“Don't apologise,” I said, gaily, getting up. “You repent and withdraw, I forgive and forget.”
“I have admitted repentance but not withdrawal,” he said, angrily, “and I refuse your impertinent forgiveness.”
“Come along, professor,” I said. “Refuse and admit what you like till the crack of doom. I've got business on hand.”
He followed after dejectedly.
As we drew near, we saw Mrs. Mink, with Norah, standing on the high bank and looking seaward. She saw us, cried out, pointed, and waved her handkerchief. A small steam vessel was entering the bay. It was Captain Jansen and the crew looking for us and for the vagrant Violetta.
CHAPTER IX—CONCLUSION OF DR. ULSWATER'S FIRST MANUSCRIPT
THE Violetta was towed out into deep water. Captain Jansen used some badly broken English on the condition of his starboard rail. Not but that he had expected more damage than he found, but damaging a ship by chopping a tree down upon her, hurt him in a sensitive point of seamanship.
There seemed to be no leakage, for all that war-dance with the elements, and mad teetering on a windward shore. Still he preferred to pass the night in the bay—the weather being uncertain—and tow the Violetta on the morrow to St. Pierre for repairs.