Part 7 (1/2)

'Sit round the nursery fire, of course, and talk,' said Marjorie

An immense pile of peats was built up on the hearth of the cosy, untidy roo folk sat round the 'ingle-neuk' and discussed amesome youth

Suddenly Marjorie looked up and said, 'Hurrah! the rain's stopped

What shall we do?'

'Too stor to the ; 'it's still very rough, and there will be another squall soon'

'_I_ know,' said Marjorie; 'let's play hide-and-seek No, not a rubbishy ga Allan's look of disapproval; 'a real good gaarden and the sheds and the ruins The rain will onlywet are funks'

With the wind blowing in gusts, and sudden showers splashi+ng down froor's was a first-rate place for hide-and-seek, with a number of outhouses built round a paved court, and the ruins of an old castle overlooking the garden

Marjorie and Reggie stayed at 'home' in the front lobby, where they could hear calls both from out of doors or within; and the hiders dispersed the from different directions; and the pursuers ran out into the rain, which was beginning to fall again

Hamish was quickly discovered in aof the old ruin, for he could not resist the teood-naturedly down fro while they aiting at the foot of a stairway, and reached 'hoh of a chase,' cried Marjorie to hi pane; then she went off, rather annoyed, to look for the others

They hunted for so shower-baths of drops from the eaves; but no one was to be found At last they saw asome straw in the byre, and Marjorie made a dash forward, just too late to catch Allan, who slipped out and e

'Unfair--different directions!' cried Allan; for it was the rule a one they ie stood aside

They were pretty fairlytis; but at last, his foot slipping upon the wet paving-stones, he was captured by a bold dash froasped Marjorie, pushi+ng back her wet hair, which was clinging about her face; 'we haven't seen a sign of her; where can she be?'

'You have run enough,' suggested Allan; 'go in and let one of us take your place'

Marjorie flashed a glance of indignation at hi to see the thing out, and after drawing a few long breaths she and Reggie started off again

By this ti fro trees

No little footprints were to be seen in the garden; and it was impossible that Tricksy could have escaped observation had she been in the ruins or in any of the outhouses

They hunted all over the house, then went into the field, and even clirounds from the moorland; but no Tricksy was to be seen

'I believe she has gone beyond bounds,' said Allan, ith Ha and had wandered out to see as going on; 'we said the garden and the field, you know'

'Not she,' declared Reggie, perched outside upon the dyke, with the wind drying his wet face and clothing; 'we have taught her to play fair She is only lying low in soht of

Let's shout to her to call ”cuckoo”'

They raised their voices and cried, 'Call cuckoo, Tricksy;' and Laddie, who had been shut in the house to keep hiood his escape behind the boys, pricked up his ears and resolved to be useful

A muffled voice was heard in response, and Laddie, with a bark, sprang towards the peat-stack and stood before it, wagging his tail and trying to make an entrance with nose and paws