Part 31 (1/2)

'But won't Mrs Stewart be frightened?' suggested Gerald, the thoughtful boy

'Not she,' said Marjorie; 'she knows that we can take care of ourselves; besides, Father and Mr Stewart made us promise that if ere surrounded by a tide-ere not to try to coht have to wait It would be quite impossible for us to row across We ht here'

They re the situation, while the red turned to grey beyond the far-off islands; then they went indoors to ht

Fresh peats were cast on the fire, and the stores of cut heather were brought out and laid on the floor to serve as beds Marjorie lighted the lahted up a circle of eager, wakeful faces

The novelty of their surroundings, together with the voice of the current, which was running deep and swift round their tiny strip of an island, took fro the early part of the night It was not until the laainst Marjorie's knee that the rushi+ng became fainter and finally died away, and one by one the listeners dropped to sleep upon their heather couches

It was about ht noise, and the fla in front of hi

'What is it?' she asked

'Hush, don't wake the others There it is again--now, hark'

Marjorie listened, and in the cal of oars in rowlocks and the sound of a boat's bows dividing the water

'It's so for us,' she said

'No, for they would have called out before they got so near'

Marjorie juleaested

She was not frightened, only excited, for the situation promised some adventure

'It's more likely to be Neil,' said Allan 'He coo out and see, but tread softly and don't disturb the youngsters'

They threaded their way cautiously a a little with the chilliness of the air and with exciteht

'Crouch down, Marjorie, and keep behind the dyke,' said Allan 'Let's make certain that it _is_ Neil before we show ourselves'

By this ti out

The cloudy ure to be those of Neil

'Stand up, Marjorie; let hiirl,' said Allan, 'and he'll know that he's safe'

Marjorie stood up, and called 'Neil! Hist! Neil!'

The figure turned round

'Who is that?' asked a voice in Gaelic

'It's Marjorie, Neil; and Allan'