Part 27 (1/2)

'Tear entle for you ahl over the house and grounds The Sheriff iss here from Stornwell and the minister iss come to call, and the laird says as it iss such a ferry fine day he iss going to take effery one out for a sail in the yacht, and Dr and Mrs MacGregor iss coo over to Alvasay, and afterwards if there iss ti at the Corrachin Caves, for Mr Graha to explore the ladies and chentlehtened

'Look here, Duncan,' she said, after Haly by Tricksy, had passed out of hearing, 'we must make them too late for the caves'

'Indeed, Miss Marjorie, ill hev to keep them out whateffer,' said Duncan, 'Mr Graham's eyes will pe ferry sharp, he iss as bad as Mr

Harry, who is notticing efferything But there iss ta laird, Miss Marjorie, he will pe calling to o'

The hall was a scene of anior and receiving defiant glances from Tricksy; theshoulders, stood sos and fishi+ng tackle, and Harry and Gerald were ju in every one's way

'Rob MacLean has come to say that the _Kelpie_ iss all ready, sir,'

said Duncan, who a his other avocations sailed his er then,' said the laird; 'we shall not have ti if we miss the tide'

Two trips of the _Mer owners were by themselves--conveyed the entire party on board the _Kelpie_, whose crew, consisting of Rob MacLean and another crofter, were in readiness

'We o to the caves, Rob,' said Marjorie as she passed

'Aye, Miss Marjorie, she will not pe going to the caves to-day,' said the Highlander gri people's spirits rose in spite of theh wind to fill out the sails and h to make any one in the least uncoht

'Do you see that island over there?' said Marjorie to Harry, as looking about hih one beyond all the little skerries? That's where we're going; it's an awfully jolly place, there's a fine loch with sea trout in it and a capital beach'

Harry looked at the island, and then at the water tuan to look about for souests and pointing out the interesting places as they passed, and Gerald and Tricksy were sitting soberly in a corner by theor were busy with the sailing of the vessel, which seee; and Harry's soul beca theh they had passed their lives on board a shi+p

Seeing Reggie perched half-way up theto shake out a sail, Harry tried to scramble up after him, but Hamish ordered hinant stare

The elder boy, who see suit, ood-natured smile, but did not seein when the vessel's steady,' he said; 'it would never do to fall overboard while she's going along at this rate'

'Why,' said Harry; 'couldn't you lower a boat?'

'It would not do youpretty rapidly one way, and the wind's driving us along at a fair speed in exactly the opposite direction; you et a boat out'

Harry went to the side and looked down at the water that was eddying past

'It wouldn't be at all nice to fall overboard here, would it?' said Marjorie, who see in the wind 'It will soon be over now, and see how near the island has been getting; we'll be there in no ti of the ropes, and in about half-an-hour the _Kelpie_ was brought alongside the rude stone pier of Alvasay

First came a walk to a wonderful rocky fiord, where the stones that were thron rebounded from side to side, and finally landed with a dull thud in so water at the bottoirls scattered for a bathe