CHAPTER XVII. IN WHICH PHIL PUTS A CHECK ON THE OPERATIONS OF MR. BEN WATERFORD. Mr. Waterford had anchored the Marian within a couple of rods of the shore, where there was a bank convenient for landing. He had simply lowered the jib, leaving the mainsail set, but with the boom hauled down to the traveller, to keep it from swaying. Miss Collingsby did not come on deck when she had finished her dinner, but sat in the cabin, apparently reading a book she had found there; but I think her mind was not interested in the contents of the volume. "Come, Phil; will you go on shore with me?" repeated Mr. Waterford, after he had hauled the little tender alongside the yacht. "I haven't cleared away the dishes yet," I replied. "Never mind them now; there will be time enough for that when we return." "But everything in the kitchen is just as I left it," I added. "We shall not be absent more than ten or fifteen minutes." "Can't you go alone?" "No, but you can," he replied, with a winning smile, which was doubtless intended to lure me into the trap he had set for me. "There are some beautiful swamp flowers a short distance from the shore, and I wish to get a bouquet for Miss Collingsby." "Can't one carry the bouquet alone?" I asked. "You are a stout fellow; possibly you could," laughed he. "If you will go, I will tell you where to find the flowers." "If you know, it would be better for you to go, and I will clear away the dinner things while you are gone." "We must pull the tender out of the water when we land, and I don't think I can do it alone. I want to turn it over, and get the dirty water out of it, for it really is not fit for a lady to get into. Miss Collingsby says she is not afraid to stay alone for a few moments." "Very well; if you will stay on board and put away the dishes, I will go on shore alone," I replied, moved to give this answer by a whispered suggestion from Miss Marian. "All right; but can you turn the boat over alone?" "Certainly I can; that boat don't weigh more than seventy-five pounds." Miss Collingsby immediately came on deck, and went to the side where the tender was lying. "I think I will go with you, Mr. Phil," said she. "I should like to see where the flowers grow." "But that boat is not fit for a lady to get into in its present condition," interposed Mr. Waterford, annoyed by this new phase of our lady passenger's will. "It will answer very well for me," she replied. "Indeed, I cannot permit you to get into that boat; but if you wish to land, we will take it ashore first, and empty out the dirty water." "O, no! I won't give you all that trouble," added she, retreating to the cabin again. "I will go down and put out my fire, and then I shall be ready," I continued, following her below. "Don't leave me, Phil," said Marian, earnestly, but in a low tone. "If you will trust the matter to me, I will manage it right," I replied. "But I wish to let him have his own way for the present."