t he and Long Shon had taken the boat before
sunrise, and gone off to Port Staffey, where Grant knew a medical man to
be staying for a holiday, and to fish.

For poor Kenneth was quite delirious, and about midday, after going out
on the terrace to scan the offing eagerly for signs of the boat, The
Mackhai went back into the house, and up to his son's room, to hear the
injured lad talking at random, and a hoarse sob escaped from the
father's lips.

"My poor boy!" he groaned; "and am I to lose you? Well, better so,
perhaps--better than to live a beggar, ready to curse your weak father
for the ruin he has brought--Hah! how came you here?"

His voice had changed from a soft, appealing tone to one full of angry
annoyance, as he saw Max slowly rise up from the other side of the bed,
where he had been seated, hidden by the curtain.

"I came to sit with poor Kenneth, sir. I beg your pardon. I'll go
now."

"If you please," said The Mackhai coldly, and there was a bitterly
fierce look of dislike in his eyes, as he crossed toward the door and
threw it open for Max to pass out; but the next moment he had closed it
hastily, and he held out his hand.

Max looked at him wonderingly.

"I beg your pardon, Mr Blande," said The Mackhai, in a low voice, full
of courteous apology. "I am in trouble, and hardly know what I have
been saying."

He pointed as he spoke toward the bed, and then his countenance worked,
and he wrung the boy's hand warmly, as Max caught his, and whispered in
broken tones,--

"Oh, sir, you don't think he is so very bad?"

"I hope not, my lad, I hope not. Thank you, thank you. No, no, don't
go. You are Kenneth's visitor and friend."

"But do pray tell me what you think of him," whispered Max excitedly.

"I cannot say. We shall have the doctor here soon."

"I should like to stay and hear what he says, sir; and then--perhaps--I
ought not to--I shall be--intruding--I ought to go away."

"No, no," said The Mackhai hastily; "certainly not. My boy would not
wish you to leave him--that is, if you wish to stay."

"May I?" cried Max, with such intense earnestness that his host looked
at him wonderingly.

"I beg you will stay, Mr Blande," he said; "and let's hope that he will
be better soon. By the way, I hope you will forget what you heard me
say."

Just then Kenneth turned uneasily upon his pillow, muttering quickly the
while. Now he seemed to be talking to his dogs, now his words were a
confu