"No, father, I mean sunburned. Really, Mr. De Vaux's head is becoming quite crimson."
"Lord! ... Miss MacAllister! ... How good of you to notice that! ... Bless my soul! ... I never thought of it.... 'Pon my honour, I didn't! ... A man should put on his hat in a sun like this.... 'Pon my soul, he should!..."
He was still executing a sort of war-dance around the ladies and still holding his hat in his hand. Mr. MacAllister took him gently by the arm.
"My dear De Vaux," he said, "it has been exceedingly kind of you to come down to meet us as you have done, and to provide those sedan chairs, for I can see that it is you who have engaged them. With your permission, we'll go to our quarters now. The captain promised to see that our baggage was sent over at once. After tiffin, I am sure that you will be so good as to accompany me to call on the consul."
As the four chairs were borne off along the narrow road by the shore, McLeod said to Sinclair:
"MacAllister's a trump. He saved the situation. Old De Vaux was just ready to go up like a balloon, and—swear."
And Sinclair thought to himself as he turned away:
"Miss MacAllister has found another victim."
V
INTRODUCTIONS