In the midst of his activity Montesma suddenly saw that white-robed figure standing at the top of the companion, and flew to her side.  The boat was pitching heavily, dipping into the trough of the sea at an angle of forty-five degrees, as it seemed to Lesbia.

‘You ought not to be here,’ said Montesma; ’it is much rougher than I expected.’

‘I am not afraid,’ she answered; ’but I will go back to my cabin if I am in your way.’

‘In my way’ (with deepest tenderness):  ’yes, you are in my way, for I shall think of nothing else now you are here.  But I believe we have done all that need be done to the yacht, and I can take care of you till the storm is over.’

He put his arm round her as the stem dipped, and led her towards the stern, guiding her footsteps, supporting her as her light figure swayed against him with the motion of the boat.  A vivid flash of lightning showed him her face as they stood for an instant leaning against each other, his arm encircling her.  Ah, what deep feeling in that countenance, once so passionless; what a new light in those eyes.  It was like the awakening of a long dormant soul.

He took the helm from the captain and stood steering the vessel, and calling out his orders, with Lesbia close beside him, holding her with his disengaged arm, drawing her near him as the vessel pitched violently, drawing her nearer still when they shipped a sea, and a great fountain of spray enfolded them both in a dense cloud of salt water.

The thunder roared and rattled, as if it began and ended close beside them.  Forked lightnings zigzagged amidst the rigging.  Sheet lightning enwrapped those two in a luminous atmosphere, revealing faces that were pale with passion, lips that trembled with emotion.  There were but scant opportunity for speech, and neither of these two felt the need of words.  To be together, bound nearer to each other than they had ever been yet, than they might ever be again, in the midst of thunder and lightning and dense clouds of spray.  This was enough.  Once when the Cayman pitched with exceptional fury, when the thunder crashed and roared loudest, Lesbia found her head lying on Montesma’s breast and his arms round her, his lips upon her face.  She did not wrench herself from that forbidden embrace.  She let those lips kiss hers as never mortal man had kissed her before.  But an instant later, when Montesma’s attention was distracted by his duties as steersman, and he let her go, she slipped away in the darkness, and melted from his sight and touch like a modern Undine.  He dared not leave the helm and follow her then.  He sent one of the sailors below a little later, to make sure that she was safe in her cabin; but he saw her no more that night.

The storm abated soon after daybreak, and the morning was lovely; but Don Gomez and Lady Lesbia did not meet again till the church bells on the island were ringing for morning service, and then the lady was safe under the wing of her chaperon, with her affianced husband in attendance upon her at the breakfast table in the saloon.