Page:Cornelia Meigs--The island of Appledore.djvu/46

30 steps and along the road and parted on the beach.

“I’m glad you came,” said Sally; “you must come again. Now hurry, or the tide will catch you. I think Harvey Jarreth has gone on to Captain Saulsby’s ahead of you. Good-bye.”

As Billy hastened across the stepping-stones and through the meadow, he looked very sharply and very often down toward the  rocks, but could see no signs of any one’s presence. Sally was right; Harvey Jarreth had gone ahead of him and was standing now by  the bench near the hedge, in hot dispute with  the old Captain.

“I never saw a man so blind to his own interests,” he was saying. “I believe you are out of your senses. Come now, say what figure you will really take.”

“You could cover the land with gold pieces for me and I wouldn’t sell,” returned the old  sailor with determination. “I’m not saying that it isn’t a good offer for me in some ways,  but I will part with no property to a man who  won’t give his name or state his business. If I’m to take his money, I must know where it  comes from.”