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  CHAPTER XI

  A NEAR SHAVE

  They all trooped out, and followed Duncan's retreating figure.

  'Here we are, Duncan, what do you want us for?'

  'Tear me, young ladies and gentlemen,' said Duncan, 'we will hev peenlooking for you ahl over the house and grounds. The Sheriff iss herefrom Stornwell and the minister iss come to call, and the laird says asit iss such a ferry fine day he iss going to take effery one out for asail in the yacht, and Dr. and Mrs. MacGregor iss come, and we are tohev lunch on board and go over to Alvasay, and afterwards if there isstime we will pe stopping at the Corrachin Caves, for Mr. Graham says hewill pe liking to explore them; and here we will ahl pe waiting foryou, young ladies and chentlemen.'

  Marjorie's lips tightened.

  'Look here, Duncan,' she said, after Hamish, followed consolingly byTricksy, had passed out of hearing, 'we must make them too late for thecaves.'

  'Indeed, Miss Marjorie, we will hev to keep them out whateffer,' saidDuncan, 'Mr. Graham's eyes will pe ferry sharp, he iss as bad as Mr.Harry, who is notticing efferything. But there iss ta laird, MissMarjorie, he will pe calling to me to come with ta lunch baskets, Iwill hev to go.'

  The hall was a scene of animation. The Sheriff was standing talking toMrs. MacGregor and receiving defiant glances from Tricksy; theminister, an elderly man with white hair and stooping shoulders, stoodsomewhat apart; the other gentlemen were collecting rugs and fishingtackle, and Harry and Gerald were jumping about, asking questions andgetting in every one's way.

  'Rob MacLean has come to say that the _Kelpie_ iss all ready, sir,'said Duncan, who among his other avocations sailed his master's yacht.

  'Don't let us wait any longer then,' said the laird; 'we shall not havetime to visit the caves this evening if we miss the tide.'

  Two trips of the _Mermaid_--the Craft only when her young owners wereby themselves--conveyed the entire party on board the _Kelpie_, whosecrew, consisting of Rob MacLean and another crofter, were in readiness.

  'We must manage not to go to the caves, Rob,' said Marjorie as shepassed.

  'Aye, Miss Marjorie, she will not pe going to the caves to-day,' saidthe Highlander grimly.

  It was a glorious day for a sail, and the young people's spirits rosein spite of themselves. There was enough wind to fill out the sailsand make the vessel skim swiftly over the water, but not enough to makeany one in the least uncomfortable, and the waves were dancing in thesunlight.

  'Do you see that island over there?' said Marjorie to Harry, who waslooking about him with sparkling eyes; 'that high one beyond all thelittle skerries? That's where we're going; it's an awfully jollyplace, there's a fine loch with sea trout in it and a capital beach.'

  Harry looked at the island, and then at the water tumbling and foamingin the vessel's wake; and then he began to look about for some moreactive occupation. The ladies were talking to their guests andpointing out the interesting places as they passed, and Gerald andTricksy were sitting soberly in a corner by themselves. Mr. Stewartand Dr. MacGregor were busy with the sailing of the vessel, whichseemed to require a great deal of management at this stage; and Harry'ssoul became filled with envy as he saw the other boys helping themdexterously as though they had passed their lives on board a ship.

  Seeing Reggie perched half-way up the mast, helping to shake out asail, Harry tried to scramble up after him, but Hamish ordered him down.

  Harry turned and looked up with an indignant stare.

  The elder boy, who seemed almost grown-up in his yachting suit, met thelook with his usual good-natured smile, but did not seem disposed to betrifled with.

  'You had better begin when the vessel's steady,' he said; 'it wouldnever do to fall overboard while she's going along at this rate.'

  'Why,' said Harry; 'couldn't you lower a boat?'

  'It would not do you much good,' said Hamish. 'The current's flowingpretty rapidly one way, and the wind's driving us along at a fair speedin exactly the opposite direction; you might be carried miles out intothe open before we could get a boat out.'

  Harry went to the side and looked down at the water that was eddyingpast.

  'It wouldn't be at all nice to fall overboard here, would it?' saidMarjorie, who seemed to be blown along the deck, her hair flying in thewind. 'It will soon be over now, and see how near the island has beengetting; we'll be there in no time.'

