Page:Ballinger Price--The Happy Venture.djvu/173

Rh "And the tide?" Felicia hardly dared ask.

"Going out—to sea."

A blank, hideous silence followed, broken only by the reiterated warning of the dismal siren at the lighthouse.

"It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. A boat would have to comb every foot of the bay in this fog, and night's coming. How long have you been gone?"

Felicia looked at her watch. She was astonished to find it had been over half an hour.

"Heaven knows where the boat could have got to in half an hour," Ken muttered, "with this tide. And the wind's going to sea, too."

Felicia shook him wildly by the arm. "Do you realize—Kirk's in that boat?" she moaned. "Kirk's in that boat—do you realize it?"

Ken tore himself free.

"No, I don't want to realize it," he said in a harsh, high voice. "Get back to the house, Phil! You can't do anything. I'm going to the harbor master now—I'm going everywhere. I may not be back to-night." He gave her a little push, "Go, Phil."

But he ran after her. "Poor old Phil—mustn't worry," he said gently. "Get back to