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  CHAPTER XII

  SURROUNDED

  'Twelfth of August,' said Allan; 'Pater's out on the moors with Mr.Graham, slow day for us; suppose we take the boat and go fishing forcrabs!'

  'All right, let's,' said Marjorie; 'Harry's in a fidgety mood and willbe quarrelling with some one presently if he has nothing to do.'

  'I say, you fellows,' cried Allan, 'we're going crab fishing. Comealong and let's rummage out the lines, Reggie. We must be sure and getenough for all. Tricksy, you might ask Duncan to put some provisionsin a basket for us, as we shan't be home for tea or supper. Let'shurry up or we'll lose the best of the afternoon.'

  The various belongings having been collected, the boys and girlstrooped down to the cove and began loosening the Craft.

  Laddie and Carlo, who had followed uninvited, came and stood by theboat, pricking up their ears.

  'Can't take you, Laddie,' said Allan; 'we're going a long way andthere's no room for you in the boat.'

  Laddie smiled an intelligent dog smile and wagged his tail as though tosay, 'I'll wait and see whether you won't change your mind, young sir.'

  'Come now, a good shove all together,' said Allan; and the boat randown to the water.

  'All right; chuck in the things, Reggie; and now, girls, will you takeyour places.'

  They all seated themselves and the Craft was pushed off.

  'Go home, Laddie,' called out Reggie to the two dogs, who were standingside by side on the shore, looking pitifully disappointed.

  The dogs remained looking after the boat for a minute or two; then theygave each other a resigned glance and turned tail and trotted off,having evidently made up their minds to seek consolation in some otherform of amusement.

  The boat was rowed to where a bottom of weedy stones showed through thewater, then Allan began to explain to his guests the method of fishing.

  'You see this weight on the end of the line,' he said, 'and there's abit of scarlet cloth attached; well, you let down the line to thestones and then draw it up again like this, and keep doing so until thecrabs come out to see what's the matter; then you dance it up and downin front of them until they get into a rage, and catch hold of it; thenyou draw it up on board and the silly asses are too angry to let go andyou catch them, don't you see?'

  'Jolly fun,' said Harry, and a smile overspread Gerald's features. 'Isuppose you get a lot of them that way?'

  'Yes,' said Marjorie, 'but don't jump about so, Harry; you're makingthe boat bob from side to side.'

  Harry muttered something and drew back into the boat. All the lineswere flung out, and every now and again an irate crab was drawn up,clinging obstinately to the string.

  The sport proved most absorbing, but after a little, Tricksy happeningto look towards the shore drew Marjorie's attention to two figuresstanding on the hillside.

  'What's the matter, Marjorie?' said Reggie, as the girl changed colour.

  Following the direction of her eyes his attitude stiffened, and Allanand Hamish looked to see what was the matter.

  'It's Gibbie MacKerrach,' said Reggie, 'and he's talking to AndrewMacPeters.'

  The combination had an ominous sound, and they all looked extremelyconcerned.

  'What's the matter?' asked Harry.

  'It's that gipsy lad who used to like Neil so much,' said Allan; 'theother is the fellow who we suspect may have been the thief. It's to behoped that he is not making Gibbie tell him things that will do harm toNeil.'

  'Which one is the gipsy?' asked Harry. 'I heard father say that theywere camping on the moor not far from the Corrachin Caves.'

  Marjorie, Allan, and Reggie looked at each other with startled eyes.Then Allan said, 'Pull away from here, will you, Reggie, and don't letthem see us if you can help it. It would be better that Andrew shouldnot know that we saw him with Gibbie.'

  'Now,' said Allan, after the boat had been rowed out of sight. 'We cantry some deep-sea fishing.'

  Reggie caught a small haddock which was divided among the party forbait, and the lines were thrown out again.

  In a little while Reggie drew in a small cod, and a minute afterwards agood-sized haddock was found to be on Harry's line.

  'Gently, Harry, gently, you'll get the line broken,' said Hamishwarningly as Harry sprang up and Gerald danced about in his seat, tothe great discomfort of Tricksy.

  'There you are!' cried Marjorie, as the fish was drawn leaping andstruggling into the boat.

  'Hullo!' said Harry triumphantly; 'it's a fine big one and no mistake!'

  'It's a good size,' said Marjorie, 'but, Harry, _would_ you mind notkicking my feet as you jump about.'

  Harry muttered an apology, and just at that moment Hamish drew in a bigcod, then two little haddocks were pulled up by Tricksy.

