resuming his glass.
Then, observing the lady was not satisfied, he added, "There are more
dwellings, but they are behind yonder ridge, out of sight. That is
where my place is."

Lady Carse did not at present discern where the dangerous sympathy with
her case was to come from. But there was no saying how many dwellings
there might be behind that ridge. She once more insisted on landing by
daylight; and was once more told that it was out of the question. She
resolved to keep as wide awake as her suspicions, in order to see what
was to be done with her. She was anxiously on the watch in the darkness
an hour before midnight, when Macdonald said to her, "Now for it, madam!
I will presently show you something curious."

The sloop began to move under the soft breathing night wind; and in a
few minutes Macdonald asked her if she saw anything before her, a little
to the right. At first she did not; but was presently told that a tiny
spark, too minute to be noticed by any but those who were looking for
it, was a guiding light.

"Where is it?" asked the lady. "Why have not you a more effectual
light?"

"We are thankful enough to have any: and it serves our turn."

"Oh! I suppose it is a smuggler's signal, and it would not do to make
it more conspicuous."

"No, madam. It is far from being a smuggler's signal. There is a
woman, Annie Fleming, living in the grey house I showed you, an honest
and pious soul, who keeps up that light for all that want it."

"Why? Who employs her?"

"She does it of her own liking. Some have heard tell, but I don't know
it for true, that when she and her husband were young she saw him drown,
from his boat having run foul in the harbour that she overlooks, and
that from that day to this she has had a light up there every night. I
can say that I never miss it when I come home; and I always enter by
night, trusting to it as the best landmark in this difficult harbour."

"And do the other inhabitants trust to it, and come in by night?"

Macdonald answered that his was the only boat on the island; but he
believed that all who had business on the sea between this and Skye knew
that light, and made use of it, on occasion, in dangerous weather. And
now he must not talk, but see to his vessel.

This is the only boat on the island! He must mean the only sloop.
There must be fishing boats. There must and should be, the lady
resolved; for she would get back to the mainland. She would not