She was willing enough to indulge the baby's whim, the more so as she felt in her heart that it was in some respects her fault that the raft had got away.

She measured the distance to that formidable black head cleaving the waters some thirty yards away.
"'Well,' said she, 'we may's well take the little varmint along, if baby wants him.' And she stepped over to pick up the now shrinking and anxious cub.
"'You quit that an' get into the boat quick!" ordered the man in a voice of curt authority.

The woman whipped round and stared at him in amazement.

She was accustomed to having people defer to her; and Jim Simmons, in particular, she had always considered such a mild-mannered man, "'Get in!' reiterated the man in a voice that she found herself obeying in spite of herself.
"'D'ye want to see baby et up afore yer eyes ?" he continued sternly, hiding a grin beneath the sandy droop of his big mustache.

And with the baby kicking and wailing and stretching out her arms to the all-unheeding cub, he rowed rapidly away just as the old bear dragged herself up upon the raft.
"Then Mrs.Murdoch's wrath found words, and she let it flow forth while the man listened as indifferently as if it had been the whistling of the wind.