ll-known shores, 'but it's a bother not having anything
to do. I've seen all this before, and it isn't as though we were
rowing for all we were worth in the old _Mermaid_--I mean, the
_Craft_--and in danger of getting into currents and being swept away to
I don't know where. Now I have no doubt the boys are having no end of
a good time, going into the engine-room and getting themselves dirty,
and climbing all over the place, and listening to the sailors' yarns.
Once I get out of this, catch me bother any more about looking nice,
and being grown-up, and all the rest of it--it will be time enough when
I'm so old that I get no fun out of being a tomboy any more.'

Lieutenant Jones left Tricksy and came to sit beside Marjorie for a
turn.

'I suppose you are quite accustomed to sailing as you live in an
island, Miss MacGregor?' he said.

'Yes,' replied Marjorie, 'we are all very fond of boating, the boys and
Tricksy and I,' and after talking for a little while she began to think
that a grown-up man was nearly as good company as a boy once you got
him upon the right subject.

'Now,' said the Sheriff, coming up with his spy-glass, 'we are coming
near the finest bit of rock scenery on the island; one of the finest,
in my opinion, on this part of the West Coast.'

The _Heroic_ was just rounding the point which concealed the Smugglers'
Caves from view.

'The Corrachin Crags,' continued the Sheriff; 'the caves are remarkably
fine; interesting, too, as in former times they are said to have been
used for smuggling purposes, and as hiding-places for pirates and other
lawless characters----'

'Now!' burst from the lips of the gazers as the lofty cliffs came in
view, with the waves tumbling at their base.

Captain Redwood had issued orders to slacken speed, and as the vessel
steamed slowly past, a fine view was obtained of bold masses of rock
and the black openings to the caves, with the startled birds rising in
clouds and screaming.

'If all stories are true, the caves are still sometimes put to their
old uses,' observed Mrs. MacGregor as the _Heroic's_ engines throbbed
through the smooth swell of the water; 'for all we know, the most
thrilling adventures may be taking place there.'

'A score of men might lie in hiding without discovering one another's
presence,' said the laird; 'the caves form a regular network, and
stretch a long way underground. The entire headland is said to be
honeycombed with them----'

'Hullo,