k paid no attention,
not even turning his head, but increasing his pace, with the mug
troubling him a good deal in his efforts to preserve the liquid in a
state of equilibrium in a rapidly descending and very slippery and
uneven rocky path.

"I daresay you'd like it," muttered Aleck, as he hurried on, followed
directly after by:

"I'm over here, Master Aleck."

"Thank you for the information, Ness, but they say none are so deaf as
those who will not hear."

At the next zigzag of the path he was out of sight and hearing, and a
few minutes later close upon the niche devoted to his boat, with the big
sandwiches complete, and quite three parts of the coffee in the mug.

"Sorry to have been so long, Tom," he cried, breathlessly, "but here
you--"

Aleck was going to say _are_, but he felt that it would not be correct,
for Tom was not there, nor anywhere within sight down the narrow
waterway in the direction of the sea. He had left tokens of his
presence in the shape of tidy touches, for the boat tackle had all been
taken out and stowed away in the overhanging cavernous part, and the
boat lay ready for any amount of necessary repairs, for, in spite of the
sailor's declaration the previous evening, she had been leaking to such
an extent during the night since she had been tied up, that she was one
quarter full of water.

"Why, he ought to have stopped to mend the hole properly. Seen the
men-o'-war coming, I suppose, and gone back to Rockabie so as not to be
found if the sailors come searching here. But how stupid! What am I to
do with this coffee and bacon?"

A moment was sufficient for his decision, and he turned and hurried
back, made straight for the tool-house, where he placed the mug on the
bench, with the sandwiches carefully balanced across. Then, carefully
keeping out of the gardener's sight till the last minute, he turned down
a path which led him near, and then, putting his hands to his lips, he
shouted:

"Ness!"

"Yes, Master Aleck," came directly from where the man was making believe
to have been busy for hours.

"I've put some coffee and something to eat in the tool-shed," bellowed
Aleck. "Let him think what he likes," he muttered, as he ran back
indoors, obtained the glass, and was off again to make for the cliff and
watch the proceedings of the men-o'-war.

Their proceedings seemed to be nil, for both vessels were hove to, and
after watching them for a few minutes by means of the glass, Ale