“The danger comes not from the sea!  You will be a victim!”

The young man let the boat line fall from his grasp, a fierce light shone in his eyes, and there was a tremulousness, but not of fear, in his voice as he demanded: 

“Who sent you to tell me this?”

“It matters not, you are doomed if you go on the yacht to-night! never again will your feet press the hard shore, but the waves will cast you up!”

“Who are you, miss, and why have you come to warn me?”

A moment the girl was silent.  She hung her head and appeared lost in thought, but at length, looking up and fixing her magnificent blue eyes upon the young man, she said: 

“I do not know who I am, but I do know that if you go out on the yacht to-night, you will never return till the waves wash your dead form to the beach!”

“You must have some reason for coming to warn me?”

“Yes; I would save your life!”

“Why are you so deeply interested in saving my life?”

“I would warn anyone whom I knew was in peril! and you must heed my words!”

“I cannot!”

“Are you seeking death?”

“No.”

“I do not understand.”

“And I cannot explain, but I must go out though death meet me upon the crest of every wave.”

The girl again remained silent for a moment, but, at length in a still lower whisper, she said: 

“You have been betrayed!”

The young man started, and a slight pallor overspread his handsome face as he caught the girl’s delicate arm in his firm grasp, and demanded: 

“Who am I?”

“You are Spencer Vance.”

The young man could not conceal an expression of extreme astonishment.

“Who told you my name was Spencer Vance?”

“It matters not, but take heed; do not go out on the sea to-night.”

“I tell you I must!  I will go, but you must tell me what you know of Spencer Vance.”

“You are a revenue detective; you are in the employ of the Government; you have been betrayed, and to-night you are to be silenced if you go out on the yacht!”

“Do the men on the yacht know who I am?”

“They do not know your name, but they suspect you are a Government detective, and they have determined to put you out of the way; to-night they will do the deed if you go.”

“Someone must have told them I was a Government officer.”

“Yes; someone told them.”

“Do you know who gave the information?”

“I do.”

“Will you tell me?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I have warned you, now go your way, and save your life! they are desperate men, the waves have already received three of their victims within a year go, and your doom is sealed!  Nothing can save you!”

“I shall go!”

“You do not believe my words?”

“I will believe you if you will tell me who betrayed me to the smugglers.”