Part 20 (1/2)

'Yes, Miss Marjorie,' replied the lad, but his handso of his cousin Neil, once the favourite of the island

'We were going to ask you, Mr Allan,' he said, 'whether you young gentlemen would come and have tea on board this afternoon; just with us men, you know, sir'

'Thank you very ratified; 'it would be no end jolly, and we'll co our friends too, Harry and Gerald Grahalad to see the young gentle to Harry

Yes,' replied Harry, 'and I'ood,' said Jim 'Perhaps I'll see you as a midshi+pman next time we meet'

'Perhaps,' said Harry; 'and I hope I'll be a captain before very long'

'I hope you will be an adravely

'Thank you,' said Harry; 'yes, I daresay I shall be'

Allan turned his head away, and a sleamed out for an instant upon Marjorie's face Harry saw it and did not feel pleased, and he reht a great deal tooto be, air?' inquired another of the htful face

'I' into the army, I think,' answered Gerald; 'but I don't know if I can pass the exa to try'

'Here are the gentleain,' said Jim

'Then we'll leave you now,' said Allan; 'but we'll see you again in the afternoon'

'Right you are, sir,' replied Jim; 'we'll send a boat to fetch you'

'You are lucky,' said Marjorie to the boys 'Hoe could go too Do you think they meant to invite us?'

Allan looked doubtful

'I don't know,' he said 'I don't think they thought of it But I daresay they would be glad to see you if you caood, I'm afraid,' answered Marjorie; 'I'd have to ask Mother and she'd be sure to say no But there is the boat going away, and listen, isn't that the horn?'

They hearkened for a moment, and it was unmistakably the old ram's horn which was sounded at Ardnavoir to summon those at a distance when any notable event was about to take place

'I wonder what it can be,' said Tricksy, as they scampered in the direction of theto do with the _Heroic_, Allan?'

Mrs Steas in the doorway

'We are invited to luncheon on board the _Heroic_,' she announced