l have to see to it that you keep off this bay if you do any more such
mischief as you did this morning."

The young man in a handsome yachting suit worthy of an admiral in the
United States Navy frowned angrily at Madge and her champion.

"I say it wasn't my fault that I ran into your little paper boat," he
protested angrily. "I gave you plenty of time to get out of my way, but
you girls pulled so slowly that we did slide into you. Still, if you will
admit that it was your fault and not mine, I will have your old skiff
mended, if she isn't too much used up and you can get somebody to tow her
back to land for you. I can't; I have enough to carry as it is."

The girl standing beside the young man giggled hysterically. Madge
decided that she had heard her high, shrill notes before. Phyllis,
Lillian and Eleanor were furiously angry at the young man's retort to
Madge and Captain Jules, but they bit their lips and said nothing. They
were on his yacht, although they were enforced passengers; it was better
not to express their feelings.

But Madge was in a white heat of passion over the young man's boorish
retort.

"It was not our fault in the least that we were run down," she said in a
low, evenly pitched voice. "We are not willing to take the least bit of
the blame. You not only ran into our little boat and sunk her, but you
did not take the least trouble to come to our aid when you had not the
faintest knowledge whether any one of us could swim. _Men_ in the part of
the world where I come from don't do things of that kind. Put your boat
back and tow our rowboat to land," ordered Madge imperiously. "We
certainly will not allow you to have it mended. Neither my friends nor I
wish to accept any kind of recompense from a man who is a _coward_!"

The word was out. Madge had not meant to use it, but somehow it slipped
off her tongue.

"Steady," she heard the old sailor whisper in her ear. He was gazing at
her intently, and something in his face calmed the hot tide of her anger.
"I am sorry I said you were a coward," she added, with one of her quick
repentances. "I don't think you were very brave, but perhaps something
may have happened that prevented your coming to our aid."

"Mr. Dennis does not swim very well," the nicer of the two girls
explained, sitting down beside Madge. She was blushing and biting her
lips. "Mr. Dennis meant to put back as soon as he could. I am Ethel
Swann. I received a letter from Mrs. Curtis thi