, where the face fell down to the shore.

"Don't walk quite so near," he said nervously.

"Certainly not," said Kenneth politely. "Do you hear, Scoody? don't go
so near. It's dangerous. Come this way."

As he spoke, he made his way, to Max's horror, close to the verge, and,
with a grin of delight, the young gillie followed him, to climb every
now and then on the top of some projecting block right over the brink,
and so that had he dropped a stone it would have fallen sheer upon the
rocks below.

Max felt a strange catching of the breath, and his eyes dilated and
throat grew dry; when, seeing his suffering, Kenneth came more inward.

"Why, what are you afraid of?" he said, laughing. "We're used to it,
and don't mind it any more than the sheep."

"Tut it looks so dreadful."

"Dreadful? Nonsense! See what the sailors do when they go up aloft,
with the ship swaying about. It's quite solid here. Now, Scoody,
aren't we far enough?"

"Na. It's just ahint that big stane where we shall gae doon."

"No, no; it's about here," said Kenneth; and, going to the edge, he
looked over.

Scoodrach chuckled.

"Can ye see ta nest, Maister Ken?"

"No; I suppose you're right. There never was such an obstinate old
humbug, Max; he's always right. It's his luck."

Scoodrach chuckled again, and went on about fifty yards to where a rough
block of stone lay in their path, and as soon as they were by this, he
went to the brink and looked down, bending over so much that Max
shivered.

"There!" he cried, and Kenneth joined him, to look over as well,
apparently at something beneath the projecting rock which was hard to
see.

"Yes, here it is!" he cried, "Come and have a look, Max."

At that moment the party addressed felt as if he would like to cling to
the nearest stone for an anchorage, to save himself from being blown off
the cliff by some passing gust, and he stood still, staring at his
companions on the brink.

"Well, why don't you come? You can just see where the nest lies--at
least you can make out the bits of stick."

"I don't think I'll come, thank you," said Max.

"Nonsense! Do be a little more plucky."

"Yes," said Max, making an effort over himself; and he took a couple of
steps forward, and then stopped.

"Well," cried Kenneth, "come along! There's no danger."

As he stood there, with his gun resting on the rock beside him, Max
could not help envying his cool daring, and wishing he could be as
br