They stood it for thirty-three seconds and went to smash. A terrific squall, partly deflected from the forest, hurled the launch into the swamp, now all boiling in shallow foam; and there she stuck in the good, thick mud, heeled over and all awash like a stranded razor-back after a freshet.
Twenty minutes later the sun came out; the waters of the lagoon turned sky blue; a delicate breeze from the southeast stirred the palmetto fronds.
Presently a cardinal-bird began singing in the sunshine.
Haltren, standing in the wrecked wheel-house, raised his dazed eyes as Darrow entered and looked around.
"So that was a white tornado! I've heard of them--but--good God!" He turned a bloodless visage to Haltren, who, dripping, bareheaded and silent, stood with eyes closed leaning heavily against the wheel.
Haltren shook his head. Darrow regarded him stupidly.
"How did you happen to be in this part of the world?"
Haltren opened his eyes. "Oh, I'm likely to be anywhere," he said, vaguely, passing a shaking hand across his face. There was a moment's silence; then he said:
"Yes," said Darrow, under his breath. "Isn't that the limit?"
Through the silence the cardinal sang steadily.
"Isn't that the limit?" repeated Darrow. "We came on the yacht--that was Brent's yacht, the _Dione_, you saw at sea. You know the people aboard. Brent, Mrs. Castle, your wife, and I left the others and took the launch to explore the lagoons.... And here we are. Isn't it funny?" he added, with a nerveless laugh.
Haltren stood there slowly passing his hand over his face.
"It is funnier than you know, Darrow," he said. "Kathleen and I--this is our wedding-day."
"Well, that _is_ the limit," muttered Darrow, as Haltren turned a stunned face to the sunshine where the little cardinal sang with might and main.
"Come below," he added. "You are going to speak to her, of course?"
"Speak to her anyway. Haltren; I"--he hesitated--"I never knew why you and Kathleen separated. I only knew what everybody knows. You and she are four years older now; and if there's a ghost of a chance-- Do you understand?"
"Then we'll go below," began Darrow. But Major Brent appeared at that moment, apoplectic eyes popping from his purple face as he waddled forward to survey the dismantled launch.