Ilefther，wenttothecuddyanddraggedoutthesmallcanvastarpaulinwhichIusedtocovertheengineatnight。Withthis，acodline，theboathook，andmyoneoarIimprovisedasortofjuryrigwhichItiederectattheforwardendofthecockpit。ThenI
　　wentaftandtookthewheelagain。Thetarpaulinmadeapoorapologyforasail，butIhopeditmightanswerthepurposewellenoughtokeeptheComfortbeforethewind。
　　Itdid。Tackingwas，ofcourse，outofthequestion，butwiththegaleasternthelaunchansweredherhelmandslidoverthewavesinsteadofrollingbetweenthem。Isighedinrelief。ThenI
　　rememberedmypassengersittingsilentbesideme。Shedidnotdeserveconsideration，butIvouchsafedawordofencouragement。
　　"Don’tbefrightened，"Isaid。"Itisonlyastiffbreezeandthisboatisseaworthy。Weareallrightnow。"
　　"Butwhydidyoutakeuptheanchor？"
　　BywayofanswerIpointedaftoverthestern。Inthedarknessthefrothoftheshoalgleamedwhite。Ifelthershudderasshelooked。
　　"Wherearewegoingnow——please？"sheasked，amomentlater。
　　"WeareheadedfortheWellmouthshore。Itistheonlydirectionwecantake。Ifthiswindholdsweshalllandinafewhours。Itisalldeepwaternow。Therearenomoreshoals。"
　　"But，"anxiously，"canwelandwhenwereachthere？Isn’titabadcoast？"
　　"Notvery。IfwecanmakeMackerelIslandwemaybeabletogetashoreatthelightoranchorintheleeoftheland。Itisallright，MissColton。Iamtellingyouthetruth。Strangeasitmayseemtoyou，Ireallyam。"
　　Icouldnothelpaddingthelastbitofsarcasm。Sheunderstood。
　　Shedrewawayonthebenchandaskednomorequestions。
　　OndrovetheComfort。ThefirstfiercenessofthesquallhadpassedanditwasnowmerelywhatIhadcalledit，astiffbreeze。
　　Outhereinthemiddleofthebaythewaveswerehigherandweshippedsomesprayoverthequarter。Theairwassharpandthechillpenetratedevenmythickjacket。
　　"Youmustbecold，"Isaid。"Aren’tyou？"
　　"No。"
　　"Butyoumustbe。Takethewheelamoment。"
　　"Iamnotcold。"
　　"Takethewheel。"
　　Shetookit。Igropedaboutinthecuddyagain，gotoutmystormcoat，anoldpeajacketwhichIworeongunningexpeditions，andbroughtittoher。
　　"Slipthison，"Isaid。
　　"Idonotcareforit。"
　　"Putiton。"
　　"Mr。Paine，"haughtily，"Itellyou……oh！"
　　Ihadwrappedthecoatabouthershouldersandfastenedtheupperbutton。
　　"Nowsitdownonthedeckhere，"Iordered。"Here，bymyfeet。
　　Youwillbebelowtherailthereandoutofthewind。"
　　Tomysurprisesheobeyedorders，thistimewithoutevenaprotest。
　　Ismiledgrimly。Toseeherobeysuitedmyhumor。Itservedherright。IenjoyedorderingheraboutasifIweremateofanold—
　　timeclipperandsheaforemasthand。Shehadinsultedmeoncetoooftenandsheshouldpayforit。Outheresocialpositionandwealthandfamilypridecountedfornothing。HereIwasabsolutemasterofthesituationandsheknewit。Allherlifeshewouldrememberit，thehumiliationofbeingabsolutelydependentuponmeforlifeandsafetyandwarmth。Ilookeddownathercrouchingatmyfeet，andthenawayovertheblackwater。TheComfortclimbedwaveafterwave。
　　"Mr。Paine。"
　　ThetonewasverylowbutIheardit。
　　Icameoutofmywakingdream——itwasnotapleasantone——andanswered。
　　"Yes？"Isaid。
