s he had used of the common fund. Then he
returned to the tailor's boat, and worked with his brothers and cousin.
He was proud to know that he had a share in a fishing-skiff; but he was
not too proud to turn his hand to anything else that might help.

These MacNicol boys had grown to be greatly respected in Erisaig. The
audacity of four 'wastrel laddies' setting up to be fishermen on their
own account had at first amused the neighbours; but their success and
their conduct generally, soon raised them above ridicule; and the women
especially were warm in their commendation. They saw how Rob gradually
improved the appearance of his brothers and cousin. All of them had
boots and stockings now. Not only that, but they had white shirts and
jackets of blue cloth to go to church with on Sunday; and each of them
put twopence in the collection-plate just as if they had all been sons
of a rich shopkeeper. Moreover, they were setting an example to the
other boys about. Four of these, indeed, combined to start a
cuddy-fishing business similar to that of Rob's. Neil was rather
angry; but Rob was not afraid of any competition. He asked the new
boys to come and see how he had rigged up the guy-poles. He said there
were plenty of fish in the sea; and the market was large enough. But
when the new boys asked him to lend them some money to buy new ropes he
distinctly declined. He had got on without borrowing himself.

It was a long and dreary winter; but Nicol had nearly finished with his
schooling; and the seine-net had been largely added to; and every inch
of it overhauled. Then the cuddy-fishing began again; and soon Rob,
who was now nearly eighteen, and remarkably firm-set for his age, would
be away after the herring.

One day, as Rob was going along the main thoroughfare of Erisaig, the
banker called him into his office.

'Rob,' said he, 'have ye seen the skiff[1] at the building-yard?'

'Ay,' said Rob rather wistfully, for many a time he had stood and
looked at the beautiful lines of the new craft. 'She's a splendid
boat.'

'And ye've seen the new drift-net in the shed?'

'Ay, I have that.'

'Well, ye see, Rob,' continued Mr. Bailie, regarding him with a
good-natured look; 'I had the boat built and the net bought as a kind
of speculation; and I was thinking of getting a crew through from
Tarbert. They say the herring are beginning to come about some of the
western lochs. Now I have been hearing a good deal ab