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Adventure of the Wreck was at hand。
They had reached the stern； and were just turning again when
Midwinter spoke。 As Allan opened his lips to answer； he looked
out mechanically to sea。 Instead of replying； he suddenly ran to
the taffrail； and waved his hat over his head； with a shout of
exultation。
Midwinter joined him； and saw a large six…oared boat pulling
straight for the channel of the Sound。 A figure； which they both
thought they recognized； rose eagerly in the stern…sheets and
returned the waving of Allan's hat。 The boat came nearer； the
steersman called to them cheerfully； and they recognized the
doctor's voice。
〃Thank God you're both above water！〃 said Mr。 Hawbury； as they
met him on the deck of the timber…ship。 〃Of all the winds of
heaven； which wind blew you here？〃
He looked at Midwinter as he made the inquiry； but it was Allan
who told him the story of the night； and Allan who asked the
doctor for information in return。 The one absorbing interest in
Midwinter's mindthe interest of penetrating the mystery of the
dreamkept him silent throughout。 Heedless of all that was said
or done about him； he watched Allan； and followed Allan； like a
dog； until the time came for getting down into the boat。 Mr。
Hawbury's professional eye rested on him curiously； noting his
varying color； and the incessant restlessness of his hands。 〃I
wouldn't change nervous systems with that man for the largest
fortune that could be offered me；〃 thought the doctor as he took
the boat's t iller； and gave the oarsmen their order to push off
from the wreck。
Having reserved all explanations on his side until they were on
their way back to Port St。 Mary； Mr。 Hawbury next addressed
himself to the gratification of Allan's curiosity。 The
circumstances which had brought him to the rescue of his two
guests of the previous evening were simple enough。 The lost boat
had been met with at sea by some fishermen of Port Erin； on the
western side of the island； who at once recognized it as the
doctor's property； and at once sent a messenger to make inquiry；
at the doctor's house。 The man's statement of what had happened
had naturally alarmed Mr。 Hawbury for the safety of Allan and his
friend。 He had immediately secured assistance； and； guided by the
boatman's advice； had made first for the most dangerous place on
the coastthe only place； in that calm weather； in which an
accident could have happened to a boat sailed by experienced
menthe channel of the Sound。 After thus accounting for his
welcome appearance on the scene； the doctor hospitably insisted
that his guests of the evening should be his guests of the
morning as well。 It would still be too early when they got back
for the people at the hotel to receive them； and they would find
bed and breakfast at Mr。 Hawbury's house。
At the first pause in the conversation between Allan and the
doctor； Midwinter； who had neither joined in the talk nor
listened to the talk； touched his friend on the arm。 〃Are you
better？〃 he asked； in a whisper。 〃Shall you soon be composed
enough to tell me what I want to know？〃
Allan's eyebrows contracted impatiently； the subject of the
dream； and Midwinter's obstinacy in returning to it； seemed to be
alike distasteful to him。 He hardly answered with his usual good
humor。 〃I suppose I shall have no peace till I tell you；〃 he
said； 〃so I may as well get it over at once。〃
〃No！〃 returned Midwinter； with a look at the doctor and his
oarsmen。 〃Not where other people can hear itnot till you and I
are alone。〃
〃If you wish to see the last； gentlemen； of your quarters for the
night；〃 interposed the doctor； 〃now is your time！ The coast will
shut the vessel out in a minute more。〃
In silence on the one side and on the other； the two Armadales
looked their last at the fatal ship。 Lonely and lost they had
found the wreck in the mystery of the summer night； lonely and
lost they left the wreck in the radiant beauty of the summer
morning。
An hour later the doctor had seen his guests established in their
bedrooms； and had left them to take their rest until the
breakfast hour arrived。
Almost as soon as his back was turned； the doors of both rooms
opened softly； and Allan and Midwinter met in the passage。
〃Can you sleep after what has happened？〃 asked Allan。
Midwinter shook his head。 〃You were coming to my room； were you
not？〃 he said。 〃What for？〃
〃To ask you to keep me company。 What were you coming to _my_ room
for？〃
〃To ask you to tell me your dream。〃
〃Damn the dream！ I want to forget all about it。〃
〃And _I_ want to know all about it。〃
