When Gale ran down the beach to her boat she could see his figure outlined in the doorway. She felt happy and pleased with herself as she started the motor and swung the boat about in the direction of the shore. But her elation was to be short lived.
When she climbed from the boat to the wharf a figure stepped from the shadows. Gale started.
“Bruce! How you frightened me!”
“Sorry. Where were you?” the boy asked.
“To see the mysterious pilot and to take him some supper,” she answered immediately, truthfully and brightly.
“Don’t you know you shouldn’t go all by yourself to see him?” the boy asked indignantly.
“Why not?” All Gale’s friendliness and joy vanished as though from a touch of icy wind.
“We don’t any of us know who he is——” Bruce began. “I don’t like it, Gale. What would your parents say? You should take someone else—one of the boys—with you. Hereafter——”
“Hereafter I’ll thank you to mind your own business, Bruce Latimer!” Gale said heatedly. “You can’t tell me what to do. I’ll go where I please and when I please! I don’t have to use your old motor boat, either!”
“Gee, Gale,” the boy said ruefully, “I didn’t mean——”