said the captain, cheerfully, making the maid
beam again on seeing "master" in such an amiable frame of mind.

"Fried fish?"

"Yes, sir; brill."

"Some of your catching, Aleck?"

"No, sir," put in the maid, eagerly; "that Tom Bodger was over here with
it as soon as it was light. He knocked and woke me up. Said Master
Aleck forgot it yes'day."

"No wonder," said the captain, smiling at his nephew; "enough to knock
anything out of your head, eh, Aleck?"

"Yes, uncle; one of the fishermen said I was to bring it home."

"That's right. Shows you have friends as well as foes in Rockabie."

The breakfast went on, and after the first mouthfuls the boy's jaws
worked more easily, and he was enjoying his meal thoroughly, when his
uncle suddenly exclaimed:

"What are you going to do to-day, my boy?"

"Go on with those problems, uncle, unless you want me to do anything
else."

"I do," said the old man, smiling. "I want you to leave your books
to-day--for a few days, I should say, till your face comes round again--
I mean less round, boy," he added, laughing. "Have a rest. Go and
ramble along the cliffs. Take the little glass and watch the birds till
evening, and then you can fish."

Aleck jumped at the proposal, for the thought of books and writing had
brought on suggestions of headache and weariness; and soon after
breakfast he went up to his uncle's study, to find him sitting looking
very thoughtful, and ready to start at the boy's entry.

"I've come for the spy-glass, uncle," said Aleck.

"To be sure, yes. I forgot," said the old man, hastily. "Take it down,
my boy; and mind what you're about--recollect you are half blind. Let's
have no walking over the cliff or into one of the gullies."

"I'll take care, uncle," said the boy, smiling. "I'll be back to dinner
at two."

The captain nodded, and Aleck was moving towards the door, when the old
man rose hastily, overtook him, and grasped his hand for a moment or
two.

"Just to show you that I have not forgotten yesterday, Aleck, my boy,"
he said, gravely, and then he turned away.

"Who could forget yesterday?" thought the boy, as he slipped out by the
side door and took the path leading round by the far edge of the cliff
wall, the part which was left wild, that is, to its natural growth.

For Aleck's intent was to avoid being observed by the old gardener, whom
he had last seen at work over the celery trench upon the other side of
the house.

"He'd