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In her efforts to placate him she had touched upon his sorest

spot. His defeat by the American fishermen had been hard for his

pride.

"I suppose you mean that crooked Schofield's boat?" he flashed

back, his face darkening.

"What do you mean by that?"

They were below now in her father's little cabin, and she turned

upon him with flashing eyes.

"Just what I said," he returned sullenly.

"You say things then that have no foundation in fact," she

retorted vigorously. "You have no right to say a thing like that

about Code Schofield."

"I haven't, eh?" he sneered, furious. "Since when have you been

takin' his side against me? No facts, eh? I'll show him an' you

an' everybody else whether there's any foundation in fact! What

do you suppose the insurance company is after him for if he isn't

a crook?"