　　"Wherearewe？"
　　"Wearemakingfairprogress，everythingconsidered。Areyouwarmernow？"
　　"Yes——thankyou。"
　　Shesaidnomore，nordidI。Exceptforthesplashofthesprayandtheflappingofthelooseendsofthetarpaulin，itwasquietaboardtheComfort。Quiet，exceptforanoddsoundintheshadowbymyknee。Istoopedandlistened。
　　"MissColton，"Isaid，quickly。"Whatisit？"
　　Noanswer。YetIheardthesoundagain。
　　"Whatisit，MissColton？"Irepeated。"Whatisthematter？Whyareyoucrying？"
　　"I——IamNOTcrying，"indignantly。Andontheveryheelsofthedenialcameastifledsob。
　　Thatsobwenttomyheart。Agreatlumproseinmyownthroat。Mybrainseemedtobeturningtopsy—turvy。Amomentbeforeithadbeenfilledwithbitternessandresentmentandvengefulthoughts。
　　Nowthesehadvanishedandintheirplacecamecrowdingotherandvastlydifferentfeelings。Shewascrying，sobbingtherealoneinthedarkatmyfeet。AndIhadtreatedherlikeabrute！
　　"MissColton，"Ipleaded，inanagonyofrepentance，"whatisit？
　　IsthereanythingIcando？Areyoustillcold？Takethisothercoat，theoneIhaveon。Idon’tneedit，really。Iamquitewarm。"
　　"Iamnotcold。"
　　"But——"
　　"Oh，pleasedon’tspeaktome！PLEASE！"
　　Iclosedmylipstightlyandclutchedthewheelwithbothhands。
　　Oh，Ihadbeenabrute，abrute！Ishouldhaveknownthatshewasnotherself，thatshewasfrightenedandnervousanddistraught。I
　　shouldhavebeenconsiderateandforbearing。Ishouldhaverememberedthatshewasonlyagirl，hystericalandweak。InsteadIhad——
　　"MissColton，"Ibegged，"pleasedon’t。Please！"
　　Noanswer；onlyanothersob。Itriedagain。
　　"Ihavebeenacad，"Icried。"Ihavetreatedyouabominably。I
　　don’texpectyoutoforgiveme，but——"
　　"I——Iamsofrightened！"Theconfessionwasasoliloquy，Ithink；
　　notaddressedtomeatall。ButIhearditandforgoteverythingelse。Iletgoofthewheelaltogetherandbentoverher，bothhandsoutstretched，to——theLordknowswhat。Iwasnotresponsiblejustthen。
　　ButwhileIstillhesitated，whilemyhandswerestillintheairaboveher，beforetheytouchedher，Iwasbroughtbacktosanitywitharudeshock。Abarrelorsoofcoldwatercamepouringovertherailanddrenchedusboth。Thelaunch，beingleftwithoutahelmsman，hadswungintothetroughoftheseaandthiswastheresult。
　　Iamnotreallysurewhathappenedinthenextfewseconds。I
　　must，Iimagine，haveseizedthewheelwithonehandandmypassengerwiththeother。Atanyrate，whenthesmoke，sotospeak，hadcleared，theComfortwasheadedonheroldcourseoncemore，Iwasbackonthebenchbythewheel，MabelColton’sheadwasonmyshoulder，andIwastellingheroverandoverthatitwasallrightnow，therewasnodanger，wewereperfectlysafe，andvariousinanitiesofthatsort。
　　Shewasbreathingquickly，butshesobbednomore。Iwasgladofthat。
　　"Youaresureyouarenothurt？"Iasked，anxiously。
　　"Yes——yes，Ithinkso，"sheanswered，faintly。"Whatwasit？I——I
　　thoughtweweresinking。"
　　"SodidIforamoment。Itwasallmyfault，asusual。Iletgothewheel。"
　　"Didyou？Why？"
　　"Idon’tknowwhy。"Thiswasuntrue；Idid。"Butyouarewetthrough，"Iadded，remorsefully。"AndIhaven’tanotherdrywrapaboard。"
　　"Nevermind。YouareaswetasIam。"
