The sun was just dipping behind the tall cliffs, and his parting rays were kissing the top of Minnie’s head as if they positively could not help it, and had recklessly made up their mind to do it, come what might!

Ruby looked at the golden light kissing the golden hair, and he felt——­

Oh! you know, reader; if you have ever been in similar circumstances, you understand what he felt; if you have not, no words from me, or from any other man, can ever convey to you the most distant idea of what Ruby felt on that occasion!

On reaching the shore they all went up to the green banks at the foot of the cliffs, and turned round to watch the men as they pulled the boat to a convenient point for re-embarking at a moment’s notice.

“You see,” said the lieutenant, pursuing a conversation which he had been holding with the captain, “I have been told that Big Swankie, and his mate Davy Spink (who, it seems, is not over-friendly with him just now), mean to visit one of the luggers which is expected to come in to-night, before the moon rises, and bring off some kegs of Auchmithie water, which, no doubt, they will try to hide in Dickmont’s Den.  I shall lie snugly here on the watch, and hope to nab them before they reach that celebrated old smuggler’s abode.”

“Well, I’ll stay about here,” said the captain, “and show Minnie the caves.  I would like to have taken her to see the Gaylet Pot, which is one o’ the queerest hereabouts; but I’m too old for such rough work now.”

“But I am not too old for it,” interposed Ruby, “so if Minnie would like to go——­”

“But I won’t desert you, uncle,” said Minnie hastily.

“Nay, lass, call it not desertion.  I can smoke my pipe here, an’ contemplate.  I’m fond of contemplation—­

’By the starry light of the summer night,
On the banks of the blue Moselle,’

though, for the matter o’ that, moonlight’ll do, if there’s no stars.  I think it’s good for the mind, Minnie, and keeps all taut.  Contemplation is just like takin’ an extra pull on the lee braces.  So you may go with Ruby, lass.”

Thus advised, and being further urged by Ruby himself, and being moreover exceedingly anxious to see this cave, Minnie consented; so the two set off together, and, climbing to the summit of the cliffs, followed the narrow footpath that runs close to their giddy edge all along the coast.

In less than half an hour they reached the Giel or Gaylet Pot.

CHAPTER XIX

AN ADVENTURE—­SECRETS REVEALED, AND A PRIZE

The Giel or Gaylet Pot, down into which Ruby, with great care and circumspection, led Minnie, is one of the most curious of Nature’s freaks among the cliffs of Arbroath.

In some places there is a small scrap of pebbly beach at the base of those perpendicular cliffs; in most places there is none—­the cliffs presenting to the sea almost a dead wall, where neither ship nor boat could find refuge from the storm.