op it down, and we can eat it."

"But, as Mrs Glasse said in her cookery-book, `First catch your hare.'"

"Why, you don't mean to say you couldn't shoot a hare?" cried Kenneth.

"She couldna shoot a hare," grumbled Scoodrach, rubbing his arm; and
then, after looking very thoughtful and nervous, Max spoke out.

"I am going down to the boat," he said quietly; "and I shall try and set
the sail, and go back to Dunroe."

"Bravo! hooray!" cried Kenneth. "That's your sort; only the wind isn't
quite right, and you'll have to tack."

"To tack what--the sail?"

"No, no, I don't mean nail the sail to the mast."

"Oh, I remember; go backwards and forwards with the boat."

"There, Scoody!" cried Kenneth triumphantly; "I only wish you had got as
much brains in your old red head as he has."

"Ret's a ferry coot colour for a het," grumbled Scoodrach, who was very
sore, and who kept on gently rubbing the spot where he had given himself
"such a ding."

"Good-bye!" cried Max. "I'll get back as soon as I can."

"That's right. Don't go to my father. Tell old Tavish and Long Shon,
and they're to bring a strong rope."

"Yes; I won't forget."

"And steer with one hand, and hold the sheet in the other," cried
Kenneth. "Don't do as I did. Good-bye, old chap; you're not a bad
fellow after all."

"Oh, if I was only as strong and as clever as they are!" said Max to
himself. "Well, what is it?"

This was to Sneeshing, who stood barking at him sharply, and then ran
back to crouch on the edge of the precipice, where he could peer down at
his master and at Scoodrach, who was still chafing his arm.

Max half wondered at himself, as, in his excitement, he slid and
scrambled down the steep gully, getting over places and making bounds
which he dared not have attempted half an hour earlier. The consequence
was that he got down to the shore in a way which surprised himself, and
then scrambled over the debris of fallen rocks to where the rope secured
the boat to the stone.

It was no easy task to undo Scood's knot, but he worked at it, and, as
he did so, wondered whether it was possible to make use of the cordage
of the boat to take up and let down to the imprisoned pair, but he was
fain to confess that, even doubled, there was nothing sufficiently
trustworthy for the purpose; and, after throwing in the line, he gave
the boat a good thrust as he leaped aboard, and then, as it glided out,
found himself in a position which made his