　　"Yes，but_I_don’tmind。Iamusedtoit。Butyou——"
　　"Iamallright。Iwasalittlefaint，atfirst，Ithink，butIambetternow。"Sheraisedherheadandsatup。"Wherearewe？"sheasked。
　　"WearewithinafewmilesoftheWellmouthshore。ThatlightaheadistheMackerelIslandlight。Weshallbethereinalittlewhile。Thedangerisalmostover。"
　　Sheshivered。
　　"Youarecold！"Icried。"Ofcourseyouare！IfIonlyhadanothercoatorsomething。Itisallmyfault。"
　　"Don’tsaythat，"reproachfully。"WhereshouldIhavebeenifithadnotbeenforyou？Iwaspaddlingdirectlyouttowardthosedreadfulshoals。Thenyoucame，justasyouhavedonebefore，andsavedme。And，"inawonderingwhisper，"Iknewitwasyou！"
　　Ididnotaskherwhatshemeant；Iseemedtounderstandperfectly。
　　"Yes，"Isaid。
　　"ButItellyouIknewitwasyou，"sherepeated。"Ididnotknow——
　　Ididnotsuspectuntilthemomentbeforethecollision，beforethelaunchcameinsight——then，allatonce，Iknew。"
　　"Yes。ThatwaswhenIknew。"
　　Sheturnedandgazedatme。
　　"YOUknew？"shegasped，hysterically。"Why——whatdoyoumean？"
　　"Ican’texplainit。JustbeforeyourcanoebrokethroughthefogIknew，thatisall。"
　　Itwasunexplainable，butitwastrue。Callittelepathyorwhatyouwill——Idonotknowwhatitwas——Iamcertainonlythat，althoughIhadnotrecognizedhervoice，Ihadsuddenlyknownwhoitwasthatwouldcometomeoutofthefog。Andshe，too，hadknown！Ifeltagain，withanalmostsuperstitiousthrill，thatfeelingofhelplessnesswhichhadcomeovermethatdayofthefishingexcursionwhensherodethroughthebushestomyside。ItwasasifsheandIwerepuppetsinthehandsofsomePowerwhichwasamusingitselfatourexpenseandwouldhaveitsway，nomatterhowwemightfightagainstit。
　　Shespokeasifshewerestrugglingtoawakenfromadream。
　　"Butitcan’tbe，"sheprotested。"Itisimpossible。WhyshouldyouandI——"
　　"Idon’tknow……Unless——"
　　"Unlesswhat？"
　　Iclosedmylipsonthewordsthatwereonthetipofmytongue。
　　Thatreasonwasmoreimpossiblethanallelse。
　　"Nothing，"Istammered。
　　Shedidnotrepeatherquestion。Isawherface，adaintysilhouetteagainstthefoamalongside，turnedawayfromme。I
　　gazedatituntilIdaredgazenolonger。WasIlosingmysensesaltogether？I——RosPaine——themanwhoseverynamewasnothisown？
　　Imustnotthinksuchthoughts。IscarcelydaredtrustmyselftospeakandyetIknewthatImust。Thissilencewastoodangerous。
　　Itookrefugeinacommonplace。
　　"Wearegettingintosmootherwater，"Isaid。"Itisnotasroughasitwas，doyouthink？"
　　Ifsheheardtheremarksheignoredit。Shedidnotturntolookatme。Afteramomentshesaid，inalowvoice：
　　"Ican’tunderstand。"
　　Isupposedhertobestillthinkingofourmeetinginthefog。
　　"Icannotunderstandmyself，"Ianswered。"Ipresumeitwasacoincidence，likeourmeetingatthepond。"
　　Sheshookherhead。"Ididnotmeanthat，"shesaid。"ImeanthatIcannotunderstandhowyoucanbesokindtome。AfterwhatI
　　said，andthewayIhavetreatedyou；itiswonderful！"
　　IwasobligedtowaitanothermomentbeforeIcouldreply。I
　　clutchedthewheeltighterthanever。
　　"Thewonderfulpartofitall，"Isaid，earnestly，"isthatyoushouldevenspeaktome，aftermytreatmentofyouhere，to—night。
