Almost unconsciously he quickened his pace as he went up the path.
He reached the door and fumbled for the latch; but ere he found it, it was flung open, and a strange and tragic figure met him on the threshold.
"Ah!" cried a woman's voice.

"It is you! Where--where is Rufus ?" Adam's keen and birdlike eyes nearly leapt from his head.
"Why--Columbine ?" he said.
She was dressed in Rufus's suit of navy serge.

It hung about her in clumsy folds, and over her shoulders and about her snow-white throat her glorious hair streamed like a black veil, still wet and shining in the lamplight.
She flung out her hands to him in piteous appeal.

"Oh, Adam!" she said.
"Have you seen them?
Have you seen Rufus?
He went--he went an hour ago--to save Mr.Knight from the quicksand!" Adam's quick brain leapt to instant activity.

The girl's presence baffled him, but it was no time for explanation.