  'Gerald, look at your line,' cried Harry, springing forward, and Geraldpulled in a haddock, while Allan and Hamish steadied the boat, whichhad been set rocking by Harry's sudden movement.

  It was a beautiful evening, and the fish were taking well, but sportwas spoiled by the incapacity of the Grahams to keep still. If Harryhooked a fish Gerald sprang up to look, and if any one else had a takeHarry pranced backwards and forwards until it was drawn on board.

  At last Hamish suggested that it was time to row to the Pirates' Islandand have tea in the Den.

  'Yes, I think so,' said Marjorie, somewhat irritably. 'I've had myankles tripped over quite often enough as it is.'

  'And I've been _trying_ to keep my feet out of the way,' said Tricksy,rather dolefully, 'but one has to put them somewhere, you know.'

  'Have you been so uncomfortable?' said Harry, looking round with sereneunconsciousness; 'Hamish's boots _are_ rather big.'

  A smile travelled round the group as the lines were hastily wound up.

  'You'll feel better after tea,' said Hamish soothingly.

  The sun was already low when they landed, and Marjorie and Tricksy wentinto the cottage at once to get tea ready while Reggie fetched peats,and Allan and Hamish lingered behind to secure the Craft.

  The Grahams, finding themselves with no special duties, wanderedaimlessly about, getting into the way of the busy people.

  'We've had a jolly fine take, haven't we?' said Harry, sauntering up toReggie, who was busy at the peat-stack.

  'Not bad,' said Reggie briefly. 'Here, take an armful of these, willyou, and carry them into the house.'

  Harry carried in the peats and set them down by the fire-place, whereMarjorie was busy frying fish, while Tricksy was making bannocks at thetable.

  'I say, Marjorie,' began Harry, 'we've had fine sport, haven't we?'

  'Yes,' replied Marjorie absently.

  Harry looked at the two girls, who went on quietly and busily withtheir work.

  'I caught as many as Allan, didn't I?' he began again.

  'I'm sure I don't know,' said Marjorie indifferently. She was tiredand the peat smoke was making her eyes smart, and it irritated her tosee Harry doing nothing.

  'But surely you kept count,' persisted Harry; 'I caught more thanHamish, anyhow.'

  'I wasn't looking,' said Marjorie. 'If you caught more than Hamishto-day it was more than you do when you go trout fishing. I wish youwould go away now, Harry, and not talk to me until tea is ready.'

  'Let her alone, Harry,' remonstrated Gerald, who had followed hisbrother into the hut; but Harry was in a teasing mood and Marjorie'sreply had stung him.

  'Cross patch!' he muttered, giving her elbow a shove.

  Marjorie had not been prepared for the movement, which jerked some ofthe fish into the fire. In an instant she turned round and pinnedHarry against the wall, while her eyes blazed.

  'Harry! you struck a lady!--Apologise!'

  'No, I won't,' muttered Harry, struggling to free himself. His armswere held as in a vice.

  'Are you going to apologise for having hit a lady?' reiterated Marjorie.

  'No,' replied Harry, trying desperately to free himself, and becomingaware that the other boys were nearing the
door of the hut.

  The struggle was prolonged for a minute or two, and then, just as theboys, to Harry's unspeakable confusion, were on the point of coming in,Marjorie slowly relaxed her hold and let him go.

  Harry left the cottage, followed by Gerald, and seated himself on theturf dyke with his chin resting on his hands. For a long time he gazedblankly in front of him, and neither boy spoke.

  At last Harry began, 'I say, Gerald, do you think they saw?'

  'Yes,' answered Gerald; 'I'm afraid they did.'

  Harry dropped his chin on his hands again and reflected.

  'Do you think it was because of that that they didn't come in atfirst?' he queried after awhile.

  'I think so,' said Gerald; 'they didn't want to have to interfere.'

  A long pause followed. Harry gazed seawards, absorbed in gloomyreflections.

  'It was awfully stupid of you to go on teasing her,' said Gerald; 'anyone could have seen that she was going to lose her temper. She's sostrong too; always rowing and climbing, and doing things like a boy.'

  'Don't tell the boys at school,' said Harry, after a long time; then herelapsed into silence again.

  Suddenly he pulled himself together, and jumped off the dyke just asMarjorie was coming out of the hut.

  'Look here,' he began, planting himself in front of her, with a flushrising to his face; 'I apologise! but it's because I shouldn't have hityou and not because you held me.'

  'It's all right,' said Marjorie, who was sorry that she had lost hertemper; 'don't let's think of it any more but come and have tea.'