　　Iwasabrute。Iorderedyouaboutasif——"
　　"Hush！Don’t！pleasedon’t。ThinkofwhatIsaidtoyou！Willyouforgiveme？Ihavebeensoungrateful。YousavedmylifeoverandoveragainandI——I——"
　　"Stop！Don’tdothat！IfyoudoIshall——MissColton，please——"
　　Shechokedbackthesob。"Tellme，"shesaid，amomentlater，thistimelookingmedirectlyintheface，"whydidyousellmyfatherthatland？"
　　Itwasmyturntoavoidherlook。Ididnotanswer。
　　"Iknowitwasnotbecauseofthemoney——theprice，Imean。Fathertoldmethatyourefusedthefivethousandheofferedandwouldacceptonlyapartofit；thirty—fivehundred，Ithinkhesaid。I
　　shouldhaveknownthatthepricehadnothingtodowithit，evenifhehadnottoldme。Butwhydidyousellit？"
　　IwouldhavegivenallIhad，oreverexpectedtohave，inthisworld，totellherthetruth。ForthemomentIalmosthatedGeorgeTaylor。
　　"Oh，IthoughtImightaswell，giveinthenaslater，"Ianswered，withashrug。"Itwasnousefightingtheinevitable。"
　　"Thatwasnotit。Iknowitwasnot。Ifithadbeenyouwouldhavetakenthefivethousand。AndIknow，too，thatyoumeantwhatyousaidwhenyoutoldmeyouneverwouldsell。Ihaveknownitallthetime。Iknowyouweretellingmethetruth。"
　　Iwasastonished。"Youdo？"Icried。"Why，yousaid——"
　　"Don’t！IknowwhatIsaid，andIamsoashamed。Ididnotmeanit，really。Foramoment，thereinthelibrary，whenFatherfirsttoldme，Ithoughtperhapsyou——butIdidnotreallythinkit。Andwhenhetoldmetheprice，IKNEW。Won’tyoutellmewhyyousold？"
　　"Ican’t。IwishIcould。"
　　"IbelieveIcanguess。"
　　Istarted。"YoucanGUESS？"Irepeated。
　　"Yes。Ithinkyouwantedthemoneyforsomepurpose，someneedwhichyouhadnotforeseen。AndIdonotbelieveitwasforyourselfatall。Ithinkitwasforsomeoneelse。Wasn’tthatit？"
　　Icouldnotreply。Itriedto，triedtoutterapromptdenial，butthewordswouldnotcome。Her"guess"wassoclosetothetruththatIcouldonlystammerandhesitate。
　　"Itwas，"shesaid。"Ithoughtso。Foryourmother，wasn’tit？"
　　"No，no。MissColton，youarewrong。I——"
　　"Iamnotwrong。Nevermind。Isupposeitisasecret。PerhapsI
　　shallfindoutsomeday。Butwillyouforgivemeforbeingsohateful？Canyou？Whatisthematter？"
　　"Nothing——nothing。I——youaretoogoodtome，thatisall。I
　　don’tdeserveit。"
　　"Hush！Andwewillbefriendsagain？"
　　"Yes……Oh，no！no！Imustnotthinkofit。Itisimpossible。"
　　"Mustnotthinkofit？WhenIaskyouto？Can’tyouforgiveme，afterall？"
　　"Therewasnothingtoforgive。"
　　"Yes，therewas，agreatdeal。Istheresomethingelse？AreyoustillangrywithmebecauseofwhatIsaidthatafternoonatthegate？"
　　"No，ofcoursenot。"
　　"Itwashatefulofme，Iknow。ButIcouldseethatyouwishedtoavoidmeandIwasprovoked。Besides，youhavepunishedmeforthat。Youhavesnubbedmetwicesince，sir。"
　　"_I_snubbedYOU？"
　　"Yes——twice。Oncewhenwemetinthestreet。Youdeliberatelyturnedawayandwouldnotlookatme。AndoncewhenIpassedyouinthecanoe。Yousawme——Iknowyoudid——butyoucutmedead。
　　ThatiswhyIdidnotreturnyourbowto—day，atthewedding。"
　　"Butyouhadsaid——Ithought——"
　　"Iknow。Ihadsaidhorridthings。Ideservedtobesnubbed。
　　There！nowIhaveconfessed。Mayn’twebefriends？"
