The girl appeared to be surprised at Hughie, for she fingered the sculls in an uncertain manner while she gazed back at the small active figure poised on Messenger's graceful stern.
"You will stay there now," she said, with an emphasis on the last word. She spoke rather low, but there was a triumphant ring in the tone.
"Why?" asked Hughie, watching her, and rather attracted by her voice, because of the measured way of speaking.
"Because I shall not fetch you."
"How unkind!" said Hughie drily.
The girl in the dinghy did not quite like his tone. She expected a complete surrender and an anxious appeal. She thought she heard a very low chuckle, which was odd.
"You have no right to follow me," she said, playing with the oars; "it is very ill manners."
"What about you trespassing?" retorted Hughie. "I suppose you know I can give you in charge. You may have stolen any amount."
"How dare you!" this fiercely.
"Stealing off yachts is awfully common, you know," went on Hughie; "that's why people keep them locked. We don't lock up the Messenger, because Bell Bay people are honest--I mean they always have been up till now."