Part 3 (1/2)

Meanwhile Ha the little girl over the stones

'Why, Tricksy,' said Marjorie, as the little girl took her seat, 'you _have_ got yourself into a state!'

'I know, but I couldn't help it,' said Tricksy, looking ruefully down at her little black hands and arden, and we've been digging aith pieces of wood in the banks of the burn Some of the ourselves muddy I'll wash_that_ thing with you?' said Allan in disgust, pointing to the little dog as standing on the shore Already Laddie had sprung on board and was lying curled up on the stern seat, confident of his welcoes until we come back'

'No, no!' cried Marjorie and Tricksy; 'Carlo must come too'

'Let him come,' said Ha, who had been frisking about and wagging his tail, sat up and begged, looking fro whine

'You darling,' cried both the girls; and Tricksy sprang out of the boat and lifted him in

Allan looked conteave a little yelp of satisfaction, and the little spaniel curled himself cosily in Tricksy's lap, while Marjorie leaned over and petted hi

The steady strokes of the rowers brought the boat rapidly through the water, while the herring gulls flew screa around, and a small island in the middle of the firth came nearer and nearer

Presently the sea became shallower, and the boat shot up on the beach

'Here we are,' said Marjorie, springing out first; 'now you must see e've ie, you s Take care you don't drop any of the, and let's come'

Laddie waited i the party, and then followed his young friends with an anticipatory bark

Carlo was lifted out by Haull which sailedon the shore

'Now, Allan,' said Reggie, his dark eyes twinkling; 'you are going to see e've been about'

The island consisted of a beach, rocky on the one side, sandy on the other, enclosing a stretch of grass and heather A tiny hill rose by a deserted shepherd's hut, and a miniature burn trickled down to the sea

The place had once been used as a grazing ground for a few sheep, but of late years had been entirely uninhabited

'Now look, Allan,' said Reggie, as they stood by the bit of dyke which protected the windy side of the cottage

'Wh-e-ew,' said Allan; 'you have e, which had been falling to ruins,' said Reggie

'That was , and Hamish and I helped Filled up the holes in the thatch with fresh heather We all worked at that part of it Then you see we've arden and thrown up the turf for a dyke on the side where the stone one was broken down The shells on the path were brought up from the beach of this very island Isn't it jolly?'

'Awfully fine,' said Allan 'Have you given the place a name yet?'

'Why,' said Marjorie, 'it's our Pirates' Den, and we h the sumoing to have no end of fine doings, particularly if Neil has time to join us'

Allan shoved his cap to the back of his head, and looked about hi eyes

'Awfully jolly,' was all that he could say 'Neil, you _are_ a fellow for hitting upon good ideas'