She produced a little purse from her pocket, but before the embarrassed skipper could reply, his infuriated wife struck it out of her hand. The mate sprang instinctively forward, but too late, and the purse fell with a splash into the water. The girl gave a faint cry and clasped her hands.
"How am I to get back?" she gasped.
"I'll see to that, Lucy," said the mate. "I'm very sorry—I've been a brute."
"You?" said the indignant girl. "I would sooner drown myself than be beholden to you."
"I'm very sorry," repeated the mate, humbly.
"There's enough of this play-acting," interposed Mrs. Gibbs. "Get off this barge."
"You stay where you are," said the mate, authoritatively.
"Send that girl off this barge," screamed Mrs. Gibbs to her husband.
Captain Gibbs smiled in a silly fashion and scratched his head. "Where is she to go?" he asked feebly.
"Wh'at does it matter to you where she goes?" cried his wife, fiercely. "Send her off."