clothes into the bottom of the once-tidy boat alone broke the
tense stillness of sky and bay. Then:

"You're safe? You're not harmed?" panted the girl.

And the words brought back with a rush to Gavin Brice all he
had been through.

"Yes," he made harsh answer trying to steady his rage-choked
voice. "I am safe. I am not harmed. Apart from a few
fire-blisters on my ankles and the charring of my clothes and
the barking of one knee against a bit of submerged coral and
the cutting of my fingers rather badly and a few more minor
mischances--I'm quite safe and none the worse for the Standish
family's charming hospitality. And, by the way, may I suggest
that it might have been better for your brother or the
gentle-hearted Mr. Hade to run across to the key to get news
of my fate, instead of sending a girl on such an errand? It's
no business of mine. of course. And I don't presume to
criticize two such noble heroes. But surely they ought not
have sent you. If their kindly plan had worked out according
to schedule. I should not have been a pretty sight for a
woman to look at. by this time. I--"

"I--I don't understand half of the things you're saying!" she
cried, shrinking from his taunting tone
as from a fist-blow. "They don't make any sense to me. But I
do see why you're so angry. And I don't blame you. It was
horrible! Horrible! It--"