Part 34 (1/2)

'Your boat was stranded on the Reachin Skerry,' went on Mr Stewart, 'and the ain'

'Thank you, Father,' said Allan

They all scanned Mr Stewart's face to read, if possible, his intentions regarding Neil; but nothing was to be gathered

'Isn't Father a dear?' said Tricksy, when they had wandered out to the cricket-ground 'He knoe couldn't betray our friend, not even for hiie; 'but the question is whether he will have to do so himself, since he's a JP'

The question was not answered that day, and during the next they were still in ignorance

On the third day it was discovered that detectives were in the island again, and Euan brought the news that every boat atched both coed on in suspense, and still Neil was in the caves Rob MacLean had a plan for conveying hi him somewhere on the coast of Scotland, froe town and stow hiht, full moon rendered any such attempts impossible for the meanwhile

'Isn't it too bad?' broke out Marjorie one day; 'I think the law is cruel if it forces Mr Stewart to have Neil arrested I wonder how he could do it He knows as well as we do that Neil isn't a thief'

'It wasn't Father,' said Allan 'I happen know that he's lying low and won't take any notice All our people are bound together not to betray Neil, but some one has been a traitor; they don't knoho Neil has a secret eneht they kneho this was, but no one could bring the deed home to the culprit All desire for fun and adventure seeirls wandered about disconsolately or sat in groups talking about plans which they were unable to carry out; or later, ceased to find anything at all to suggest Even the dogs see was the matter, for they would lie quietly beside the children for hours, and sometimes Laddie would thrust his nose into some one's hand and look up with his honest, affectionate eyes full of sympathy

The weather became more broken, and sometimes all intercourse between Ardnavoir and Corranreater part of a day

When the rain ceased, Andrew MacPeters, looking up fro him as their owner sat astride upon a dyke, or Allan considering hihtful countenance; or else it was the Grahaarded him with a reat eyes resting upon him with an expression of sorrow that any one could be so dreadfully wicked

The lad would look up with a surly expression in his red-lidded eyes; but watch as they uilt or embarrass had closed in heavy rain, and towardsthe walls of Corran wild noises in the ruin

Marjorie awoke and sat up in bed Aconvinced her that what the islanders ale had arisen while Neil was still in the caves

She sprang to the ; and the grey light showed her an angry sea, with the white horses leaping and hurrying towards the Corrachin headland

The tide was rising, and was being driven eastith terrific force by the gale

Marjorie ran to her brother's roolance showed her an empty bed

'No tione to warn Neil, and perhaps he hasn't; in any case I'd better go too'

She hurried on so and ran out of doors The wind had swept the clouds towards the east, and an angry daas breaking above the hills Marjorie sped over the drenched grass and heather, the as lifting her nearly off her feet, and blowing her frock in front of her like a sail There were ed country between Corranmore and the headland It was a race between herself and the tide; and the tide see

Marjorie ran on and on Neither Haht The sheep had left the e inland

At last the headland calance showed Marjorie that the waves had not yet reached high-water mark Mechanically she chose the road by the shore

Now the as partly against her, and at tiainst the cliff; but Marjorie struggled forward Soon the rocks were frowning above her head, while the breakers were co in solid walls which thundered as they fell Showers of spray were flung shoreward; and looking up at the wet glistening cliffs Marjorie wondered whether foothold would be possible upon theed between the cliffs and the breakers