It was a sharp fantastic crisis that had popped up as if in a dream, and it had had only to last the few seconds to make him feel it as quite horrible.

They were thus, on either side, TRYING the other side, and all for some reason that broke the stillness like some unprovoked harsh note.

It seemed to him again, within the limit, that he had but one thing to do--to settle their common question by some sign of surprise and joy.

He hereupon gave large play to these things, agitating his hat and his stick and loudly calling out--a demonstration that brought him relief as soon as he had seen it answered.

The boat, in mid-stream, still went a little wild--which seemed natural, however, while Chad turned round, half springing up; and his good friend, after blankness and wonder, began gaily to wave her parasol.