Meldon hauled the punt alongside, and asked
Miss King if she would like to go ashore. She assented with a feeble
smile. There was no use consulting Simpkins. His wishes were taken
for granted, and he was deposited, with great difficulty, in the bow of
the punt. Meldon rowed them ashore. He gave his arm to Miss King and
led her up to a dry rock, on which she sat down. He went back to the
punt again, straightened out Simpkins, hauled him up, and set him down
beside Miss King. Then he rowed back to the _Spindrift_ in the punt.
"This," said the Major angrily, "is a nice kind of party. You might
have had more sense, J. J., than to invite people of that sort out in
the _Spindrift_."
"You're very unreasonable," said Meldon. "I thought you'd have found
the keenest delight in watching the sufferings of Simpkins. If I had
an enemy in the world--I'm thankful to say I haven't--but if I had,
there's nothing would give me greater pleasure than to see him enduring
the agony that Simpkins has just been through. But that's the worst of
you. I arrange these little surprises for you, hoping to see your face
light up with a smile of gratification, and all I get in return is
growls and grumbles.
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