A small boat was swung over the side and rested upon the water. "I shall need two men," said Anthony. "You will answer, and you," nodding to two of the seamen. "Get in." The men did so readily enough; and then he turned his eyes upon Mademoiselle Lafargue. "If you please," said he, and waved his hand toward the boat. She reared her head, her eyes darting scorn and resentment; but she did not move from where she stood. "I am going ashore," he said, "and as this ship is no place for you it is a good chance to leave her." "I shall not leave her in your company, at all events," she said coldly. "I expected you to say something like that," said Anthony. "And I would like to reason the matter out with you. But it is best that there be no delay. I beg of you to step into the boat." But she would not; and she defied him with her eyes. He motioned to the watching seamen. "Put her into the boat." "You would not dare!" she said, her coldness flaming into anger. "Put her into the boat," said Anthony. In a few minutes she was handed into the waiting boat; she made no protest, no resistance, but sat in the bow and covered her face with her hands. "Now, my bullies," said Anthony, as he stepped to the rail, "stand well back. If I see a head of one of you until I get ashore, I'll speak to you with this," and he motioned with the pistol. The two seamen pushed off and fell to the oars; Anthony sat athwart the stern, the pistol between his knees, the rudder handle in his left hand; he watched the schooner, the men pulling the boat, and also the landing-place which he had selected. Within ten minutes they had reached a platform built upon spiles, and used by river sloops in taking in the produce of the farms. Anthony was the first out; he helped Mademoiselle Lafargue ashore, and then they both stood silent upon the little wharf and watched the boat pull back to _Le Mousquet_. [Illustration: "... WATCHED THE BOAT PULL BACK TO LE MOUSQUET."] XXV Anthony examined the schooner's position, while the boat pulled toward her; her nose was wedged into a mud flat, but as her stern had moved around toward the north he knew the tide was working up the river. "In an hour," he said, "there will be water enough to float her off." He turned toward the girl; she had her cloak drawn about her, and her eyes were still on _Le Mousquet_. She seemed to have no regret at leaving the vessel; but the manner of her leaving had left her furious. "The next thing," said Anthony, "is to procure a conveyance and get you back to your father." "You need not trouble yourself," she said. "As I am the cause of your being here," said Anthony, "I owe it to you to see you safe." "I cancel all obligations," she said. "You owe me nothing." Anthony looked at her stubbornly.