  The other boys tried to drown any lingering embarrassment by talkingvery fast, and the meal became an animated, if not a merry one.

  'Hark,' said Reggie suddenly, 'what's that?'

  They all became silent and listened, Allan standing up. A deep rushingnoise was filling the cottage, and rapidly increasing in volume.

  'It's the tide-way,' said Reggie; 'we've forgotten to keep a look-out.'

  All trooped out of the cottage and looked at the angry current whichwas sweeping past both shores of the island.

  'Here's a jolly go,' said Allan; 'we shan't get home to-night.'

  Tricksy looked frightened and Harry amazed, but Marjorie's face clearedand she jumped up and clapped her hands with glee.

  'Oh, hooray, hooray,' she said; 'just what I always wanted. We'll haveto spend the night in the cottage. Oh, what fun!'

  'But won't Mrs. Stewart be frightened?' suggested Gerald, thethoughtful boy.

  'Not she,' said Marjorie; 'she knows that we can take care ofourselves; besides, Father and Mr. Stewart made us promise that if wewere surrounded by a tide-way we were not to try to come home, howeverlong we might have to wait. It would be quite impossible for us to rowacross. We must make up our minds to spend the night here.'

  They remained out of doors a little longer, discussing the situation,while the red turned to grey beyond the far-off islands; then they wentindoors to make preparations for the night.

  Fresh peats were cast on the fire, and the stores of cut heather werebrought out and laid on the floor to serve as beds. Marjorie lightedthe lamp which hung from the ceiling, and its smoky glare lighted up acircle of eager, wakeful faces.

  The novelty of their surroundings, together with the voice of thecurrent, which was running deep and swift round their tiny strip of anisland, took from them all disposition to sleep during the early partof the night. It was not until the lamp had burnt out, and Tricksy'shead had sunk heavily against Marjorie's knee that the rushing becamefainter and finally died away, and one by one the listeners dropped tosleep upon their heather couches.

  It was about midnight when Marjorie awoke, aroused by a slight noise,and the flames from the peats showed her Allan staring in front of himwith wakeful eyes, and listening.

  'What is it?' she asked.

  'Hush, don't wake the others. There it is again--now, hark.'

  Marjorie listened, and in the calm night she distinctly heard thegrating of oars in rowlocks and the sound of a boat's bows dividing thewater.

  'It's some one coming for us,' she said.

  'No, for they would have called out before they got so near.'

  Marjorie jumped into a sitting posture and her eyes gleamed.

  'What if it should be the smugglers?' she suggested.

  She was not frightened, only excited, for the situation promised someadventure.

  'It's more likely to be Neil,' said Allan. 'He comes here sometimes.Let's go out and see, but tread softly and don't disturb theyoungsters.'

  They threaded their way cautiously among the sleepers, shivering alittle with the chilliness of the air and with excitement, and stoodout of doors in the cool quiet night.

  'Crouch down, Marjorie, and keep behind the dyke,' said Allan. 'Let'smake certain that it _is_ Neil before we show ourselves.'

  By this time the boat was close to the shore, and its occupant sprangout.

  The cloudy moonlight showed the face and figure to be those of Neil.

  'Stand up, Marjorie; let him see it's a girl,' said Allan, 'and he'llknow that he's safe.'

  Marjorie stood up, and called 'Neil! Hist! Neil!'

  The figure turned round.

  'Who is that?' asked a voice in Gaelic.

  'It's Marjorie, Neil; and Allan.'

  Neil carefully secured the boat and came forward.

  'What are you doing here, Miss Marjorie, at this time of night? andAllan too? Has anything happened?'

  'We're shipwrecked, Neil; or rather we've been cut off by thetide-way,' said Marjorie.

  'The others are here,' said Allan, 'in the cottage; you're quite safe.Come along.'

  They entered very softly, Neil dragging his limbs as though he werefatigued.

  'What's the row?' inquired Reggie, opening his eyes.

  'Hush, don't wake the others,' said Marjorie; but already Harry hadstirred on his heather couch.

  'It's Neil,' said Allan, as the boy sprang up, wide awake. 'He's goingto stay here till morning.'

  'Neil?' repeated Harry. 'Oh, I say, what a lark. Gerald, wake up, youlazy beggar, here's Neil at last--Neil, I tell you; get up,' and headministered a shove to his sleeping brother.

  By this time all the inmates of the cottage were awake, Hamish beingthe last to open a pair of bewildered, sleepy eyes. Room was made forNeil at the fire, the smouldering peats were roused to life, and theboys and girls clustered round, staring and asking questions, much tooexcited to think of sleep.