　　"I……Oh，no，wemustnot，foryoursake。I——"
　　"Formysake！ButIwishit。Whynot？"
　　Iturnedonher。"Can’tyousee？"Isaid，despairingly。"Lookatthedifferencebetweenus！YouarewhatyouareandI——"
　　Sheinterruptedme。"Oh，"shecried，impatiently，"howdareyouspeakso？Howdareyoubelievethatmoneyand——alltherestofitinfluencesmeinmyfriendships？DoyouthinkIcareforthat？"
　　"Ididnotmeanmoneyalone。ButeventhatMissColton，thateveningwhenwereturnedfromthetripafterweakfish，youandyourfatherandI，Iheard——IdidnotmeantohearbutIdid——whatyourmothersaidwhenshemetyou。Shesaidshehadwarnedyouagainsttrustingyourselfto’thatcommonfellow，’meaningme。Thatshowswhatshethinks。Shewasright；inawayshewasperfectlyright。
　　NowyouseewhatImeanbysayingthatfriendshipbetweenusisimpossible？"
　　Ihadspokenatwhiteheat。NowIturnedaway。Itwassettled。
　　Shemustunderstandnow。
　　"Mr。Paine。"
　　"Yes，MissColton。"
　　"Iamsorryyouheardthat。Mother——sheismymotherandIloveher——butshesaysfoolishthingssometimes。Iamsorryyouheardthat，butsinceyoudid，Iwishyouhadheardtherest。"
　　"Therest？"
　　"Yes。IansweredherbysuggestingthatshehadnotbeenafraidtotrustmeinthecareofVictor——Mr。Carver。SheansweredthatshehopedIdidnotmeantocompareMr。Carverwithyou。AndIsaid——"
　　"Yes？Yousaid——？"
　　"Isaid，"thetonewaslowbutIheardeverysyllable，"Isaidshewasright，therewasnocomparison。"
　　"YousaidTHAT！"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Yousaidit！Andyoumeant——？"
　　"Imeant——IthinkImeantthatIshouldnotbeafraidtotrustyoualways——anywhere。"
　　Whereweremygoodresolutions——mysternreasonstorememberwhoandwhatIwas——tobesane，nomatteratwhatcosttomyself？Idonotknowwheretheywere；thenIdidnotcare。Iseizedherhand。
　　Ittrembled，butshedidnotdrawitaway。
　　"Mabel——"Icried。"Mabel——"
　　"BUMP！"
　　TheComfortshookasthebowofadoryscrapedalongherstarboardquarter。Abigredhandclaspedtherailanditsmatebrandishedagood—sizedclubbeforemyeyes。
　　"Now，"saidadeterminedvoice，"I’vegotyeatlast！ThistimeI’vecaughtyedeadtorights！Now，bygodfreys，you’llpaymeforthemlobsters！"
　　CHAPTERXIX
　　IfIhadbeengivingundividedattentiontomycombineddutiesassteersmanandpilot，insteadofneglectingthemforotherandmoreengrossingmatters，Ishould，doubtless，haveseenthedorybefore。
　　AsitwasIhadnotseenitatall，norheardtheoars。IthadsneakedupontheComfortoutofthedarknessanditsoccupanthadlaidusaboardasneatlyasyouplease。
　　Iwas，tosaytheleast，startledandsurprised。Idodgedthethreateningclubandturnedadazedfacetowardthepersonbrandishingit。Heappearedtobeamiddle—sized，elderlyperson，inoilskinsandsouwester，andwhenhespokeagraywhiskerwaggedabovethechinstrapofthesouwester。
　　"Whoinblazesareyou？"Idemanded，assoonasIcouldgetthewordstogether。
　　"Neveryoumindthat。YouknowwhoIbeallrightenough。Beyougoin’topaymeforthemlobsters？That’swhat_I_wanttoknow。"
　　"Whatlobsters？"
　　"Themlobstersyou’vebeenstealin’outofmypotsforthelastfortnight。"
　　"_I_havebeenstealing？"
