this morning, and we left her with sails
set; depend upon it, sir, that she's been drifting out with the tide a
bit, and the wind so off shore, as it is now, she'd be up towards the
mouth of the Cove. We ought to have thought of the wind and the change
of the tide; it will be well if she's not out to sea."

"Oh, no fear of that!" exclaimed Aleck, joyfully, "because I myself put
the harbour-bar across this morning when I sailed her first;" and so
saying, he bounded off along the rocks towards the mouth of the Cove,
the rest of us following almost as fast.

One hasty glance and I knew that what I had expected had taken place;
the ring which tightened the rope across, so as to constitute a barrier,
was now under water--the rope, it must be understood, being arranged to
lie along the bottom when not specially adjusted--the channel out to sea
was perfectly unimpeded, and there was no trace of the little vessel
which, an hour and a half before, had been sailing so merrily upon the
water.

"O George!" exclaimed Aleck, "see the rope is down; it must have gone
out to sea; it _can't_ be gone!"

But Aleck's face of sad conviction belied his words.

"It can't be gone!" he repeated; and yet the tears of disappointment
were forcing themselves into his eyes, though he battled up bravely
against his trouble, and tried to believe still that there was some
mistake.

Then we betook ourselves to searching in every nook and corner of the
Cove, exploring impossible places amongst the rocks, and once again
returning to look through the boat-house; I, hypocritically, as active
as others, lest there should be any suspicion raised.

"Master Willie," said Groves at last, as if a bright thought had struck
him, "I know what it must be, sir. You're up to a prank sometimes--in
fact, rather often--and you've hidden away the yacht, for there's been
no one else in the Cove but you; though where you can have put it I'm
puzzled to say, seeing there's not a place fit to hide a walnut-shell I
haven't looked in, not to say a schooner yacht drawing half a foot of
water."

All faces looked relieved by the idea--the three other faces I mean. But
as its tendency was to fasten a certain measure of responsibility upon
myself, I thought it better to become indignant.

"I don't know why you say I must have done it," I answered hastily. "I
never touched the boat; what should I touch it for, it wasn't mine; you
didn't make it for me. I told Aleck I hadn't t