in the water after a long swim.

I could not but admire the power of her swimming, despite the evident
fact that she was not at all speedy.

"But you have no right to risk your life out here, when you do not know
the coast," I retorted.

"What right have you to question my rights, sir?" she answered
haughtily. "Please go away."

"I spoke for your own good," I continued. "There may be currents in
the Bay that you know nothing of. Besides, the driftwood itself is
dangerous this morning."

She did not reply for a bit, but kept steadily on.

When I took up my position a few yards to the left and on a level with
her, she turned on me indignantly.

"Excuse me, Sir Impertinence,--but do you take me for a child or a
fool? Are you one of those inflated individuals who imagines that
masculine man is the only animal that can do anything?"

"Far from it," I answered, "but as it so happens I am slightly better
acquainted with the Bay than you are and I merely wished you to benefit
from my knowledge."

"I am obliged to you for your interest, Mr. Bremner. However, I know
my own capabilities in the water, just as you know yours. Now,--if you
do not desire to spoil what to me has been a pleasure so far, you will
leave me."

I fell back a few yards, feeling that it would have given me extreme
pleasure to have had the pulling of her ears. And, more out of
cussedness,--as Jake would put it,--than anything else, I kept plodding
along slowly, neither increasing nor diminishing the distance between
us.

She was well aware of my proximity, and, at last, when we were little
more than a hundred yards from the point of the rock at the farthest
out end of the wharf, she wheeled on me like the exasperated sea-nymph
she was.

"I told you the other day, Mr. Bremner, that you could not hide the
fact that you were a gentleman. If you do not wish me to regret having
said that,--you will go away. I am perfectly capable of looking after
myself."

That was the last straw for me. I could see that she was a splendid
swimmer and that she was likely to make the shore without mishap,
although I could also tell that she was tiring.

"All right!--I'll go," I shouted. "But please be sensible,--there was
a heavy drift of wood and seaweed last night. The seaweed always
gathers in at your side of the wharf, and it is treacherous. Come this
way and land ashore from my side."

"Thank you! Mr. Bremner," she called back quite pleasantly,