　　"Yes，you。Ibeenlayin’foryouallnightlong。Idon’tknowwhoyoube，butyou’llpayforthemlobstersorcomealongwithmetothelock—up，oneort’other。"
　　Ilookedabout，overthewater。ThelighttowardwhichIhadbeentryingtosteerblazeddeadahead，surprisinglynearandbright。
　　Exceptforthat，however，therewasnosignofanythingexceptdarknessandwaves。
　　"Lookhere，myman，"Isaid。"Ihaven’tstolenyourlobsters；but——"
　　"Iknowbetter。Idon’tknowwhoyoube，butI’dknowyouwasathiefifIrunacrostyouinprayer—meetin’。Justtolookatyouisenough。"
　　Iheardahystericalgigglefromthebenchbesideme。Evidentlythepersonwiththeclubheardit，too，forheleanedforwardtolook。
　　"Sothere’stwoofye，eh！"hesaid。"Well，bygodfreys，Idon’tcareifthere’samillion！You’llpayforthemlobstersorgotothelock—up。"
　　Ilaughedaloud。"Verywell，"Isaid。"Iamagreeable。"
　　"You’reagreeable！Whatdoyoumeanbythat？Thisain’tnolaughin’matter，I’lltellyouthat。"
　　Ilaughedagain。"Idon’tcarewhatyoutellme，"Iobserved。
　　"Andifyouwilltakeussomewhereashore——tothelock—uporanywhereelse——Ishallbemuchobliged。"
　　Theoccupantofthedoryseemedtobepuzzled。Heleanedforwardoncemore。
　　"Whatsortoftalkisthat？"hedemanded。"Where’smylobsters？……
　　Hey！What？Iswantoman，Ibelieveoneofye’sawoman！
　　Havethefemalesturnedthieves，too？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Seehere，myfriend，mynameisPaine，andI’mtheonlylobsteraboardthiscraft。ThisladyandIbelonginDenboro。
　　Mylaunchhasrunoutofgasoleneandwehavebeendriftingaboutthebaysincefiveo’clock。Now，forheaven’ssake，don’ttalkanymore，buttakeustothelock—upandbequickaboutit。"
　　Theunknownpaidnoattentiontomyentreaty。InsteadheleanedstillfurtherovertheComfort’srail。ThedorycareeneduntilI
　　expectedtoseehercapsize。
　　"Iswantoman！"hemuttered。"Iswantoman！’Tain’tpossibleI’mmistook！"
　　"Itscarcelyseemspossible，Iadmit。ButI’mafraiditistrue。"
　　Iheardtheclubfallwithaclatter。
　　"My——godfreys！Doyoumeantosay——？FromDenboro？Outofgasolene！Why——why，you’vegotsailup！"
　　"Nothingbutatarpaulinonanoar。"
　　"Andyou’vebeencruisin’allnight？Throughthefog——thesquall——
　　andall？"
　　"Yes，"wearily，"yes——yes——yes。"
　　"But——butain’tyoudrownded？"
　　"Notquite。Ifyoudon’tletgoofthatrailweshallbesoon。"
　　"Driftin’allnight！Ain’tyouwetthrough？"
　　"Yes。MightIsuggestthatwepostponetherestofthecatechismuntilwereach——thelock—up？"
　　Thissuggestionapparentlywasaccepted。Ourcaptorsuddenlybecameverymuchalive。
　　"Givemealine，"heordered。"Anchorrope’lldo。Whereisit？
　　upfor’ard？"
　　Hepawedthedoryalong，handoverhand，untilhereachedtheComfort’sbow。Iheardthethumpoftheanchorashedraggeditintothedory。Thencamethecreakandsplashofoars。Hisvoicesoundedfromsomewhereahead。
　　"Headforthelight，"heshouted。"I’mgoin’totowyouin。"
　　"Inwhere？"
　　"Inashore。That’sMack’relIslandlight。Myname’sAtwood。I’mkeeperofit。"
　　Iturnedtomypassenger。
　　"Itlooks，"Isaid，"asifourvoyagewasalmostover。"
