this on, he sauntered out of the hall into the
shingly path, where he was saluted by a chorus of barking. A great
rough-coated, long-legged deerhound came bounding up, followed first by
a splendid collie with a frill about his neck like a wintry wolf, and
directly after by a stumpy-legged, big-headed, rough grey Scotch
terrier, with a quaint, dry-looking countenance, which seemed like that
of some crotchety old man.

"Hi, Bruce!" cried Kenneth, as the deerhound thrust a pointed nose into
his hand. "What, Dirk, lad!"

This to the collie, which reared up to put its paws upon his chest, and
rubbed its head against its master; while the little dog ran round and
round clumsily, barking all the while.

"Down, Dirk! Quiet, Sneeshing, quiet!"

The dogs were silent on the moment, but followed close at their master's
heels, eyeing the gun wistfully, the deerhound going further, and
snuffing at the lock. Being apparently satisfied that it was not a
rifle, and that consequently his services would not be required, the
hound stopped short by a warm, sheltered place, crouched down, and
formed itself into an ornament upon the sea-washed rock.

"There, you can do the same, Dirk. It's boat day," said Kenneth.

The collie uttered a whine and a loud bark.

"Yes, it's boat day, lad. Be off!"

The dog stopped short, and only the little ugly grey terrier followed
his master, wagging a short stump of a tail the while, till Kenneth
noted his presence.

"No, not to-day," he said sharply.

"Wuph!"

"No. Can't take you. Go back, old chap. Another time!"

Sneeshing uttered a low whine, but he dropped down on the shingle which
took the place of gravel, and Kenneth went slowly on along a path formed
like a shelf of the huge rock, which, a peninsula at low, an island at
high water, towered up from the blue sea an object of picturesque
beauty, and a landmark for the sailors who sailed among the fiords and
rocks of the western shore.

The scene around was glorious. Where the soft breeze did not turn the
water into dazzling, rippling molten silver which sent flashes of light
darting through the clear air, there were broad bands of still water of
a brilliant blue; others beneath the shelter of the land were of a deep
transparent amethyst, while every here and there mountainous islands
rose from the sea, lilac, purple, and others of a delicate softened
blue, which died away into the faintest film.

Shoreward, glorified by the s