"It is extraordinary," he said, "how mistaken you are concerning the actual sequence of events. Not that I doubt for a moment that you really suppose you discovered the dog. Probably you were a little excited——"
"I was perfectly cool. Possibly you were a trifle excited."
"Not in the least," he retorted with calm exasperation. "I never become agitated."
The puppy continued to shiver and drive its nose up under the girl's chin.
"Poor little thing! Poor little shipwrecked baby!" she crooned. And, to Gray: "I don't know why this puppy should be so cold. The water is warm enough."
"Put it in the hot sand," he said. "We can rub it dry."
She hesitated, flushing perhaps at her own suspicions; but nevertheless she said:
"You would not attempt to take it if I put it down, would you?"
"I don't intend to snatch it," he said with dignity. "Men don't snatch."
So they went inland a few paces where the sand [157]was hot and loose and deep; and there they knelt down and put the puppy on the sand.