Both paused； both refrained instinctively from saying more。 For
the first time since the beginning of their friendship they were
on the verge of a disagreement； and that on the subject of the
dream。 Allan's good temper just stopped them on the brink。
〃You are the most obstinate fellow alive；〃 he said； 〃but if you
will know all about it； you must know all about it； I suppose。
Come into my room； and I'll tell you。〃
He led the way； and Midwinter followed。 The door closed and shut
them in together。
CHAPTER V。
THE SHADOW OF THE FUTURE。
WHEN Mr。 Hawbury joined his guests in the breakfast…room； the
strange contrast of character between them which he had noticed
already was impressed on his mind more strongly than ever。 One of
them sat at the well…spread table； hungry and happy； ranging from
dish to dish； and declaring that he had never made such a
breakfast in his life。 The other sat apart at the window； his cup
thanklessly deserted before it was empty； his meat left
ungraciously half…eaten on his plate。 The doctor's morning
greeting to the two accurately expressed the differing
impressions which they had produced on his mind。
He clapped Allan on the shoulder； and saluted him with a joke。 He
bowed constrainedly to Midwinter； and said； 〃I am afraid you have
not recovered the fatigues of the night。〃
〃It's not the night； doctor； that has damped his spirits；〃 said
Allan。 〃It's something I have been telling him。 It is not my
fault； mind。 If I had only known beforehand that he believed in
dreams； I wouldn't have opened my lips。〃
〃Dreams？〃 repeated the doctor； looking at Midwinter directly； and
addressing him under a mistaken impression of the meaning of
Allan's words。 〃With your constitution； you ought to be well used
to dreaming by this time。〃
〃This way； doctor； you have taken the wrong turning！〃 cried
Allan。 〃I'm the dreamer； not he。 Don't look astonished； it wasn't
in this comfortable house； it was on board that confounded
timber…ship。 The fact is； I fell asleep just before you took us
off the wreck； and it's not to be denied that I had a very ugly
dream。 Well； when we got back here〃
〃Why do you trouble Mr。 Hawbury about a matter that cannot
possibly interest him？〃 asked Midwinter； speaking for the first
time； and speaking very impatiently。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 returned the doctor； rather sharply； 〃so far
as I have heard； the matter does interest me。〃
〃That's right； doctor！〃 said Allan。 〃Be interested； I beg and
pray； I want you to clear his head of the nonsense he has got in
it now。 What do you think？ He will have it that my dream is a
warning to me to avoid certain people； and he actually persists
in saying that one of those people ishimself！ Did you ever hear
the like of it？ I took great pains； I explained the whole thing
to him。 I said； warning be hanged； it's all indigestion！ You
don't know what I ate and drank at the doctor's supper…table； I
do。 Do you think he would listen to me？ Not he。 You try him next；
you're a professional man； and he must listen to you。 Be a good
fellow； doctor； and give me a certificate of indigestion； I'll
show you my tongue with pleasure。〃
〃The sight of your face is quite enough；〃 said Mr。 Hawbury。 〃I
certify； on the spot； that you never had such a thing as an
indigestion in your life。 Let's hear about the dream； and see
what we can make of it； if you have no objection； that is to
say。〃
Allan pointed at Midwinter with his fork。
〃Apply to my friend； there；〃 he said； 〃he has got a much better
account of it than I can give you。 If you'll believe me； he took
it all down in writing from my own lips； and he made me sign it
at the end； as if it was my 'last dying speech and confession'
before I went to the gallows。 Out with it； old boyI saw you put
it in your pocket…bookout with it！〃
〃Are you really in earnest？〃 asked Midwinter； producing his
pocketbook with a reluctance which was almost offensive under the
circumstances； for it implied distrust of the doctor in the
doctor's own house。
Mr。 Hawbury's color rose。 〃Pray don't show it to me； if you feel
the least unwillingness；〃 he said； with the elaborate politeness
of an offended man。
〃Stuff and nonsense！〃 cried Allan。 〃Throw it over here！〃
Instead of complying with that characteristic request； Midwinter
took the paper from the pocket…book； and； leaving his place；
approached Mr。 Hawbury。 〃I beg your pardon；〃 he said； as he
offered the doctor the manuscript with his own hand。 His eyes
dropped to the ground； and his face darkened； while he made the
apology。 〃A secret； sullen fellow；〃 thought