ew something about
fancy tackle, and this outfit of the young man, she knew, never cost a
penny less than a hundred dollars.

"And this sloop, which is his property," she thought, "is another
expensive possession. I can see where his money goes--when he has any
to spend. He is absolutely improvident. Too bad."

She had to keep reminding herself, it seemed, of Lawford Tapp's most
glaring faults. Improvidence and a hopeless leaning toward
extravagance were certainly unforgivable blemishes in the character of
a young man in the position she believed Lawford held.

The sport of chumming for snappers, even if they hooked more of
sluggish fluke than of the gamier fish to tempt which the chopped bait
is devoted, was so exciting that Betty, sailing the sloop, overlooked a
pregnant cloud that streaked up from the horizon almost like a puff of
cannon smoke.

The squall was upon them so suddenly that Louise could not wind in her
line in good season. Lawford was quicker; but in getting his tackle
inboard he was slow to obey Betty's command:

"Let go that sheet! Want to swamp us, foolin' with that fancy fish
rod?"

"Aye, aye, skipper!" he sang out, laughing, and jumped to cast off the
line in question just as the sail bulged taut as a drumhead with the
striking squall.

There was a "lubber's loop" in the bight of the sheet and as the young
man loosed it his arm was caught in this trap. The boom swung
viciously outboard and Lawford went with it. He was snatched like some
inanimate object over the sloop's rail and, the next instant, plunged
beneath the surface of the suddenly foam-streaked sea.

CHAPTER XVI

A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS

Lawford came up as the sloop swept by on her new tack, his smile as
broad as ever. He blew loudly and then shouted:

"Going---too--fast--for--me! Whoa! Back up a little, ladies, and let
me climb aboard."

"Well, of all the crazy critters!" the "able seaman" declared. "Stand
by with that boathook, Miss Lou, and see if you can harpoon him."

Louise swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to laugh too. To
tell the truth, the accident to Lawford Tapp had frightened her
dreadfully at the moment it occurred.

Betty Gallup put over the wheel and the _Merry Andrew_, still under
propulsion of the bursting squall, flew about, almost on her heel.
Louise, who was shielding her eyes from the flying spray under the
sharp of her hand and watching the head and shoulders of Lawford as h