Here he was met by the two sailors, and by the lieutenant, who had joined them.  Minnie was also there, having been conducted thither by the said lieutenant, who gallantly undertook to see her safe into the town, in order to prevent any risk of her being insulted by his men.  On hearing the shout of those who pursued Ruby, Winnie hurried away, intending to get free from the gang, not feeling that the lieutenant’s protection was either desirable or necessary.

When Ruby reached the middle of the gorge, which we have dignified with the name of “pass”, and saw three men ready to dispute his passage, he increased his speed.  When he was almost up to them he turned aside and sprang nimbly up the almost perpendicular wall of earth on his right.  This act disconcerted the men, who had prepared to receive his charge and seize him, but Ruby jumped down on the shoulders of the one nearest, and crushed him to the ground with his weight.  His clenched fist caught the lieutenant between the eyes and stretched him on his back—­the third man wisely drew aside to let this human thunderbolt pass by!

He did pass, and, as the impetuous and quite irresistible locomotive is brought to a sudden pause when the appropriate breaks are applied, so was he brought to a sudden halt by Minnie a hundred yards or so farther on.

“Oh! don’t stop,” she cried eagerly, and hastily thrusting him away.  “They’ll catch you!”

Panting though he was, vehemently, Ruby could not restrain a laugh.

“Catch me! no, darling; but don’t be afraid of them.  They won’t hurt you, Minnie, and they can’t hurt me—­except in the way of cutting short our interview.  Ha! here they come.  Goodbye, dearest; I’ll see you soon again.”

At that moment five or six of the men came rushing down the pass with a wild cheer.  Ruby made no haste to run.  He stood in an easy attitude beside Minnie; leisurely kissed her little hand, and gently smoothed down her golden hair.  Just as the foremost pursuer came within fifteen yards or so of them, he said, “Farewell, my lassie, I leave you in good hands”; and then, waving his cap in the air, with a cheer of more than half-jocular defiance, he turned and fled towards Arbroath as if one of the nor’-east gales, in its wildest fury, were sweeping him over the land.

CHAPTER III

OUR HERO OBLIGED TO GO TO SEA

When Ruby Brand reached the outskirts of Arbroath, he checked his speed and walked into his native town whistling gently, and with his hands in his pockets, as though he had just returned from an evening walk.  He directed his steps to one of the streets near the harbour, in which his mother’s cottage was situated.