."

"All right."

There was the rapid passing down of luggage--portmanteau, hat-box, bag,
gun-case, sheaf of fishing-rods, and bale of wrappers; and, as Scood
secured these, Kenneth held out his hand.

"Come along," he said. "It's all right."

"But--"

"Look sharp, sir, please; we can't stop all day."

Evidently in an agony of dread and shame, the stranger stepped down into
the boat, staggered, clung to Kenneth, and, as he was forced down to a
seat, clung to it with all his might. Scood cast off the rope; the
captain on the bridge made his bell ting in the engine-room, a burst of
foam came rushing from beneath the paddle-box, the little boat danced up
and down, the great steamer glided rapidly on, and Kenneth and Scoodrach
gazed in an amused way at the new occupant of the boat.

"We've been waiting for you--hours," said Kenneth at last. "How are
you?"

"I'm quite well, thank--I mean, I'm not at all well, thank you," said
the visitor, shaking hands limply, and then turning to look at Scood, as
if wondering whether he should shake hands there.

"That's only Scood, my gillie," said Kenneth hastily. "Did we get all
your luggage?"

"I--I don't know," said the visitor in a helpless way. "I hope so. At
least, I don't mind. It has been such a rough passage!"

"Rough?" shouted Kenneth.

"Yes; terribly. The steamer went up and down so. I felt very ill."

"Been beautiful here. Now, Scood, don't sit staring there. Shove some
of those things forward and some aft."

Scood jumped up, the boat gave a lurch, and the visitor uttered a gasp.

"Mind!" he cried.

"Oh, he's all right," said Kenneth bluffly. "When he has no shoes on he
can hold by his toes. Come and sit aft."

"No, thank you; I would rather not move. I did not know it would be so
rough at sea, or I would have come by train."

"Train! You couldn't come to Dunroe by train."

"Couldn't I?"

"No."

"Oh!--Are you Mr Kenneth Mackhai?"

"I'm Kenneth Mackhai," said the lad rather stiffly. "My father asked me
to come and meet you--and, er--we're very glad to see you."

"Thank you. It was very kind of you; but I am not used to the sea, and
I should have preferred landing at the pier and coming on in a cab or a
fly."

"Pier! There's no pier near us."

"No pier? But never mind. You are very good. Would you mind setting
me ashore now?"

"Ashore! What for?"

"To--to go on to the house. I would rather walk."

Kenneth laughed, and