"Of doubloons and pieces of eight. I'm the pirate chief, and you are my captured bride." "Oh, goodness!" "Do you know, I made a remark something like that to Miss Yarnell the other day, and she took it quite seriously?" "Was she afraid of the pirate chief?" "She eyed me in that brooding, blazing way of hers--you remember how she looked when she tried to ride over us on the road the other day?" "Remember!" "Exactly. She eyed me in that fashion, then thanked me for the suggestion." "What did she mean?" "I haven't the least idea. Betty, what do you know about her?" The girl put her hand suddenly on his arm. "What was that? A drop of water? I do believe it's going to rain. And hear the surf! It's fairly roaring. It must be blowing hard. I wonder if the yacht is all right." The thought brought them to their feet, and out of their sheltered hollow. They found a changed world. While they ate, clouds had been gathering west and north, and now seemed to fill the whole space from bay to sky. A mile or two beyond the island, a white line advancing over the churning waters gave promise of a furious squall. Worst of all, the wind had risen until, even on their leeward side of the island, the swell was momentarily growing heavier. "By George!" said Fessenden. "It looks as if we were in for it. Betty, we'd better have a look at the _Wisp_. That rotten old wharf!" "I'll race you to it!" she cried. He overtook her in half a dozen strides, and throwing his arm about her shoulders, fairly swept her along with himself. She came no higher than his shoulders as she ran. Her eyes laughed up at him, and her shining hair brushed his lips. Aunty Landis was left hopelessly in the rear. At the old pier, the waves, running far in beneath the flooring, were breaking against the ancient piles, while the structure complained in every joint. The _Wisp_, tied stem and stern to a string-piece, was plunging furiously. "She seems to be all right," said Fessenden, "but I think I'll put an extra half-hitch in each of those lines." He still steadied Betty against the wind as he spoke. "It wouldn't be pleasant to be forced to go home in that excursion boat." Releasing his companion, reluctantly enough, he made his way out on the wharf. She promptly followed. "Go back, child. The wind will blow you away." "I'm--all--right," she gasped as he bent over the stern-line. "The rain will be here in a minute, and we'll need the rain-coats." She sprang aboard gaily. "Come back!" he ordered. "I don't believe it's safe, Betty." "Only a minute," she called. She waved a careless hand and dived into the cabin. At that instant, a wave struck the _Wisp_ on the inboard quarter and heaved her strongly outward. The stern-line held staunchly, but under the tremendous strain the string-piece gave way like the rotted punk it was, not a foot in front of Fessenden. "Betty!" he roared. "Betty!"