  She hurried off to help in the coiling of the ropes, and in abouthalf-an-hour the _Kelpie_ was brought alongside the rude stone pier ofAlvasay.

  First came a walk to a wonderful rocky fiord, where the stones thatwere thrown down rebounded from side to side, and finally landed with adull thud in some stagnant-looking water at the bottom. Afterwards,the day being hot, boys and girls scattered for a bathe.

  'I can swim twice across the school swimming-bath,' said Harry, pickinghis way barefoot over the rocks and shivering a little, for althoughthe sun was hot, the wind seemed cold when one had nothing on.

  'You'll find it a bit rough with these waves against you,' said Reggiebriefly.

  'Far jollier,' said Harry, looking at the pebbles underneath the brightwaves and the masses of seaweed swaying to and fro--'ugh, it is coldthough!'

  When his splash had subsided he saw the island boys swimming far aheadof him. In a little while he began to feel tired, and the waves seemedto be growing bigger and bigger, and stronger and stronger. When hewas able to see over their crests he could make out the other twositting upon a rock which raised its head out of the water, and waitingfor him.

  After considerable efforts he reached the islet, grasped a point ofrock, and drew himself on to dry land.

  The others looked at him approvingly. Gerald was still splashing inshallow water near the shore.

  'Good for you,' said Reggie; 'it's a pretty stiff sea for a fellow whohas only practised in a swimming-bath.'

  Harry did not look quite pleased.

  'I say,' began Allan, 'look at Gerald, he's actually trying to come outto us. He is a plucky little chap.'

  'That he is,' said Hamish. 'I'll swim back and see if I can help him.'

  He dropped into the water and swam to meet Gerald, who was strugglinggallantly along, making very wry faces, and swallowing quantities ofwater. With the bigger boy swimming by his side and occasionallyhelping him Gerald got along fairly well, and in a little whileclambered on to the rocks, looking exceedingly happy.

  Diving from steep places and swimming until they were tired, thengetting out and sunning themselves on the warm rocks or sand of thelittle islets, running races and pushing each other into the water, thetime passed quickly, and they were all surprised when Duncan came inview signalling that tea was ready.

  They had been in the water long enough, for their teeth were chatteringand they could hardly get into their clothes for trembling.

  'I say,' began Harry with chattering teeth, 'you fellows ought to learnto tread water and to swim on the side. They teach these things at theswimming-baths. The ordinary kind of swimming does well enough in aplace like this----'

  'It's the best way of getting along, I should say,' suggested Reggie.

  'Yes,' said Harry rather contemptuously; 'getting along is all verywell; but when you're swimming where a lot of people see you, you liketo be able to do the fancy strokes. You need to have lessons for thesethings though.'

  Reggie's dark, serious eyes exchanged a glance with Allan's amused ones.

  'Good thing Marjorie isn't here,' observed Allan in an aside; and theother boys grinned as they thought of the way in which Marjorie alwayshad a reply ready for Harry when he was caught boasting.

  'What's that?' said Harry, his head popping out of the opening of hisshirt.

  Allan was saved from the necessity of replying by the reappearance ofDuncan, to say that 'The young gentlemen wass to please mek haste andcome at once, as effery one wass waiting for them.'

  During the walk from the bathing-place Allan was very silent, and alltea-time he watched Regg
ie and Harry thoughtfully, and was evidentlyrevolving something in his mind.

  After tea he took an opportunity of saying to Marjorie, 'Now, Marjorie,remember that we've got to make the _Kelpie_ late.'

  'I'll try to get lost,' said Marjorie. 'I hope they won't go offwithout me though. You'd better lose yourself too, with one or two ofthe others; and they'll notice if so many are absent.'

  'I'll do my best,' said Allan. 'I think we'll manage to keep them backan hour or so. You might come this way, Reggie, will you?'

  Allan walked for some distance in silence, and Reggie began to wonderwhat was coming.

  'Reggie,' began Allan, rather absently, 'have you been thinking thatyou're going to school next term?'

  'Yes,' answered Reggie, wondering what this was going to lead to.

  'Well,' resumed Allan, 'you'll need to have some fights, you know,almost as soon as you get there.'

