of a willow,
with the rapid stream flashing and sparkling by over its pebbly bed at
our feet. It would be a memorable day, we all agreed, as it was a most
pleasant one. What trout-fisher cannot recall some such to his memory,
not to be surpassed by others in subsequent years!

When we got back we found Aunt Deb in a state of agitation at the
non-appearance of Katty and Jack. Bambo had gone out to look for them,
and had not returned. We, of course, ran off immediately to the beach,
expecting to find them there. Neither up nor down on the beach were
they to be seen. We ran to where our boat was moored in the little
harbour; she was not there. We cast our eyes over the sea: there were
several specks in the distance, undoubtedly boats; ours might be one of
them. There were also white sails in the horizon, vessels sailing to or
from Scottish ports. Every fishing-boat had gone out; Uncle Boz's large
boat was hauled up, undergoing repairs. We saw Bambo up at the village,
making inquiries. Bill Cockle had gone away early in one of the boats.
The women had been busily engaged in their houses, and had not watched
the harbour. I did not for one moment believe that Jack would have
taken Katty into the boat, and pulled out of the harbour by himself; yet
how to account for their disappearance? Uncle Boz himself, tired as he
was, very soon came down to us. He seemed quite calm; but loving the
little girl as he did, I knew how anxious he must have felt. Having
first examined the boat, "She'll float," he observed, and he then
directed Bambo to get her gear down from the boat-house in the village.
The news spread that something was wrong, and women and a few old men
collected from all sides to hear about it. The children also came, and
were seen talking among themselves. They had seen something unusual.
We tried to elicit what it was. We, not without difficulty, discovered
at last that they had seen some strange people on the beach; that they
had come down in a cart or waggon, which had afterwards driven rapidly
off; that they had got into a small boat, and pulled away for a lugger,
which stood in to meet them. Uncle Boz inquired where the coastguard
men had been at the time. They had been summoned in different
directions, so that none were near at hand.

"I see it all," he exclaimed; "the scoundrels! That is the way they
take their revenge on me. They cannot have got far with this breeze; we
must be after them."