"
The new-comer took no notice whatever. "Reef that sail, Jack," he
cried; "it will be in the lady's face by and by; and heave your bailer
in here; their boat is full of water."
"Not so full as it would if you hadn't brought up alongside," said the
old boatman.
"Do you want to frighten the lady?" replied the sailor, in his driest
and least courtier-like way.
"I am not frightened, Mr. Dodd," said Lucy. "I was, but I am not now."
"Come and help me get the water out of her, Jack. Stay! Miss Fountain
had better step into the dry boat, meantime. Now, Jack, look alive;
lash her longside aft."
This done, the two sailors, one standing on the lugger's gunwale, one
on the schooner's, handed Miss Fountain into the schooner, and gave
her the cushions of the lugger to sit upon. They then went to work
with a will, and bailed half a ton of water out.
When she was dry David jumped back into his own boat. "Now, Miss
Fountain, your boat is dry, but the sea is getting up, and I think, if
I were you, I would stay where you are."
"I mean to," said the lady, calmly. "Mr. Talboys, _would_ you
mind coming into this boat? We shall be safer here; it--it is larger."
The gentleman thus addressed was embarrassed between two
mortifications, one on each side him. If he came into David's boat he
would be second fiddle, he who had gone out of port first fiddle. If
he stuck to the lugger Lucy would go off with Dodd, and he would look
like a fool coming ashore without her.
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