twenty fathoms from the rock; and the three of them ran about the

ruins and the landing-shelf, for all the world like ants about a

broken nest, hailing and crying on us to return. We were still in

both the lee and the shadow of the rock, which last lay broad upon

the waters, but presently came forth in almost the same moment into

the wind and sunshine; the sail filled, the boat heeled to the

gunwale, and we swept immediately beyond sound of the men's voices.

To what terrors they endured upon the rock, where they were now

deserted without the countenance of any civilised person or so much

as the protection of a Bible, no limit can be set; nor had they any

brandy left to be their consolation, for even in the haste and

secrecy of our departure Andie had managed to remove it.

It was our first care to set Anster ashore in a cove by the

Glenteithy Rocks, so that the deliverance of our maroons might be

duly seen to the next day. Thence we kept away up Firth. The

breeze, which was then so spirited, swiftly declined, but never

wholly failed us. All day we kept moving, though often not much

more; and it was after dark ere we were up with the Queensferry.

To keep the letter of Andie's engagement (or what was left of it) I

must remain on board, but I thought no harm to communicate with the

shore in writing. On Prestongrange's cover, where the Government

seal must have a good deal surprised my correspondent, I writ, by

the boat's lantern, a few necessary words, aboard and Andie carried

them to Rankeillor. In about an hour he came again, with a purse

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