aiting for?" he demanded. "Aren't you going to help us?
We'll pay you for it."

I pulled the skiff a little closer and, drawing in my oars, turned and
picked up the slack of my anchor rope.

"Here," I said, brusquely; "catch this line and I'll tow you."

I tossed him the loop of rope and he caught it.

"What shall I do with it?" he asked.

"Hold it, just as it is, for the present. What became of your other
oar?"

"Lost it overboard."

"Why didn't you throw over your anchor and wait where you were?"

I think he had not thought of the anchor, but he did not deign to
explain. Instead he began pulling on the rope and the two boats drew
together.

"Don't do that," I said. "Wait."

I untied the rope, where it was made fast to the skiff's bow, and with
it and the anchor in my hands, scrambled aft and wedged the anchor under
the stern thwart of the little craft.

"Now," I said, "you can pull in the slack until you get to the end. Then
make it fast to your bow somewhere."

I suppose he did his best to follow instructions, but the rope was a
short one, the end jerked loose suddenly and he went backward in a heap.
I thought, for an instant, that he was going overboard and that mine
would be the mixed pleasure of fishing him out.

Miss Colton gave a little scream, which changed to a ripple of laughter.
I might have laughed, too, under different circumstances, but just now I
did not feel like it. Besides, the rope, having flown out of his hands,
was in the water again and the two boats were drifting apart.

"What did you do that for?" demanded the fallen one, scrambling to his
knees. I heard a sound from the dingy's stern as if the young lady was
trying to stifle her merriment. Victor, doubtless, heard it, too.

"Where are you going?" he sputtered, angrily. "Give me that rope."

I gave it to him, literally gave it, for I pulled alongside and put the
end in his hands.

"Tie it in the bow of your boat," I said. He did so. I drew in the slack
until a fair towing length remained and made it fast. While he was busy
I ventured to glance at Miss Colton. Her eyes were snapping with fun
and she seemed to be enjoying the situation. But, catching my look, her
expression changed. She turned away and looked indifferently out to sea.

I swung the skiff's bow around.

"Where do you want to go?" I asked.

Victor answered. "Back to Mr. Colton's landing," he said. "Get as much
of a move on as you can, will you? I'll make it w