Part 21 (2/2)

'Hullo, Miss Tricksy, how do you do?' said a voice, and Tricksy looked up to see the Sheriff, as s at her with outstretched hand

Tricksy looked sole to shake hands, Tricksy?' said the Sheriff

'No,' said Tricksy deliberately

The Sheriff's expression altered

'And why not, Miss Tricksy, if I rim smile with a solereat friend of ours be put in prison when he didn't deserve it,' she replied 'That hy I sent back the big box of chocolates that you sent me by post Mother did not know that it had come We can't be friends until you've owned yourself in the wrong

We've all joined a Coain and to show that it wasn't he who did it I've got it with an to fu to twitch at the corners of the Sheriff's lips again when he was addressed by one of the officers The little scene had passed unobserved by all save Marjorie, as the captain suggested that, the weather being fine and time at their disposal, the _Heroic_ should take their visitors on a tour round Inchkerra

'Certainly, certainly,' said the Sheriff at haphazard, and Tricksy slipped away

'In the meanwhile I think lunch is ready,' said Captain Redwood, and each of the officers took a lady downstairs, Tricksy falling to the share of the youngest

'Dearas I expected,' said Marjorie to herself 'What stupid grown-up things they are talking about; I am sure they wouldn't be interested if I were to tell the bare-backed ponies, and about the Craft and the Den, and finding the s else to talk to them about They haven't taken much notice of Tricksy and me after all; they weren't a bit surprised when they saw us; we're pretty, but not any prettier than lots of other girls, and it isn't enough to make a fuss about'

She wondered what Tricksy was finding to say to Lieutenant Jones, the young officer by whose side she was sitting, and who appeared to be greatly entertained by the little girl

After lunch they returned on deck to see a boat bring the boys on board; then the screas set in an to churn itself into foam round the vessel's sides

'It isn't bad,' said Marjorie to herself as the _Heroic_ ploughed her way past the well-known shores, 'but it's a bother not having anything to do I've seen all this before, and it isn't as though ere rowing for all orth in the old _Mer into currents and being swept away to I don't knohere Now I have no doubt the boys are having no end of a good ti the to the sailors' yarns

Once I get out of this, catch rown-up, and all the rest of it--it will be ti a tomboy any more'

Lieutenant Jones left Tricksy and came to sit beside Marjorie for a turn

'I suppose you are quite accustoor?' he said

'Yes,' replied Marjorie, 'we are all very fond of boating, the boys and Tricksy and I,' and after talking for a little while she began to think that a grown-up ot hiht subject

'Now,' said the Sheriff, co near the finest bit of rock scenery on the island; one of the finest, in my opinion, on this part of the West Coast'

The _Heroic_ was just rounding the point which concealed the Ss,' continued the Sheriff; 'the caves are re, too, as in for purposes, and as hiding-places for pirates and other lawless characters----'

'Now!' burst froazers as the lofty cliffs ca at their base

Captain Redwood had issued orders to slacken speed, and as the vessel steamed slowly past, a fine vieas obtained of bold s to the caves, with the startled birds rising in clouds and screa

'If all stories are true, the caves are still soor as the _Heroic's_ engines throbbed through the s adventures ht lie in hiding without discovering one another's presence,' said the laird; 'the caves forround The entire headland is said to be honeycombed with them----'