Part 6 (1/2)

At the sight of the young people the gipsies smiled a welcome, and the men took off their hats Some s, with their fingers in their rel curs had rushed out and barked, whereupon Laddie had stiffened his back and was growling defiance

Laddie was obliged to content hi a few res, and his view of their ientlemen

'Tell your fortune, pretty lady,' said a woman to Marjorie, with a smile which displayed her white teeth; but Marjorie shook her head

'You are leaving Inchkerra?' said Allan to one of the men

'Yes, sir We start for Ireland to- boat'

'You haven't stayed very long,' observed Marjorie

'Three ipsies'

'Will you ever coain?' inquired Marjorie

The man shook his head

'Can't say, lady Maybe yes, ood luck to you,' he said, touching his straggling forelock as Allan slipped a few coins into his hand

'Good-bye, ipsies in farewell

Some distance from the hollow, a tall, loosely- in the sun, by the side of a dyke which screened him fro eyes the young people recognised Gibbie, the half-witted gipsy lad An expression of disappointroup and seemed to miss some one

'Neil no with you,' he ive hie fro ant to see Neil to say good-bye'

'Very well,' said Allan 'When we see him, we'll tell him'

A crafty smile flitted over the lad's face, and he lowered his voice to a mysterious whisper

'Neil will be pleased soon,' he said 'Good Neil, good Neil Neil will be very rich, richer than the Gorjos; has a piece of paper worth hundreds of pounds Tell hi way off'

'Poor fellow,' observed Allan to Ha on the heather; 'he is quite crazy; can't speak connectedly for two ood point in Gibbie's character,' said Harateful I think the island won't be sorry to see the last of hih He hasn't lived with his tribe for weeks He had a den of his own in the banks of the burn that flows past our house; a queer place, far up in the hills'

'Look,' said Reggie, 'that ipsies' boat over there, off the south side of the island; and a little boat is going out to it with so down,' said Allan; 'it won't be long before the ca for a little while,' observed Marjorie; 'just for the su about fro up in Cateran Bay; the waves are dashi+ng on the shore andthe o down to the beach for a little while?'

'Plenty,' said Hamish; 'Mother doesn't expect us before one o'clock'

'Co, then,' said Marjorie; 'let's run;' and they all raced down to the shore, Laddie with theround, and barking in anticipation of sport