“Well, this is some breakfast,” he complimented.  “I never expected to find this awaitin’ me.”

“Are you satisfied with your cook now?” the girl smilingly asked.

“Satisfied!” The captain paused in the act of lifting his cup of coffee to his lips.  “Did I ever say I wasn’t satisfied?”

“Not exactly, though you acted that way last night.”

“I know I did, an’ I’m of the same opinion still.  I’m not satisfied while them fellers are out draggin’ the river fer yer body.”

At these words a startled look came into the girl’s eyes, and she dropped her fork upon her plate.

“Dragging the river for my body!” she gasped.

“Sure, thar are several boats not fer from here now, an’ the men in ’em seem mighty excited.  It does seem a pity fer ’em to be doin’ sich a thing while you are safe an’ sound in this cabin.  Thar’s something uncanny about it, which is not at all to my likin’.  Don’t ye think I’d better holler out, an’ tell ’em that you’re all right?”

“No, no,” the girl protested, rising to her feet.  “Don’t say a word.  If they think I’m drowned, all the better.  That’s just what I want them to think.”

“Good Lord!” The captain stared in amazement at the agitated girl.  “What am I to do, then?  I can’t stay here an’ see them poor fellers doin’ sich a useless job.  An’ besides, they must be about heart-broken.”

“Indeed they’re not,” the girl emphatically declared.  “If they are the ones I believe they are, you needn’t worry about them, for they have no hearts to break.  I must have a peek at them.”

“Be careful, if ye don’t want to be seen, Miss,” the captain warned, as the girl stood, on one of the steps and cautiously peered out.  She was instantly down again, her face very white.

“There’s a boat coming straight for us!” she excitedly explained.  “It’s only a short distance off.  Go on deck quick and send the men away.  Don’t let them come on board.”

With a bound the captain was up out of the cabin.  He was determined to protect the girl, although he felt that he was making a fool of himself.  But while she was on his boat, and under his care, no one was going to molest her.  He stood silently watching the row-boat as it drew near.  It contained three men, two at the oars, and one seated astern.

“Say,” the latter called out, “did you see a young woman drifting about here in a boat last night?”

“Did I see what?” the captain asked, apparently surprised.

“A young woman, Miss Randall, in a boat last night?  She has disappeared, and we’re afraid she’s drowned.”

“No, I didn’t see any young woman driftin’ around here in a boat last night,” the captain replied.  “What makes ye think she’s drowned herself?”

“Because a boat was found adrift in South Bay last night, containing one oar and a woman’s hat.  The hat belonged to Miss Randall, and as she is missing, it is feared that she either drowned herself or met with an accident.”