g which they were
uncertain whether the officers were really going to enter the gate or
would pass by; 'they've gone in. I saw that nice one who came here
last year. Do you think they can be going to invite us to come on
board?'

This question being rather difficult to answer, Allan suggested that
the boys should go down to the shore and see if any of their old
friends were in the boat.

'Marjorie,' said Tricksy, as the two girls remained looking down from
above; 'do you think we should have better fun if we were boys?'

Marjorie's reply was forestalled by a shout from below; and the girls
scrambled down to the beach.

'Come along, you two,' said Allan; 'here's Jim Macdonnell, Euan's twin
brother, and a lot of the men who were here last year.'

Greetings were exchanged with the pleasant-faced young blue-jacket and
his companions; and then the boys and girls sat down on the stones to
talk with their friends.

The men could not come on shore, as no leave had yet been given, but
they hoped to be allowed to land on the following day.

'You will be glad to see Euan,' said Marjorie to Jim Macdonnell.

'Yes, Miss Marjorie,' replied the lad, but his handsome face clouded;
and Marjorie knew that he was thinking of his cousin Neil, once the
favourite of the island.

'We were going to ask you, Mr. Allan,' he said, 'whether you young
gentlemen would come and have tea on board this afternoon; just with us
men, you know, sir.'

'Thank you very much,' replied Allan, while all the boys looked
gratified; 'it would be no end jolly, and we'll come if Father will let
us. I'm sure he will. May we bring our friends too, Harry and Gerald
Graham?'

'To be sure, sir,' replied Jim; 'we'll be glad to see the young
gentlemen. Are you fond of the sea, sir?' he inquired, turning to
Harry.

Yes,' replied Harry, 'and I'm going into the navy.'

'That's good,' said Jim. 'Perhaps I'll see you as a midshipman next
time we meet.'

'Perhaps,' said Harry; 'and I hope I'll be a captain before very long.'

'I hope you will be an admiral some day, sir, I'm sure,' answered Jim
gravely.

'Thank you,' said Harry; 'yes, I daresay I shall be.'

Allan turned his head away, and a smile gleamed out for an instant upon
Marjorie's face. Harry saw it and did not feel pleased, and he
remarked to Gerald afterwards that he was afraid Marjorie thought a
great deal too much of herself.

'And what are you going to be, air?' inquired another of th