ant you in the boat."

Long Shon grunted, and followed close behind.

"She could go instead of Scood."

"Yes, I know she could, but she isn't going," replied Kenneth, mimicking
the man's speech. "What would Scood say if I left him behind?"

"She could show you an eagle's nest up the firth."

"So can Scood. He knows where it is!"

Long Shon pulled a battered brass box out of his pouch, and took a big
pinch of snuff as he waddled behind.

"She knows where there's a raven's nest."

"That's what Scood told me this morning, Long Shon."

"But she tidn't know where there's a nest o' young blue hawks."

"Yes, I do, father," shouted Scood from the boat, in an ill-used tone,
for they were now down on the rocks, and Scoodrach was paddling the boat
in close.

"He wants me to turn you out, and take him instead, Scood. Shall I?"

"No!" said Scood undutifully.

"Petter tak' me, Maister Ken, and she can teach the young chentleman how
to hantle his gun."

"Look here, Shon, the young chentleman knows how to hantle his gun. I
don't want you, and I don't want your dogs. You, Sneeshing, come back."

The ugly little Scotch terrier had waited till Scoodrach came near, and
then crept down among the rocks to a crevice where he could get quietly
into the water without a splash, and was paddling to the side of the
boat, looking like an otter swimming.

Sneeshing whined and made a snap at the water.

"Do you hear, sir? Come back!" cried Kenneth; but just then Scood
leaned over the side, gripped the little dog by the loose skin at the
back of his neck, and lifted him into the boat.

Sneeshing's first act was to run forward and give himself a tremendous
shake to get rid of the water, and then he performed a sort of
triumphant dance, and ended by placing his forepaws over the side, and
barking at his fellows on the rock.

Bruce seemed to frown at him, showed his teeth, and then uttered a deep
baying bark; but Dirk answered the challenge of his little companion by
barking furiously, then running up and down upon the rocks for a few
moments, watching the boat, as if calculating whether he could leap in;
and ending by plunging into the sea with a tremendous splash.

"Come back, sir! Do you hear? come back!" shouted Kenneth, when Dirk
raised his head from the water, and uttered a remonstrant bark, which
seemed to say,--

"It isn't fair. You're letting him go."

"Hit him with an oar, Scood," cried Kenneth. "Here, you Di