  'I suppose so,' said Reggie.

  'I mean,' said Allan, 'even supposing that no one challenges you,you'll have to fight some of the fellows at the very commencement,don't you see, just to show that you're not the sort to be put upon.'

  Reggie listened attentively, but said nothing.

  'You haven't had much opportunity of practising yet, of course, and itwon't do, if you want to make a position for yourself in the school,just to begin upon some of the new fellows, kids of your own size or alittle bigger; any one can do that. What you want is to challenge someof the older fellows at the very beginning, and then, no one will tryhumbugging you, as they do with the new fellows.'

  Reggie looked doubtful. The idea of making a position for himself wastempting, but if it was only to be carried into effect by fightingbigger boys he felt that the result might be failure.

  'What you want is practice,' resumed Allan. 'Now it's no use yourtrying to fight me--I'm much too big and strong for you; nor Hamish,for he's far too good-natured and would never hit out at you enough; soit's awfully lucky we've got Harry here just now--he's just the veryfellow.'

  Reggie looked up in perplexity.

  'But how can I fight Harry?' he said; 'I've never quarrelled with him.'

  'You young duffer,' said Allan, 'you don't need to fight about anythingin particular. It's only for practice. Then we've got to make theyacht late, you know, and this is no end of a good opportunity, as wecan't be expected to stay where the grown-ups are likely to find uswhen we've got a fight on hand. Here's a nice quiet place, just behindthese rocks, and there's Harry wading in that pool; you can just fighthim at once, or I'll punch both your heads for you. Hullo, Harry!Come along! Reggie wants to fight you. Now, go it, you two, and I'llbe umpire;' and before the younger boys knew what they were about theywere sparring at each other like a couple of angry cocks.

  'Straight, Reggie, you young duffer,' said Allan, settling himself togive professional advice. 'Give it to him from the shoulder.'

  'I say, what's the row?' asked Hamish, who came strolling down to thescene; 'so these two have come to loggerheads, have they?'

  'Not they,' replied Allan carelessly; 'it's only practice.'

  Marjorie's curly head rose above a rock behind which she had been lying_perdu_; and when she saw what was going on she jumped up and scrambledto the other side.

  'Whatever is the matter?' she cried. 'Can't you make them stop, Allan?'

  'Practice-fight,' replied Allan; 'don't call out, Marjorie; you'lldistract their attention.'

  Reggie, unused to fighting, soon began to have the worst of it, but hestruggled manfully until a well-planted blow from Harry knocked thebreath out of him.

  'That's enough for a beginning,' said Allan. 'You've done not sobadly, Reggie, for the first time, and you'll get into it all right bypractice.'

  'But what did he go at me for?' cried Harry, with a blank expression ofcountenance. 'I didn't do anything to him.'

  'Nobody said you did, you duffer,' replied Allan; 'Reggie only wants tobe able to fight the fellows at school; and you and he can have a go ateach other every day if you like.'

  'Dear me,' said Mr. Matthews the minister, coming towards the groupwith a concerned face; 'I am sorry to see that some of you have beenquarrelling. Pray, what has been the subject of dispute?'

  'It's nothing,' said Allan, 'only practice. There's no quarrel at all.'

  'What's this? what's this?' broke in the somewhat rasping voice of theSheriff, who had followed Mr. Matthews, unobserved by the young people;'it seems that half-a-dozen boys cannot be together without coming toblows.'

  'They're not fighting seriously,' cried Marjorie; 'it's only fun.'

  Mr. Matthews was looking both grieved and puzzled.

  'Dear me,' he said, shaking his head, 'this is most distressing. Tofight when you have not any ground for quarrelling. Why did you notendeavour to dissuade them, Miss Marjorie?'

  'It's all right,' said Marjorie. 'What would be the good ofinterfering?'

  The Sheriff said nothing, but he was looking so grimly amused thatMarjorie added hastily, 'Why, it doesn't matter! Why shouldn't theyfight if it amuses them? When once you learn to understand boys youknow that it's no use being surprised at anything they do!'

  'Allan! Reggie!' Mr. Stewart's voice was calling somewhatimpatiently. 'Go and look for the young ladies and gentlemen, Duncan;quick, don't lose time, we're late already.'

