e some more of this
paper."

The voice sounded very gruff and ill-humoured, and the speaker glared
angrily, more than looked, at the boy.

"Here," he continued, "don't drown yourself."

"Oh, no, uncle," said the boy, confidently, "I'll take care of that."

"By running into the first danger you come across."

"Nonsense, uncle. I can sail about now as well as any of the fisher
lads."

"Fisher? Bah!" growled the old man, fiercely. "Scoundrels--rascals,
who wear a fisher's frock to hide the fact that they are smugglers--were
wreckers. Nice sink of iniquity this. Look here, Lick. Take care and
don't play that idler's trick of making fast the sheet."

"I'll take care, uncle."

"How's the wind, boy?"

"Just a nice soft breeze, uncle. I can run round the point in about an
hour--wind right abaft."

"And dead ahead coming back, eh?"

"Yes; but I can tack, uncle--make good long reaches."

"To take you out into the race and among the skerries. Do you think I
want to have you carried out to sea and brought back days hence to be
buried, sir?"

"Of course you don't, uncle; but I shan't hurt. Old Dumpus says I can
manage a boat as well as he can."

"He's a wooden-legged, wooden-headed old fool for saying so. Look here,
Aleck; you'd better stop at home to-day."

"Uncle!" cried the boy, in a voice full of protest.

"The weather's going to change. I can feel it in my old wound; and it
will not be safe for a boy like you alone to try and run that boat home
round the point."

"Oh, uncle, you treat me as if I were a little boy!"

"So you are; and too light-headed."

"It's such a beautiful morning for a sail, uncle."

"Do just as well to watch the sea from the cliffs, and the carrier can
bring what you want from Rockabie next time he goes."

"Uncle! I shall be so disappointed," pleaded the boy.

"Well! What of that? Do you good, boy. Life's all disappointments.
Prepare you for what you'll have to endure in the future."

"Very well, uncle, I won't go if you don't wish it."

"Of course you won't, sir. There, run round and get one of the Eilygugg
lads to help you with the boat."

"Please, uncle, I'd rather not. I don't like them, and they don't like
me."

"Of course you don't like the young scoundrels, sir; but they can manage
a boat."

"I'd rather not go now, uncle," said the boy, sadly.

"And I'd rather you did. There, go at once, while the weather's fine,
and make that old man-o'-war's m