ster Stevey, sir," he whispered. "Her
mither wadna ken her if she went back to Ardnachree gin she had nae
airms and legs."

"Humph! dear me!" said the doctor; "bring that lanthorn closer. Very
red and inflamed, but that one's not frost-bitten."

He held the hand close to the lanthorn, which was lowered by Andrew, and
then knocked sidewise, for the lad sprang up sitting.

"Then she wadna chop it off?"

"No, no; lie still!" cried the doctor testily.

"You had better hold him, my lads," said the captain; and Hamish and
Andrew held him down again, bringing forth a fierce growl from Skene,
who seemed to feel that if there was a struggle on he ought to be in it.

"Down, Skeny!" said Steve sharply; and the dog uttered an uneasy whine.

"Here, let me see the other hand," cried the doctor.

"Na, that one's the waur!" cried Watty excitedly. "She's nae waur than
this or my puir foots."

"No nonsense," said the doctor; and he firmly but gently held the boy's
other red and swollen hand to the light of the lanthorn.

"Frost-bitten?" said the captain; but the doctor did not answer save by
a grunt.

"Ane's waur than t'ither," whimpered Watty.

"And now about your feet, my lad," cried the doctor.

"Oh, they're nane so bad as my han's, sir; only dings and tangs o'
nichts."

"There, get up, you young impostor!" cried the doctor, rising.
"Frost-bitten?" he added, turning to the captain. "Nothing but a few
chilblains. Here, you Steve," he continued, button-holing the lad, "did
you know there was nothing the matter but chilblains?"

"He told me his hands and feet were frost-bitten," said Steve.

"Yes, but you knew better, sir," said the doctor, who had hold of the
boy's arm and was marching him toward the cabin stairs.

"Well, I--" began Steve.

"Of course," cried the doctor. "I saw the twinkle in your eye, my lad.
Look here, don't you play tricks with doctors; they get such chances for
serving you out."

"I suppose I ought to have spoken," said Steve; "but it seemed so comic
to see him so sure that he was frost-bitten, and it's such a long time
since we had a laugh that--"

"Let it rest, Handscombe," said Captain Marsham good-humouredly. "Steve
says it is a long time since he had a hearty laugh."

"What!" cried the doctor. "Why, I heard him roaring with laughter not
above an hour ago."

Steve looked confused.

"Of course," he said, colouring. "I'd forgotten that."

"There, we don't want any apologies,