he sum in the savings
bank slowly increased; and at last Rob announced to his companions that
they had saved enough to enable him to purchase a share in Coll
MacDougall's boat. Neil and Duncan and Nicol were sorely disinclined
to part with Rob; but yet they saw clearly enough that he was getting
too old to remain at the cuddy-fishing, and they knew they could now
work that line of business quite well by themselves. What Rob said was
this:

'You see it is a great chance for all of us that I should get a share
in the boat; for what I make at the herring-fishing will go into the
bank along with what you make at the trawling by the shore. And who
knows, if we all work hard enough, who knows but we may have a
herring-skiff all to ourselves some day? And that would be a fine
thing to have a herring-skiff to ourselves, and our own nets; and all
that we earned our own, and not in debt to any one whatever.'

Of course that was a dream of the future; for a herring-skiff costs a
considerable sum of money, and so do nets. But in the meantime they
were all agreed that what Rob counselled was wise; and a share in Coll
MacDougall's boat was accordingly purchased, after a great deal of
bargaining.

A proud lad was Rob MacNicol the afternoon he came along to the wharf
to take his place in the boat that was now partly his own. His
brothers and cousin were there to see him (envious a little, perhaps;
but proud also, for part of their money had gone to buy the share). He
had likewise purchased second-hand a huge pair of boots that were as
soft and pliable as grease could make them; and he carried a brand-new
yellow oilskin in his hand that crackled as he walked. Neil, Duncan,
and Nicol watched him throw his oilskin into the boat, and go forward
to the bow, and take his place there at the oar; and they knew very
well that if there was any one who could pull a huge oar better than
Rob MacNicol, it was not in Erisaig that that person was to be found.
Then the big herring-skiff passed away out to the point in the red glow
of the evening; and Rob had achieved the first great ambition of his
life.

CHAPTER V.

THE HIGH ROAD.

That was not a very good year for the herring-fishing on this part of
the coast; but at all events Rob MacNicol learned all the lore of the
fishermen, and grew as skilled as any of them in guessing at the
whereabouts of the herring; while at the end of the season he had more
than replaced the 12 pound