heard that, but since
you did, I wish you had heard the rest."

"The rest?"

"Yes. I answered her by suggesting that she had not been afraid to trust
me in the care of Victor--Mr. Carver. She answered that she hoped I did
not mean to compare Mr. Carver with you. And I said--"

"Yes? You said--?"

"I said," the tone was low but I heard every syllable, "I said she was
right, there was no comparison."

"You said THAT!"

"Yes."

"You said it! And you meant--?"

"I meant--I think I meant that I should not be afraid to trust you
always--anywhere."

Where were my good resolutions--my stern reasons to remember who and
what I was--to be sane, no matter at what cost to myself? I do not know
where they were; then I did not care. I seized her hand. It trembled,
but she did not draw it away.

"Mabel--" I cried. "Mabel--"

"BUMP!"

The Comfort shook as the bow of a dory scraped along her starboard
quarter. A big red hand clasped the rail and its mate brandished a
good-sized club before my eyes.

"Now," said a determined voice, "I've got ye at last! This time I've
caught ye dead to rights! Now, by godfreys, you'll pay me for them
lobsters!"

CHAPTER XIX

If I had been giving undivided attention to my combined duties as
steersman and pilot, instead of neglecting them for other and more
engrossing matters, I should, doubtless, have seen the dory before. As
it was I had not seen it at all, nor heard the oars. It had sneaked up
on the Comfort out of the darkness and its occupant had laid us aboard
as neatly as you please.

I was, to say the least, startled and surprised. I dodged the
threatening club and turned a dazed face toward the person brandishing
it. He appeared to be a middle-sized, elderly person, in oilskins and
souwester, and when he spoke a gray whisker wagged above the chin strap
of the souwester.

"Who in blazes are you?" I demanded, as soon as I could get the words
together.

"Never you mind that. You know who I be all right enough. Be you goin'
to pay me for them lobsters? That's what _I_ want to know."

"What lobsters?"

"Them lobsters you've been stealin' out of my pots for the last
fortnight."

"_I_ have been stealing?"

"Yes, you. I been layin' for you all night long. I don't know who
you be, but you'll pay for them lobsters or come along with me to the
lock-up, one or t'other."

I looked about, over the water. The light toward which I had been trying
to steer blazed dead ahead