n Stirling that we could get to do
that."

"Oh, never mind, Max," cried Kenneth, coming in after leaving his
visitor for some little time in the drawing-room; "the trousers'll turn
up soon, and if they don't, you'll do as you are. He looks fizzing,
don't he, Granty?"

"Yes, sir, that he do," replied the butler, compressing his lips into a
thin line.

"Only his legs look just a little too white," continued Kenneth.

"You are both laughing at me," said Max sadly.

"No, no, nonsense! There, come on out."

"Like this?"

"Of course. It's no worse for you than it is for me. Come along."

Max felt as if he could not help himself, and, yielding to the pressure,
he followed his young host out on to the terrace-like rock, where they
were joined by Scoodrach, who came up with his eyes so wide open that
they showed the whites all round.

As the red-headed lad came up, he essayed to speak, but only made an
explosive sound.

"Look here, Scood, if you laugh, Max Blande will pitch you overboard.
Now then, what is it?"

"Tonald--"

"Well, what about Donald?"

"She's chust waitin' for the young chentleman."

"Where?"

"In ta castle yaird."

"What does he want?" said Kenneth seriously. "Here, Max, let's go and
see."

Max was not sorry to follow his young host into the shelter of the
castle ruins, for there was a good deal of breeze off the sea; and, as
soon as the three lads were in the shady quadrangle, old Donald Dhu came
out of the ruined entry at the corner tower he affected.

As soon as the old man was well outside, he stood shading his dim eyes
with one bony hand, bending forward and gazing at Max, looking him up
and down in a way which was most embarrassing to the visitor, but which
made the boys' eyes sparkle with delight.

Max felt ready to run back to his room and lock himself in, but, to his
relief, the old man did not burst into a fit of laughing, for a grave
smile overspread his venerable face.

"She wass a prave poy," he said, laying a claw-like hand upon Max's
shoulder, "and she shall wear ta kilt petter some day."

Then, motioning to him mysteriously with his free hand, he beckoned him
slowly toward the entry to the spiral staircase, and Max yielded, though
he longed to escape.

"What does he want, Kenneth?"

"Got something to say to you, I suppose. Don't be long, and we'll have
the boat ready for a sail."

"But--"

"I say, don't stop talking; it may make the old boy wild, and if y