“No; but there were some very narrow escapes. But the most wonderful of all was that of Guy and a young girl my aunt had adopted. Every one had left the boat 181 but those two, and, of course, we had not the least idea that they could be saved, for the steamer went down before our boat reached the shore, but would you believe it, that young girl swam to shore and reached the island before Guy did.”
“She was a brave girl.”
“Indeed she was, but oh how odd she was,—that is she had a strange disposition. She used to look so angry sometimes that I almost felt afraid of her, and she could shoot like an old hunter.”
“That was quite remarkable.”
“Indeed it was. We often wondered where she learned it all, but we never dared question her for fear she would not like it. She grew terribly angry once when some one told her she looked like a gypsy, and really she did. She had the loveliest long, black hair that I ever saw, and beautiful black eyes, and how they would flash sometimes. But even if she was spunky, I did love her, and I would give almost anything to see her again. She left my aunt about as mysteriously as she came to her. They looked the city over and advertised in every paper, but they could not find her, and they thought the world of her too. Every one praised her bravery and I used to tell Guy it would not terminate like a novel unless he married her.”
Scott stepped from the boat, and offering his hand to Carrie assisted her to the steps that led up the bank, then turning, extended the same civility to the lady in the boat, but she bowed, and without a word floated out on the water, before Scott had scarce time to tender his thanks.
“Well, that is strange,” he said; “she is so very obliging, and yet she will hardly condescend to notice one.”
“You deserve a good scolding,” said Carrie, as she looked down and saw Guy and June, who had just arrived, and were waiting for a landing place. “How did you think we would reach the island?”
“We saw you enter the boat,” said Guy, “and we knew you did not care to come with us.”