It was perhaps this partnership with the dead that gave the matter its most incredible and unreal aspect.

Three years before this lady of the sea had frequented this spot; none but the dead man and himself had been permitted to see her.
"Well, when all's said and done," said Caius to himself, rolling upon a sleepless bed, "it's a very extraordinary thing." Next morning he hired a boat, the nearest that was to be had; he got it a mile and a half further up the shore.

It was a clumsy thing, but he rowed it past the mouth of the creek where he used to fish, all along the water front of Day's farm, past the little point that was the beginning of the rocky part of the shore, and then he drew the boat up upon the little island.

He hid it perfectly among the grass and weeds.
Over all the limited surface, among the pine shrubs and flowering weeds, he searched to see if hiding-place for the nymph could be found.

Two colts were pastured on the isle.