My anger and resentment had settled to a cold determination, and this trip was purely business.

I was not at a disadvantage now, as I had been when I first met that girl and her friend, in "Big Jim" Colton's library.

I was master of this situation and master I intended to be.
I sculled the skiff straight in to the edge of the flat, at a point where the bank sloped sharply to deep water.

I threw over my anchor, shortened the rope and made it fast.

Then I stepped out into water above my shoe tops and waded toward the dingy.