White Wings, Volume III

with all the light and life of her face, and the contented gentleness of the soft black eyes. What had wrought the transformation? Certain confide

ere was quite a new expression in her face; and we heard the low, sweet laugh again. It is true that, once or twice, as she walked up and down the deck with the Laird, her eyes grew pensive as she

as far as the village of Clachan; and the scouts had brought back the most glowing accounts of the Promised Land which they had discovered. They had penetrated a fertile and deeply-wooded v

d a telegraph-office! We might send a telegram to ask whether the country has

the steam fire-engine," said

the edge of tinned meats. We must have a plentiful supply of fresh vegetables, and fresh milk, and eggs and butter; and then two or three joints are always so serviceable-cold,

oters. They never get near anything; so we cannot be in the way. I assure

of you two going away by yourselves into the country! No-no; come away and get ready, Howard. If ye cannot shoot a seal with the two leddies in the boat, ye will never

sound of music in the stillness of the morning air. And then they perceived a rude old rowing-boat, pulled by a small boy of twelve or so, coming nearer and nearer; while another small boy of about the same

Look at his pride and laziness-having another boy to pull him about, while

enough," she s

the Laird, profoundly. "If you proved to him t

t you may be consciously unhappy-tha

e gig. And, indeed, as we rowed away from the yacht, in the direction of the rocks at the mouth of the loch, Miss Avon seemed determined to prove that, consciously

have been a lonesome journey for him this morning. And he so fond of sailing too; I'm thinking when he saw what a nice breeze

lies before him; think what calls him! Look at the position he has won for himself already, and what is expected of him! and you would have him throw away his splendid opportunities in yacht

e seemed desperately anxious to convince the Laird that our Doctor ought to have left the yacht, and must have left th

ple, from whom we expect much-were always to be consulting their feelings. Perhaps he was sorry to leave the yacht. He does like sailing; and-and I think he liked to be among friends. But what is that when he knows there is work in the wor

o such a fit of earnest talking-seemed to suggest to the silent person who was wa

as if-Dr. Sutherland"-she always faltered the least bit just before pronouncing the name-"were only working for his own fame or his own wealth. It is for the

her friend to her, thoughtfully. "If Angus goes away to

ned silent; but she was unnoticed, for at this mo

ter O with the upper four-fifths cut off. But the problem was, how to get anywhere within shot. The rocks, or small islands, had no doubt certain eminences in the middle; but they were low and shallow all round. Obviously it was no use bearing straight down on them from our present position; so it was resolved to giv

at would have carried anything like 800 yards with precision. There was not the least reason for their being alarmed. But all the same, as we silently and slowly paddled away from them-actually away from t

nd resolved, on getting close, on a cautious and silent landing. After many a trial we found a creek where the stern of the gig coul

med and had left the rocks; but still they were not far away. We could see here and there a black and glistening head moving among the lapping waters. Of course it would have been madness to have risked our all on a random shot at sea. H

the Sleeping Beauty and all her household. In their fright and wrath they come nearer and nearer; at times they remain motionless overhead; but ever continues the shrill and piercing shriek. The face of the Youth is awful to see. Again and again he puts up his rifle; and there is no doubt that, if he were to fire, he

is not a sign of any living thing all around the shores. Even the two sea-swallows, alarmed by our moving, have wheeled away into the distance; we are left in undisturbed possession of the island. Then the Youth

Youth, moodily, as we return to the gig.

," is the answer of one who is not much dis

all a-laughing, when

nd we shall be all the longer that Angus is not here to sing his 'Ho, ro,

ose sea-swallows," rema

would not shoot anything, or we should not have come. Let us haste

d push away, and have a long swin

xious when she draws near the yacht. For there is Master Fred idling up at the bow, instead of being below looking after the vast stores he has got on board

at last?" she cries, taking hold of th

es somethi

she says, when she is

, m

; the fowls wil

ntil he explains that he

's meat, then?" says sh

r begins to prevail among the assembled cr

fess-he is ashamed, angry, disc

ing at all, mem,

butter, and eggs; her mutton, and fowls, and cutlets; her grouse, and snipe, an

money on a church bell, and not able to keep a decent shop open! Do you me

, m

"why don't you get the sails up? What is

oking his great beard: he half beli

we get out of the loch; and it will be a long, long time before we get to Crinan. I not well aquent with this place, mem: if we were up in our own p

querulously; "and do you think we are going to starve? Howe

able; and the rowans had a border of white heather-fathered at Loch-na-Chill: the rowans were for lovely colour, the heather was for luck. Then, not content with that, he had put all our available silver on the table, including the candlesticks and the snuffer-tray, though the sun had not yet sunk behind the Jura hills. But the banquet defies description. The vast basin of steaming kidney soup, the boiled lith

n, I am going to ask

catingly; "we are not at a commis

contradict me when I say that, great as are his abeelities, they are not more remarkable than his modesty, and his good humour, and his simple, plain, frank ways. With a man of less solid judgment, I might be afraid of certain dangerous tendencies of these times; but our friend has a Scotch head on his shoulders; he may be dazzled by their newfangled speculations, but not convinced-not convinced. It is a rare thing-I will say it, though I am but a recent acquaintance, and do not know him as well as some now at this hospit

shioned eloquence. But Mary Avon sate white and trembling, and quite forgot t

were to go up on deck and ask the men whether they would li

tion," said the Laird, risin