more of the truth than Louise cared to have her or
anybody know. She shook her head negatively to the keen-eyed old
woman; nevertheless she went forward, found one of Lawford's
handkerchiefs and bound up his head. The cut did not seem very deep;
yet the shock of the blow he had suffered certainly had dulled the
young man's comprehension.

"Thank you--thank you," he muttered and laid his head down on his arms
again.

Betty rounded the end of the Neck where the lighthouse stood. One of
the lightkeepers was on the gallery just under the lamp chamber and had
been watching them through his glasses. He waved a congratulatory hand
as the _Merry Andrew_ shot along, under the "able seaman's" skillful
guidance.

"I'm goin' to put you ashore in the skiff right there by the store,
Miss Lou," Betty said.

"Shouldn't I get a doctor and send him over to the Point?"

"They've got a telephone there," Betty told her.

"I--I hope they'll take good care of him."

"They ought to," sniffed Betty. "I'll see to it he's all right, Miss
Lou, before I leave him."

"Thank you, Betty," returned the girl, too honest to make any further
attempt to deny her deep interest in the man.

When the sail rattled down and Louise tossed over the anchor, Lawford
roused a bit. "Sorry the trip turned out so rotten bad, Miss
Grayling," he mumbled. "I--I don't feel just right yet."

Louise patted his shoulder. "You poor boy!" she said tenderly. "Don't
mind about me. It's you we are worrying about. But I am sure you
cannot be seriously injured. Betty will take you directly over to the
Point and the folks there will get a doctor for you. Next time we'll
have a much nicer fishing trip, Mr. Tapp. Good-bye."

He muttered his adieu and watched her get into the skiff after Betty
and the baskets. The "able seaman" rowed quickly to the beach. The
sharp eyes of Mr. Bane noted their arrival, and he strode over to the
spot where the skiff came in, to help Louise out of the boat and bring
the baskets ashore.

"You need a handy man, I see," the actor observed. "What a fine catch
you have had--blackfish, snappers, and fluke, eh? I'll carry the
baskets up to your uncle's store for you. Fine old man, your uncle,
Miss Grayling. And what stories he can tell of his adventures--my
word!"

"Come over to-night and tell me how he is, betty, won't you?" the girl
whispered to the "able seaman" and the latter, nodding her
comprehension, pulled back to t