Swept Out to Sea / Or, Clint Webb Among the Whalers

Two Together-and Slee

rolling about the place, just before luncheon, when I saw Mr. Chester Downes' spare figure and his tall hat coming up

culated. "Ar

I was going out, Mr. Downes," I sai

g man-nothing,

here merely for the pleasure of lo

aid. "Last night I did not wish to make a disturbance while she was s

And she will continue to improve I hope. But w

I am a man, your uncle, and your mother's busine

nes. However, I believe I shall be able to hold my own with you, sir. At least, I shall try. And if this is to be your

ously. You cannot

have to take such extreme measures. I have a

atened last night, Clinton Webb," he

s flashing. "Paul tried to stab me. I'll have him arrested if he is in Bolderhead still

ut after thinking over the situation he believed that I could be browbeaten and my will set aside. He stared at me, with his dark, Indian-looking face r

ridiculous thing for you to do. I can write to your m

ou're not to come here," I interrupted. "Th

e he would not come back-not in that tall hat, anyway-for before luncheon was over it had begun to rain and rained hard. There was a sharp wind from the north

ain without provisions, and I purchased half a boat load of canned goods and the like, and a couple of cases of sprin

-raff of Bolderhead which, like most small seaports, boasted more than a sufficient quantity of wharf-rats. Mr. Downes had been wont to expatiate to my mother o

e trio was across the narrow street as I went along the docks-and I knew

nd his skiff to lighter my cargo across the inlet, and when the boy came down from the store with the barrow, Crab and I loaded the pr

Downes had of course given me an inflated opinion of myself; but I knew better than to overlook the possibili

for the ferry, and while I helped pull the skiff in the drizzle of rain that swept across the

ay in the cuddy before I let the boatman put me ashor

ed the landing, and kept boats for hire. "Remember, nobody's to go aboard of

. "And in this weather, and with the wind the way she is, anybod

enter the house. But I was worried about Paul and his henchmen. I couldn't rest in the house after dark. If they couldn't get a boat

dinner just as though company was to be present, and she trained me in the niceties of life, and in bits of etiquette, for which I have often, in later times, been very thankful. For although I found my amuse

evening. Nor did the unpleasant topic of the Downeses come to the fore. I am very, very glad to remember that my mother looke

jacket, too, in the back shed, and exchanged my cap for a sou'wester. Then I sallied forth through a pelting rain, wit

the servants saw me go. I left my home without any particular thought of th

together in my mind-and I wo