arjorie
at all necessary, and her astonishment was completed when Rob MacLean
and the lighthouse-keeper appeared, rolling a heavy barrel between them.

'Here, lend a hand,' they cried to Duncan; then they stopped short on
observing Allan and Marjorie.

'Why, they are _all_ smugglers!' Marjorie was on the point of
exclaiming; but Allan seized her arm and gripped it warningly.

'We've come to see Neil, and to try to make him go with you,' he said,
addressing himself to the men in a body.

Immediately the faces became less grim.

'That iss ahl right, Mr. Allan,' said Rob MacLean; 'you will pe finding
him in a cave right opposite. Speak to him, Miss Marjorie; he iss
ferry foolish and he will not pe wanting to come.'

Marjorie was still looking in a surprised way at Duncan, whom she
hardly seemed to recognise in his new character of a smuggler; but
Allan renewed his pressure upon her arm.

'Tell him he must go, Mr. Allan and Miss Marjorie,' said Duncan, 'and
he must not be long, ta captain cannot be waiting or he will miss the
tide. He iss a ferry impatient man iss ta captain, whateffer.'

All right,' said Allan; 'we'll talk to him. You go in first, Marjorie.'

A short way from the entrance Marjorie came upon Neil; but what a
change in her old playmate! Pale, and looking still paler in the dim
light; with worn and soiled clothing, and his former bright, pleasant
expression changed into sullen despair.

Marjorie's heart sank.

'Neil,' she began, 'we've come to see you, Allan and I.'

'Indeed, Miss Marjorie, it is ferry good of you,' said the lad, rising
and looking down upon her with a grateful expression, 'but wass it not
ferry unwise of you to come? That sea-captain iss a rough character
and he might----'

'Never mind us, Neil,' said Marjorie, 'we're all right. We only wanted
to say that we are your friends, whatever happens, and we hope that
things will come right for you. And now, Neil, you will go away for a
little while, will you not? Don't stay here while you are in such
danger of being found.'

Neil looked down upon her, and his face darkened again.

'I cannot be leaving Inchkerra just now, Miss Marjorie,' he said.

'Oh, Neil, do go away. Think what it would be to your mother if you
were found--think what it would be to _all_ of us, Neil----'

'Schooner's beginning to weigh anchor,' cried a gruff voice outside.

'Come, Neil, don't waste time,' said Marjorie.

Neil seated himself determi