第24章

"You blackguard!" he shouted."Will you go away?"I looked at him and then at her.It had to be done, and my mind was made up to do it.I waded in until the water was almost to my knees, and I was abreast the stern of the stranded boat.

"Miss Colton," I said, "I am going to carry you to my skiff.Are you ready?""You-- Why!--" she breathed.

I stooped, lifted her in my arms, and ploughed through the weeds and water.The mud was soft and my feet sank into it.She struggled.

"You must keep still," I said, sharply, "or I shall drop you."She gasped, but she stopped struggling.From behind me I heard a roar of rage from Victor.

I carried her to the anchored skiff and, plunging in still deeper, seated her on the stern thwart.

"Sit there, please, and don't move," I said."I shall be back as soon as I've got your boat afloat."I waded back to the dingy.Victor was frantic, but he did not disturb me.The worst of my unpleasant job was over.

"Now sit down," I ordered."Do you hear me? Sit down and sit still.""You--you--" he stammered.

"Because if you don't sit down," I continued serenely, "you're likely to tumble overboard.I'm going to push this boat off."The first push helped to make up his mind.He sat, involuntarily.

I pushed with all my might and, slowly and jerkily, the dingy slid off the shoal.But there were others all about.With one hand on the bow I guided her between them and to the edge of the channel.

Then, wading along the slippery bank, I brought her to the skiff.

My passenger had been making remarks in transit, but I paid no attention to them.

I made the rope fast for towing, took my oar from the dingy, pulled up the skiff's anchor and climbed aboard.

"Sit where you are," I said to Victor."Miss Colton, please keep as still as possible."I ventured to look at her as I said this, but I looked but once.

All the way home I kept my gaze fixed on the bottom boards of the skiff.

I made the landing just in time.In fact, the squall struck before I was abreast the Colton place.The channel beyond the flat, which we had so lately left, was whipped to whitecaps in a moment and miniature breakers were beating against the mud bank where the dingy had grounded.

Under the high bluff it was calm enough.The tide was too low to make use of the little wharf, so I beached the skiff and drew the towed boat in by the line.I offered to assist Miss Colton ashore, but she, apparently, did not see my proffered hand.Victor scrambled out by himself.No one said anything.I untied the rope and pulled it in.Then I prepared to push off.

"Here!" growled Victor."Wait a minute."I looked up.He was standing at the edge of the water, with one hand in his pocket.Miss Colton was behind him.

"Well?" I asked.

"I haven't paid you yet," he said, sullenly."How much?""What do you mean?" I asked.I knew, of course, but it pleased me to make him say it.

"Why, how much for towing us in? What's your price? Come, hurry up.""I haven't any price.I'm not in the salvage business.""Not-- Say, don't bargain.What's your price, I ask you?""Nothing, of course.Very glad to have been of assistance."I took up my oars.

"Here!" he shouted."Stop! hold on! Confound you! do you suppose we don't intend to pay you for this?"I shook my head."It has been a pleasure," I said, sweetly."Good day."I rowed off, but all the way down to my boathouse I smiled contentedly.I had seen the look on Mabel Colton's face.I rather thought I had evened the account between us; at least I had reduced the balance a trifle.This time it was not I who appeared ridiculous.

Dorinda saw me when I entered the kitchen.Her hands were upraised.

"My soul and body!" she exclaimed."LOOK at them pants! LOOK at 'em! And I ain't had time to put a needle to your other ones yet!"