It seemed to him strange that he could have had so much happiness on the brink of so much misery.

He felt as that pleasure party did, who, after hours of happy sport, found that they had been merry-making in the very current of the great cataract.
There are those who believe that every great catastrophe throws its shadow before it, but Charlton was never more hopeful than when he lifted his dripping oars from the water at half-past nine o'clock, and said: "What a grand ride we've had! Let's row together again to-morrow evening.
It is the last chance for a long time.".