Where was Barbara?
A sudden fear ran through me.

Had any madness seized the girl, some uncontrolled whim made her fly from me?
She could not be so foolish.

But where was she?
On the moment of the question a cry of surprise rang from my lips.

There, ahead of me, not on the shore, but on the sea, was Barbara.

The boat was twelve or fifteen yards from the beach, Barbara's face was towards me, and she was rowing out to sea.