ALLMERS. [Looking up.] What sight? What have you seen? RITA. I have seen nothing myself. I have only heard it told. Oh--! ALLMERS. You may as well tell me at once. RITA. I got Borgheim to go down with me to the pier-- ALLMERS. What did you want there? RITA. To question the boys as to how it happened. ALLMERS. But we know that. RITA. We got to know more. ALLMERS. Well? RITA. It is not true that he disappeared all at once. ALLMERS. Do they say that now? RITA. Yes. They say they saw him lying down on the bottom. Deep down in the clear water. ALLMERS. [Grinding his teeth.] And they didn't save him! RITA. I suppose they could not. ALLMERS. They could swim--every one of them. Did they tell you how he was lying whilst they could see him? RITA. Yes. They said he was lying on his back. And with great, open eyes. ALLMERS. Open eyes. But quite still? RITA. Yes, quite still. And then something came and swept him away. They called it the undertow. ALLMERS. [Nodding slowly.] So that was the last they saw of him. RITA. [Suffocated with tears.] Yes. ALLMERS. [In a dull voice.] And never--never will any one see him again. RITA. [Wailing.] I shall see him day and night, as he lay down there.