For some reason the girl was suddenly embarrassed by this fact.

The skiff reached the plunging sloop and Louise got inboard and aided Betty to get Lawford over the rail.  Then she slipped on her skirt.

Lawford slumped down in the cockpit, saying he was all right but looking all wrong.

“Going to get him back to Tapp Point just as quick as I can,” declared the “able seaman” to Louise.  “Doctor ought to see that cut.”

“Oh, Betty!”

“Now, now, Miss Lou,” murmured the old woman with the light of sudden comprehension in her eyes.  “Don’t take on now!  You’ve been a brave gal so fur.”

“And I will keep my courage,” Louise said with tremulous smile.

“Go right over there an’ hold his head, Miss Lou.  Pet him up a leetle bit; ’twon’t hurt a mite.”

The vivid blush that dyed the girl’s cheeks signaled the fact that Betty had guessed more of the truth than Louise cared to have her or anybody know.  She shook her head negatively to the keen-eyed old woman; nevertheless she went forward, found one of Lawford’s handkerchiefs and bound up his head.  The cut did not seem very deep; yet the shock of the blow he had suffered certainly had dulled the young man’s comprehension.

“Thank you—­thank you,” he muttered and laid his head down on his arms again.

Betty rounded the end of the Neck where the lighthouse stood.  One of the lightkeepers was on the gallery just under the lamp chamber and had been watching them through his glasses.  He waved a congratulatory hand as the Merry Andrew shot along, under the “able seaman’s” skillful guidance.

“I’m goin’ to put you ashore in the skiff right there by the store, Miss Lou,” Betty said.

“Shouldn’t I get a doctor and send him over to the Point?”

“They’ve got a telephone there,” Betty told her.

“I—­I hope they’ll take good care of him.”

“They ought to,” sniffed Betty.  “I’ll see to it he’s all right, Miss Lou, before I leave him.”

“Thank you, Betty,” returned the girl, too honest to make any further attempt to deny her deep interest in the man.

When the sail rattled down and Louise tossed over the anchor, Lawford roused a bit.  “Sorry the trip turned out so rotten bad, Miss Grayling,” he mumbled.  “I—­I don’t feel just right yet.”

Louise patted his shoulder.  “You poor boy!” she said tenderly.  “Don’t mind about me.  It’s you we are worrying about.  But I am sure you cannot be seriously injured.  Betty will take you directly over to the Point and the folks there will get a doctor for you.  Next time we’ll have a much nicer fishing trip, Mr. Tapp.  Good-bye.”

He muttered his adieu and watched her get into the skiff after Betty and the baskets.  The “able seaman” rowed quickly to the beach.  The sharp eyes of Mr. Bane noted their arrival, and he strode over to the spot where the skiff came in, to help Louise out of the boat and bring the baskets ashore.