th
agony, as the sail filled and the boat careened, and began to rush
through the water.

"Take more than that to send her over," cried Kenneth merrily, as he
took the tiller. "Plenty of wind now, Scood."

Scoodrach laughed, and their passenger clung more tightly to his seat.

For the wind was rising to a good stiff breeze, the waves were beginning
to show little caps of foam, and to the new-comer it seemed utter
madness to be seated in such a frail cockle-shell, which kept on lying
over from the pressure on the sail, and riding across the waves which
hissed and rushed along the sides, and now and then sent a few drops
flying over the sail.

"You'll soon get used to it," cried Kenneth, who felt disposed at first
to be commiserating and ready to pity his guest; but the abject state of
dread displayed roused the spirit of mischief latent in the lad, and,
after a glance or two at Scoodrach, he felt compelled to enjoy his
companion's misery.

"Is--is there any danger?" faltered the poor fellow at last, as the boat
seemed to fly through the water.

"No, not much. Unless she goes down, eh, Scood?"

"Oh, she shall not go down chust direckly," said Scoodrach seriously.
"She's a prave poat to sail."

"What's the matter?" cried Kenneth, as his passenger looked wildly
round.

"Have you--a basin on board?" he faltered.

This was too much for the others. Scoodrach burst into a roar of
laughter, in which Kenneth joined for a minute, and then, checking
himself, he apologised.

"Nonsense!" he said; "you keep a stout heart. You'll like it directly.
Got a line, Scood?"

"Yes; twa."

"Bait 'em and throw 'em out; we may get a mackerel or two."

"They've got spinners on them," said the lad sententiously, as he opened
a locker in the bows, and took out a couple of reels.

"Don't--go quite so fast," said the visitor imploringly.

"Why not? It's safer like this--eh, Scood?"

"Oh yes; she's much safer going fast."

"But the waves! They'll be in the boat directly."

"Won't give 'em time to get in--will we, Scood? Haul in that sheet a
little tighter."

This was done, and the boat literally rushed through the water.

"There, you're better already, aren't you?"

"I--I don't know."

"Oh, but I do. You'll want to have plenty of sails like this."

"In the young master's poat," said Scoodrach, watching the stranger with
eyes which sparkled with mischief. "Wouldn't the young chentleman like
to see the Grey Mare'