sed babbling, and then the occupants of the darkened room started
as he burst into a fit of laughter, and said merrily,--

"No, no, Scoody; it's too bad! Poor old Max!"

Max felt the blood rise to his cheeks and gradually pale away; and then,
for quite two hours, father and visitor sat watching, the monotony of
the vigil being broken by an occasional walk to a window, which
commanded the sea, and at last Max was able to announce that the boat
was in sight.

"Thank heaven!" muttered The Mackhai.

They had to wait for a full half-hour, though, before they could be
satisfied that there was a third person in the boat--all doubt being set
at rest by The Mackhai fetching his binocular, whose general use was for
deerstalking, but by whose help he was able to see that the third party
in the boat was a stern-looking, dark, middle-aged man, who might very
well be the doctor.

The doctor it was, and, after a careful examination, he confirmed
Tavish's declaration.

"Oh no, my dear sir, I don't think it is as bad as that. The boy has
concussion of the brain, and he is a great deal hurt beside; but he is
young and vigorous, and I think I may venture to say that we'll pull him
through. It would have killed you or me, but he is a boy accustomed
evidently to a rough life."

The Mackhai wrung his hand: he could not speak for a few minutes, and
the doctor left him to go back to the bedside to replace the coverlid
Kenneth had tossed off, but The Mackhai noted that the doctor was too
late, for Max was performing this little office, and the father observed
that the lad gently laid his hand upon his son's brow.

"Of course you will stay and dine, Mr--?"

"Curzon," said the doctor, smiling.

"Mr Curzon; and then see my boy again before you go?"

"My dear sir, I shall be very glad to do so; but I think, under the
circumstances, I ought to stay the night."

"Will you?" cried The Mackhai eagerly.

"With pleasure. I am down here fishing, and one place is the same to me
as another. If I can serve you, I shall only be too glad."

"My good sir," cried The Mackhai, "you are taking a load off my mind!
Pray, pray stay, and if you care to fish, my river and loch are at your
service,--tackle, boats, keepers, everything,--while they are mine," he
added to himself.

"Then," said the doctor, smiling, "I am your private medical attendant
for the next week; and to-morrow, if you will send your boat for my
traps from the hotel at Staffey