“Yes, miss, and I hope you will ride down to see my mother, as you promised.”
“I certainly shall,” was the answer, as Mark walked on.
At his boat stood Silly Sam, who said:
“See here, Mister Mark, I hain’t no bullfrog to croak, but I seen a gang o’ fellers sail downstream an hour ago who hain’t no friends o’ your’n.”
“Thank you, Sam, but it’s catching before hanging, you know.” And with a light laugh Mark sprung into his skiff and sped away just as twilight fell.
He had to beat down the inlet, and as he stood over toward a point of land in the darkness, running on the port tack with the wind blowing fresh, his little craft suddenly gave a lurch and the next instant went over, throwing him into the water.
As he rose he heard the sound of oars, and in the darkness saw a large boat rowing toward him, while he heard voices say:
“That rope settled him, as you said it would.”
“Yes, and we laid it just right; but do you see his boat?”
“Yes, there she lies upset, and she’ll drive out to sea with him on her, so that ends him.”