.

Two dark forms were seen coming along the shore, from the southward; but
at so great a distance that it was impossible to tell what sort of
creatures they might turn out.

"Let me have a look," proposed Colin. "By good luck, I've got my glass.
It was in my pocket as we escaped from the ship; and I didn't think of
throwing it away."

As the young Scotchman spoke, he took from the breast of his dreadnought
jacket, a small telescope, which, when drawn out to its full extent,
exhibited a series of tubes, _en echelon_, about half a yard in length.
Directing it upon the dark objects, at the same time taking the
precaution to keep his own head as low as possible, he at once
proclaimed their character.

"They're two bonny bodies," said he, "dressed in all the colours of the
rainbow. I can see bright shawls, and red caps and striped cloaks. One
is mounted on a horse; the other bestrides a camel, just such a one as
this by our side. They're coming along slowly, and appear to be staring
about them."

"Ah, that be hit," said Old Bill. "It be the howners of this 'eer
brute. They be on the sarch for her. Lucky the drift-sand had covered
her tracks, else they'd come right on to us. Lie low, Masther Colin.
We mayn't show our heeds over the combin' o' the sand. They'd be sure
to see the size o' a saxpence. We maun keep awthegither oot o' sicht."

One of the old sailor's peculiarities--or, perhaps, it may have been an
eccentricity--was, that in addressing himself to his companions, he was
almost sure to assume the national _patois_ of the individual spoken to.
In anything like a continued conversation with Harry Blount, his "h's"
were handled in a most unfashionable manner; and while talking with
Terence, the Milesian came from his lips in a brogue almost as pure as
Tipperary could produce.

In a _tete-a-tete_ with Colin, the listener might have sworn that Bill
was more Scotch than the young Macpherson himself.

Colin perceived the justice of the sailor's suggestion; and immediately
ducked his head below the level of the parapet of sand.

This placed our adventurers in a position at once irksome and uncertain.
Curiosity, if nothing else, rendered them desirous to watch the
movements of the men who were approaching. Without noting these, they
would not be able to tell when they might again raise their heads above
the ridge; and might do so, just at the time when the horseman and the
rider of the maherry were eithe