  'Tear me,' observed Duncan, looking at Harry's and Reggie's somewhatbattered faces as they passed; 'so there hass peen a fight between youtwo young gentlemen, and Mr. Allan hass been helping you. I wassthinking from Mr. Allan's looks these last days tat there would pe somemischief pefore ferry long! It iss ahl right, Miss Marjorie, it issahl right,' he said soothingly, in response to her glance; 'we hev madethe _Kelpie_ an hour and a quarter late, whateffer. That iss ferrygood, although Rob says he will pe thinking it iss a pity that the seawill not pe going to pe at ahl rough.'

  There was only enough breeze to fill the sails as the _Kelpie_ glidedgently towards the island of Erricha. The gulls sat balancingthemselves on the smooth swell of the waves; and as the vessel passed alow rocky islet a number of seals flopped into the water and swam inher wake.

  'It's awfully nice,' observed Gerald, his blue eyes shining withenjoyment.

  'Yes,' replied Tricksy; 'we've had an awfully jolly day, but I've beenthinking, that all this time we've been doing nothing for Neil. Weought to, you know, as we've made a compact.'

  Allan produced a bit of stick and began whittling it.

  'It would be nice if we could begin now,' observed Gerald.

  'It's all very well,' said Harry disgustedly, 'but there seems to benothing to do.'

  'I heard the Sheriff saying to Mother that the gipsies had come backagain,' said Tricksy.

  Reggie's dark eyes looked at Allan, who stopped his whittling.

  'Look!' said Marjorie abruptly, 'we're just rounding the headland.'

  The Grahams wondered at the sudden silence which fell upon the group.

  'We'll tack shore wards, Duncan,' announced Mr. Stewart. We would liketo spend an hour or two at the caves.'

  'Aye, aye, sir,' replied Duncan stiffly.

  Allan and Reggie began to look intent.

  'There's Rob coming forward,' said Marjorie softly.

  The Highlander touched his cap respectfully.

  'I do not think we can pe landing at ta Corrachin Caves to-night, sir,'he said civilly but firmly; 'ta wind iss north-west and ta current issrunning ferry strong, sir. We wass thinking it would pe too dangerous.'

  'Tut, tut,' said Mr. Stewart; 'we're not going to be so timid as allthat, Rob. Just think of some of the days when we have landed, man.'

  'But Duncan and I was thinking that it wass a ferry tangerous seato-day, sir, ferry tangerous indeed, and we will pe afraid for taladies, sir, and for ta young ladies and gentlemen.'

  'Nonsense, man,' returned Mr. Stewart; 'call this a heavy sea? I neversaw a better sea in my life. Tell Duncan to put her head south-east bysouth.'

  But Dunc
an had taken the helm, and the vessel lay unexpectedly againstthe wind.

  'It iss ta cross currents, sir,' said Rob. 'Yo-ho there! Slack themain-sheet!' and the boys were easing off the rope before they hadrealised what they were about.

  The vessel gave a plunge or two and then steadied herself, Duncanstanding with a grim face at the wheel.

  'It iss ahl right now, sir,' said Rob composedly; 'but we cannot peteking her back to catch a wind tat will tek her to Corrachin afterthis.'

  Dr. MacGregor was looking surprised.

  'I can't think what ails the men,' fumed Mr. Stewart. 'There isnothing unusual in the appearance of the sea so far as I can make out,and I ought to know as well as they can.'

  'Successful mutiny,' muttered Marjorie; and the boys grinned.

  Mr. Graham walked to the side and looked down at the water, but did nottake it upon himself to express an opinion.

  'It looks as though the fellows were keeping something back,' continuedMr. Stewart.

  'Perhaps it's one of their Highland superstitions,' suggested Mrs.Stewart. 'I wouldn't take any more notice if I were you.'

  Silence fell as the _Kelpie_ glided past the caves. The vessel passednear enough for those on board to look into the yawning hollows beneaththe overhanging cliffs, and to hear the thunder of the angry sea whichalways beat upon that shore.

  Marjorie and the boys felt a lump rise in their throats as they thoughtof the comrade driven to seek refuge in that desolate spot.