　　Anditwas。Mr。Atwoodhadatoughjobonhishands，towingthelaunch。Butthemake—shiftsailhelpedsomeandIdidmybesttosteerinhiswake。MissColtonandIhadnoopportunitytotalk。
　　Thegentlemaninthedorykeptuparunningfireofremarks，shoutedbetweengrunts，andembroideredwithcheerfulprofanity。
　　Wecaughtfragmentsofthemonologue。
　　"Iswantoman——ugh——Ithoughtyewasthieves，forsartin。Someeverlastin’，dam——ugh——havebeensneakin’outnightsandhaulin’mylobsterpots。Ugh——ifI’dcaught’emIwascal’latin’to——ugh——
　　breaktheir——ugh——ugh——Thisdorypullslikeacoalbarge——I——
　　Wetthrough，ain’tye？Andfroze，Ical’late——Ugh——andhungry，too——Ugh——ugh——Myoldwoman’stendin’light。She——ugh——Herewebe！Easynow！"
　　Alowshoreloomedblackacrossourbows。Aboveitthelighthouserose，awhitechalkmarkagainsttheskywitharedglareatitsupperend。Mr。Atwoodsprangoverboardwithasplash。Thelaunchwasdrawninattheendofitsanchorropeuntilitskeelgratedonthesand。
　　"Nowthen！"saidourrescuer。"Herewebe！Madeharboratlast，thoughIdidthinkI’dcrackmybacktimbersaforewedoneit。
　　I’lltotetheladyashore。Youcanwade，can’tye？"
　　IcouldandIwasverygladoftheopportunity。IturnedtotakeMissColtoninmyarms，butsheavoidedme。
　　"HereIam，Mr。Atwood，"shesaid。"Oh，thankyou。"
　　Shewasswungintotheairandmovedshorewardtotheaccompanimentofmightysplashings。
　　"Don’tbescart，ma’am，"saidMr。Atwood。"Ishan’tletyedrop。
　　Lordsakes！I’vetotedmorewomeninmytimethanyoucanshakeastickat。There’smoreda——thatis，there’smoresummerfolkstrytolandonthisislandatlowtidethanthereismoskeetersandthere’smoreofthemthanthere’sfiddlesin——Hi！comeon，you，Mr。What’s—your—name！Straightasyougo。"
　　IcameonwadingthrougheelgrassandwateruntilIreachedasandybeach。Amomentlaterwestoodbeforeawhitedoorinaverywhitelittlehouse。Mr。Atwoodopenedthedoor，revealingacosylittlesittingroomandagray—haired，plump，pleasant—facedwomansittinginarockingchairbesideatablewithalampuponit。
　　"Hello，Betsy！"bellowedourrescuer，stampinghiswetrubberbootsonthebraidedmat。"Gotcompanycometosupper——orbreakfast，orwhateveryouwanttocallit。ThisisMr。PainefromDenboro。
　　Thisishiswife，Mrs。Paine。They’vebeencruisin’allthewayfromCapeCodtoKamchatkyinamotorboatwithnopowertoit。
　　Don’tthatbeattheOldScratch，hey？"
　　Theplumpwomanrose，withoutatraceofsurprise，asifhavingcompanydropinatthreeo’clockinthemorningwasnothingoutoftheordinary，andcameovertous，beamingwithsmiles。
　　"I’mrealgladtoseeyou，Mrs。Paine，"sheexclaimed。"Andyourhusband，too。Youmustbefrozetodeath！SetrightdownwhileI
　　fixuparoomforyouandhuntupsomedrythingsforyoutoputon。Iwon’tbebutaminute。"
　　BeforeIcouldofferexplanations，ordomorethanstammerthanks，andratherincoherentonesatthat，shehadbustledoutoftheroom。IcaughtoneglimpseofMabelColton’sface；itwascrimsonfromnecktobrow。"Mrs。Paine！""Yourhusband！"IwasgratefultothedoughtyMr。Atwood，butjustthenIshouldhaveenjoyedchokinghim。
　　Thelightkeeper，quiteunawarethathisunfortunatemisapprehensionoftherelationshipbetweenhisguestsmightbeembarrassing，wasdoinghisbesttomakeusfeelathome。