ped the mooring rope and ran the _Tortoise_ alongside the slip,
towing the water logged punt behind her.

"Joseph Antony Kinsella," said Peter, "was in this morning on the flood
tide and he was telling me he came across that young fellow again near
Illaunglos."

"Was he talking to him?" said Priscilla.

"He was not beyond passing the time of day or the like of that for
Joseph Antony had a load of gravel and he couldn't be wasting his
time. But the young fellow was in Flanagan's old boat and it was Joseph
Antony's opinion that he was trying to learn himself how to row her."

"He'd need to. But if that's all that passed between them I don't see
that we're much further on towards knowing what that man is doing here."

"Joseph Antony did say," said Peter, "that the young gentleman was as
simple and innocent as a child and one that wouldn't be likely to be
doing any harm."

"You can't be sure of that."

"You cannot, Miss. There's a terrible lot of fellows going round the
country these times, sent out by the government that would be glad
enough to be interfering with the people and maybe taking the land away
from them. You'd never know who might be at such work and who mightn't,
but Joseph Antony did say that the fellow in Flanagan's old boat hadn't
the look of it. He's too innocent like."

"Hop you out now, Peter," said Priscilla, "and help Mr. Mannix down into
the boat. He has a sprained ankle and can't walk by himself. Be careful
of him!"

The task of getting Frank into the _Tortoise_ was not an easy one
for the slip was nearly as slimy as when Priscilla fell on it the
day before. Peter, with his arm round Frank's waist, proceeded very
cautiously.

"Settle him down on the starboard side of the centre-board case," said
Priscilla. "We'll carry the boom to port on the run out."

"You will," said Peter, "for the wind's in the east, but you'll have to
jibe her at the stone perch if you're going down the channel."

"I'm not going down the channel. I mean to stand across to Rossmore and
then go into the bay beyond." Priscilla stepped into the boat and took
the tiller.

"Did I hear you say, Miss, that you're thinking of going on to
Inishbawn?"

"You did not hear me say anything about Inishbawn; but I may go there
all the same if I've time. I want to see the Kinsellas' new baby."

"If you'll take my advice, Miss," said Peter, "you'll not go next nor
nigh Inishbawn."

"And why not?"

"Joseph Antony Kinsella wa