And twice as we ran we heard the sound of that dismal howling drawing
nearer and nearer to the answering faint cry from the point of the
island whither we were going.
Then, suddenly, the trees fell away, and we emerged, hot and breathless,
upon the rocky point where the granite slabs ran bare into the sea. It
was like passing into the clearness of open day. And there, sharply
defined against sea and sky, stood the figure of a human being. It was
Joan.
I at once saw that there was something about her appearance that was
singular and unusual, but it was only when we had moved quite close that
I recognised what caused it. For while the lips wore a smile that lit
the whole face with a happiness I had never seen there before, the eyes
themselves were fixed in a steady, sightless stare as though they were
lifeless and made of glass.
I made an impulsive forward movement, but Dr. Silence instantly dragged
me back.
"No," he cried, "don't wake her!"
"What do you mean?" I replied aloud, struggling in his grasp.
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