin' on my New York friend's yacht, for our after-nuptals. But, consarn ye! thar's jest one other condition: Sure as shootin', ye'll have to pay our way back!"
Sarah took the check to the light. She gasped31 as she read the four figures. There was awe32 in her voice as she pronounced the words aloud:
"Five-thousand dollars!"
Then, after a moment, she questioned seriously:
"Ichabod, are ye goin' to build the addition on the hotel besides?"
The old fisherman nodded emphatically.
"That," he stoutly33 declared, "was a gentleman's promise!"
Sarah capitulated.
"Ichabod Jones, I ought to call you a triflin' rascal34 for starting in to scare me like you've done. Anyhow, I jest can't make it earlier than eleven-thirty. Will that do?"
The fisherman's reply was to take Sarah in his arms. Roy and Van Dusen in the hotel lobby hailed the smack35 that followed as a signal of the wooer's success.
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1
blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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3
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
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panorama
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| n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置] | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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10
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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11
mumbling
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
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12
stipulated
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| vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的 | |
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13
clinch
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| v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench | |
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14
ashore
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| adv.在(向)岸上，上岸 | |
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15
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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16
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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17
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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18
solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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19
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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20
braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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21
backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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22
stiffened
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| 加强的 | |
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23
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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24
agitating
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| 搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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25
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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26
plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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27
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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28
hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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29
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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30
hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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31
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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32
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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33
stoutly
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| adv.牢固地，粗壮的 | |
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34
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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35
smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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