  'How is your mother, Neil?' asked Tricksy, whose dark eyes lookedbigger and darker than ever between surprise and sleepiness.

  'She iss better, thank you, Miss Tricksy. I will have left hersleeping quietly, and I will pe coming here so that I can be going backearly to see how she iss in the morning.'

  Then after a little hesitation he added, 'She has made me promise thatI'll go away now. Rob MacLean's boat goes to-morrow evening.'

  'Oh, what a sell!' exclaimed Harry, who had been sitting cross-leggedby his hero and looking up in his face with sparkling eyes. 'I mean,'he added, somewhat confusedly, as he saw the faces of the others, 'I'msorry you have to go; it would have been such fun if you could havestayed.'

  They conversed a little longer, but quietly, for the darkness andsilence which reigned outside their little shelter, and the monotonouslapping of the waves made them drowsy; and one by one they dropped tosleep.

  Marjorie was the first to awaken. The clear morning light was alreadyfilling the hut, and the others were lying around and breathing heavily.

  She rose and went out of doors.

  The sun had not yet risen, but the clouds in the east were red. Somegulls were rising languidly above the shimmering water.

  Marjorie stood looking about her for a minute or two; then she ran intothe cottage.

  'Allan,' she cried, 'wake up! There are some people standing on theshore; your father and Mr. Graham and some others and Laddie is withthem. They are just going to launch the boat
. Get up, quick; there'sno time to lose!'

  Neil was already on his feet, the events of the past few months havingtaught him to keep on the alert; and the others had begun to open theireyes and stretch themselves.

  'Hullo,' said Reggie, grasping the situation, 'boat coming over here;that will never do.'

  'Hurry up,' said Allan, 'or they'll be across before you know where youare.'

  'You had better wait until we've gone,' said Marjorie to Neil. 'Stayin the cottage, or they may see you.'

  Hastily saying good-bye they ran down to the shore, but stopped shortin dismay.

  The boat was gone.

  'Comes of not having fastened her securely,'. said Allan; 'the currenthas carried her away.'

  'What shall we do?' said Marjorie. 'We'll have every one coming to theisland. Hide Neil; let's pile all the heather on the top of him----'

  'What's the matter?' cried Neil from the hut. 'Why are you waiting?'

  'The boat's gone,' they cried.

  Neil came out.

  'Mine's still there, on the other side,' he said. 'Take her, and someof you can come back for me.'

  'Oh, Neil, we couldn't do that! What if any one were to come in themeanwhile?'

  'We must risk it. It will be better than bringing the whole boat-loadupon us. Quick, get in; they will be shoving down the boat.'

  In another minute they had pushed off, leaving Neil behind.

  When the boat left the island the figures on shore stood still andwaited; and half-way across Marjorie waved her handkerchief.

  'It's Father,' said Tricksy, 'with Mr. Graham and Duncan and a lot ofothers; and there's Laddie jumping about and barking.'

  'Allan,' said Marjorie, touching his arm, 'there's Andrew MacPeters, doyou see him? standing behind the others.'

  The boat glided in beside the landing stones, while a row of anxiousfaces watched and waited.

  'Down, Laddie,' said Mr. Stewart, as the collie rushed forward with ajoyful welcome. 'So there you are,' he said to the young people. 'Youare not cold, are you?'

  'We're all right, Father,' said Allan. 'We landed on that islandyesterday evening and we were surrounded by the tide-way so we couldnot return. I hope Mother was not anxious. We thought you wouldrather we stayed there than tried to cross when the current wasflowing.'

  'You were quite right not to try to get back under thesecircumstances,' said Mr. Stewart gravely; and the young people knewthat he had been anxious, although he did not wish to blame them.

  Mr. Graham said nothing, but after his eyes had travelled over thegroup, and he had, as Tricksy afterwards expressed it, 'counted hisboys,' he placed himself between them and set off in the direction ofArdnavoir, still without speaking except to ask them whether they hadwet feet.

  Reggie, as the quickest runner, was sent on ahead to tell his motherthat they had returned, and a brisk walk brought them all to the house.

  'By the way,' said Mr. Stewart as the young people were refreshingthemselves with a good breakfast; 'what man was that who was with youon the island?'

  A startled movement went round the group, and Allan looked at hisfather without replying.

  'That man who helped you with the boat,' said Mr. Stewart; 'he stayedbehind after you left; who was he?'