t know how to sail a boat."

He jumped up suddenly, and shouted back,--

"Hi, Shon!"

"Ay, ay!"

"Pray take care of yourself."

"You tak' care o' yoursel', Maister Ken, and never mind me."

"Mind you don't catch cold."

"Eh?"

"Tie a handkerchief round your neck, and put your feet in warm water."

"What ye mean, Maister Ken?"

"Get Mother Cumstie to come and hold your hand, for fear you should fall
off the rock."

"What ye talking aboot, sir?"

"Do be careful, Shon; there's a good man."

Long Shon stood on the rock, rubbing a great red, yellow-freckled ear;
and then scratched one of his brawny cheeks, looking puzzled.

"Shall I send Scoody back, to lead you with a string?"

The distance was getting great now, and the man's voice sounded faint as
he put his hands to his mouth to make a speaking-trumpet.

"She ton't know what you mean."

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Scood.

"Go and teach your grandmother how to suck eggs," roared Kenneth in the
same way; but Shon shook his head, for he could not hear the words; and
Kenneth sank down in the boat, and pressed the tiller a little to port,
so as to alter the boat's course slightly. "Scood," he cried pettishly,
"your father's a jolly old woman."

Scood, who was half leaning back, enjoying the fun of hearing his father
bantered, suddenly started up in a stiff sitting position, and tore off
his Tam o' Shanter, to throw it angrily in the bottom of the boat, as
his yellow face grew redder, and he cried fiercely,--

"No, she isna an auld woman. My father's a ferry coot man."

"No, he isn't; he's a regular silly old cow."

"My father's a man, and a coot man, and a coot prave man, and never wass
an auld woman."

"Get out, you old thick-head!" cried Kenneth.

"I ton't say my het isna a coot thick het, Maister Ken; but my father is
as coot a man as The Mackhai hersel'."

"Oh, all right, then; Long Shon is a coot prave man, but his legs are
too short."

"She canna help her legs peing short," said Scood, who was still
ruffled; "put they're ferry coot legs--peautiful legs."

"Ha, ha!" laughed Kenneth.

"So they are," cried Scood. "They're not so long, put they're much
pigger rount than the Chief's."

"Bother! Hear him bragging about his father's old legs, Max! Here, you
come and take a lesson in steering," said Kenneth, making fast the
sheet, an act which made Scoodrach growl a little. "I can't steer and
shoot."

"Shall she tak' the tiller?" said Sc