“Oh, my dear!” gasped Beth. “Is there a boat there?”
“Of course there is. Didn’t you see it dragging just astern? They forgot to hoist it in. I noticed it before dark. Say!” exclaimed the other, her strange eyes suddenly shining in the mist as she stared at Beth. “What did you think I was trying to do when I was hauling in on that painter?”
“I—I thought you wanted to drown yourself,” whispered the confused Beth.
“My aunt!” exclaimed the girl, and laughed shortly. “No. I’m not quite so desperate as all that.”
“But you might fall overboard getting into that boat,” said Beth.
“I can swim. But the current’s swift here in midstream,” and she shuddered. “Now you’ve knocked the courage all out of me. Oh, dear!”
“Why do you want to leave the boat in such a crazy fashion?” demanded Beth, regaining her self-possession.
“I’ve got to get away before the Water Wagtail stops at Marbury,” said the other, hastily.
“Why?” repeated Beth.
“Oh—because!”