made for
the comfort of all.

"I am sorry they gave me the best place," said Jackman. "I suppose it
is because the laird thinks my experience in India entitles me to it;
but I would much rather that Mabberly or Barret had got the chance, for
I'm used to this sort of thing, and, after bagging elephants, I can
afford to lay on my oars and see my friends go in and win."

"An' sure, aren't thim the very words I said, sor?" put in Quin.

"Have they given you a good place?" asked Jackman of MacRummle, taking
no notice of his man's remarks.

"They've given me the worst," said the old man, simply; "and I cannot
blame them, for, as the keeper truly remarked, I can do nothing with the
gun,"--still less with the rifle, he might have added! "At the same
time, I confess it would have added somewhat to the zest of the day if
Ivor had allowed me some degree of hope. He thought I didn't overhear
him, but I did; for they give me credit for greater deafness than I
deserve."

There was something so pitiful, yet half amusing, in the way in which
this was said, that Jackman suddenly grasped the old gentleman's hand.

"Mr MacRummle," he said firmly, "will you do me a favour?"

"Certainly, with pleasure--if I can."

"You can--and you shall. It is this: change places and rifles with me."

"My dear, kind sir, you don't know what you ask. My rifle is an old
double-barrel muzzle loader, and at the white rock you wouldn't have the
ghost of a chance. I know the place well, having often passed it in
fishing excursions up the burns. Besides, I never used a repeating
rifle in my life. I couldn't manage it, even if I were to try."

"Mr MacRummle, are you not a Highlander?"

"I believe I am!" replied the old man, drawing himself up with a smile.

"And is not that equivalent to saying that you are a man of your word?"

"Well--I suppose it is so--at least it should be so."

"But you will prove that it is not so, if you fail to do me a favour
that lies in your power, after promising to do it. Come now, we have no
time to lose. I will show you how to use the repeater. See; it is
empty just now. All you have to do is to take aim as you would with any
ordinary rifle, and pull the trigger. When the shot is off, you load
again by simply doing _this_ to the trigger-guard--so. D'you
understand?"

"Yes, perfectly; but is that all? no putting in of cartridges anywhere?"

"No, nothing more. Simply do _that_ (open--and the cartridge f