"Which is the emergency-kit?" he asked pleasantly. "I'm not running a freighter, ma'am."
"They've all got to go—every one!"
The man shook his head doubtfully.
"Swim?" he asked presently, looking Miss Chalmers evenly in the eye.
"Why, cer— Oh, how ridiculous! Will you or will you not take those trunks?"
"Oh, I'll take them—only maybe the boat won't. Anyhow, we'll make a stab," he said cheerfully, shouldering the nearest trunk.
The boat took them, but not without wabbles of warning and an ominous loss of freeboard. The boatman dumped them aboard with easy nonchalance, while Miss Chalmers shivered in solicitude. But she made no comment; she was in a hurry, and she did not purpose to descend to argument with a 'longshore person.
"Well, I guess we're ready," said the boatman as he gave the last trunk a final kick into place and reached a hand up for his passenger. Ignoring the hand, Miss Chalmers stepped swiftly aboard, unaided.
"Here, boy!" she called, tossing a quarter back upon the wharf.
The boy fell upon the coin and was off.