forward or backward?"

"Yonder where we landed to get the big corbies," said Scoodrach; and the
boat was run on for about a quarter of a mile, to where a ravine ran
right up into the land, looking as if a large wedge had been driven in
to split the cliff asunder.

The boat was steered in, the sail lowered, and Scood immediately began
to set free one of the ropes.

"Think that'll be strong enough, Scoody?"

"Na."

"Then why are you casting it loose?"

Scoodrach gave his companions a cunning look, and made the rope fast to
a ring-bolt, and then leaped out and secured the other end to a mass of
rock.

"That'll hold her," he said. "Unto the ither."

"Oh, I see what you mean now," cried Kenneth, unfastening the
mooring-rope from the ring in the bows. "Yes, that'll do better."

"She'll holt twa laddies hanging on at aince," said Scoodrach. "Na, na,
ton't to that."

"Why not?"

"Because she'll want ta crapnel."

"Scood, you're an old wonder!" cried Kenneth; "but you'll have to carry
it."

"Ou ay, she'll carry her," said the lad coolly; and, getting on board
again, he lifted and shouldered the little anchor, so that one of the
flukes hung over his shoulder and the coil of rope on his arm.

"She's retty," he said.

"All right. Come on, Max, and we'll send you down first."

"Send me down first?" said Max, looking wildly from one to the other.

"To be sure. You can't fall; we'll tie the rope round you and let you
down, and then you can turn round gently and get roasted in the sun."

Scood laughed.

"You're bantering me again," said Max, after a few moments.

"Ah, well, you'll see. Stop back if you're afraid."

"I'm not afraid," said Max firmly, but his white face spoke to the
contrary. All the same, though, he drew a long breath, and jumped out
of the boat to follow Scoodrach, who took the lead, tramping sturdily
over the rough rocks of what proved to be a very stiff climb, the
greater part of it being right down in the stony bed of a tiny torrent,
which came gurgling from stone to stone, now dancing in the sunshine,
and now completely hidden beneath the debris of ruddy granite, of which
a dyke ran down to the sea.

"Hard work for the boots, Max, isn't it?" said Kenneth, laughing, as he
came along behind, active as a goat, and with his gun on his shoulder.

"Yes," said Max, perspiring freely. "Isn't there a better path than
this?"

"No; this is the best, and it's beautiful to-day. After rai