"Miss Standish. I do not ask pardon for the way I spoke to
you just now. And when you've heard why you won't blame me.
I want to tell you just what happened to me today from the
time I set foot on Roustabout Key. until I boarded this boat
of yours. When you realize that I thought your brother and
probably yourself were involved in it to the full you'll
understand, perhaps, why I didn't greet you with overmuch
cordiality. Will you listen?"

She nodded her head, wordless, not trusting her voice to speak
further. And she sank back into the seat she had quitted.
Brice seated himself on the thwart near her, and began to
speak, while the boat, its power still shut off bobbed lazily
on a lazier sea.

Tersely, yet omitting no detail except that of his talk with
Davy, he told of the afternoon's events. She heard, wide-eyed
and breathing fast. But she made no interruption, except when
he came to the episode of the moccasins she cried aloud in
horror, and caught unconsciously his lacerated hand between
her own warm palms.

The clasp of her fingers, unintentional as it was. sent a
strange thrill through the man, and, for an instant, he
wavered in his recital. But he forced himself to continue.
And after a few seconds the girl seemed to realize what she
was doing. For she withdrew her hands swiftly, and clasped
them together in her lap.

As he neared the end of his brief story she raised her hands