Island, the island at the mouth of Wellmouth
harbor," I answered.

"And that bell?"

"That is the fog bell at Crow Point."

"At Crow Point? Why, it can't be! Crow Point is in Denboro Bay, and that
bell is a long way behind us."

"Yes. We are a mile or more outside the Point now. The tide has carried
us out."

"Carried us--Do you mean that we are out at sea?"

"Not at sea exactly. We are in Cape Cod Bay."

"But--why, we are still drifting, aren't we? I thought you had
anchored."

"I tried to, but I was too late. The water is too deep here for the
anchor to reach bottom."

"But--but what are you going to do?"

"Nothing at present. There is nothing I can do. Sit down, please."

"Nothing! Nothing! Do you mean that you propose to sit there and let us
be carried out to sea?"

"We shall not be carried far. There is no wind. When the tide turns we
shall probably be carried in again."

"But," sharply, "why don't you do something? Can't you row?"

"I have only one oar."

"But you must do something. You MUST. I--I--It is late! it is growing
dark! My people! What will they think?"

"I am sorry, Miss Colton."

"Sorry! You are not sorry! If you were you would do something, instead
of sitting there as--as if you enjoyed it. I believe you do enjoy it.
You are doing it purposely to--to--"

"To what, pray?"

"Never mind."

"But I do mind. You have accused me of lying, Miss Colton, and of
keeping you here purposely. What do you mean by it?"

"I mean that--that--Oh, you know what I mean! You hate me and you hate
my father, and you are trying to--to punish us for--for--"

I had heard enough. I did not propose to hear any more.

"Miss Colton," I interrupted, sternly, "stop! this is silly. I assure
you that I am as anxious to end this--excursion--of ours as you can be.
Your being afloat in Denboro Bay in a canoe was your own recklessness
and not my fault. Neither was it my fault that the launch collided with
your canoe. I called to you not to move, but to stay where you were.
And, moreover, if you had permitted me to anchor when I first attempted
to do so we should not be in this scrape. I shall get you out of it just
as quick as I can. In order that I may do so I shall expect you to stop
behaving like a child and do as I tell you. Sit down on that bench and
keep still."

This had the effect I meant it to. She looked at me as if she could not
believe she had heard aright. But I met her gaze squarely, and, with