“Ay, ay, sir!”

It was about a quarter of an hour after that—­almost benumbed with fear—­she discovered that the boat was in smooth water; and then there was a loud clatter of the sail coming down; and she heard the two sailors calling to each other, and one of them seemed to have got overboard.  There was absolutely nothing visible—­not even a distant light; but it was raining heavily.  Then she knew that Macleod had moved away from her; and she thought she heard a splash in the water; and then a voice beside her said,—­

“Gertrude, will you not get up?  You must let me carry you ashore.”

And she found herself in his arms—­carried as lightly as though she had been a young lamb or a fawn from the hills; but she knew from the slow way of his walking that he was going through the sea.  Then he set her on the shore.

“Take my hand,” said he.

“But where is papa?”

“Just behind us,” said he, “on Sandy’s shoulders.  Sandy will bring him along.  Come, darling!”

“But where are we going?”

“There is a little inn near the Cathedral.  And perhaps it will clear up to-night; and we will have a fine sail back again to Dare.”

She shuddered.  Not for ten thousand worlds would she pass through once more that seething pit of howling sounds and raging seas.

He held her arm firmly; and she stumbled along through the darkness, not knowing whether she was walking through sea-weed, or pools of water, or wet corn.  And at last they came to a door; and the door was opened; and there was a blaze of orange light; and they entered—­all dripping and unrecognizable—­the warm, snug little place, to the astonishment of a handsome young lady who proved to be their hostess.

“Dear me, Sir Keith,” said she at length, “is it you indeed!  And you will not be going back to Dare to-night?”

In fact, when Mr. White arrived, it was soon made evident that going back to Dare that night was out of the question; for somehow the old gentleman, despite his waterproofs, had managed to get soaked through; and he was determined to go to bed at once, so as to have his clothes dried.  And so the hospitalities of the little inn were requisitioned to the utmost; and as there was no whiskey to be had, they had to content themselves with hot tea; and then they all retired to rest for the night, convinced that the moonlight visitation of the ruins had to be postponed.

But next day—­such are the rapid changes in the Highlands—­broke blue and fair and shining; and Miss Gertrude White was amazed to find that the awful Sound she had come along on the previous night was now brilliant in the most beautiful colors—­for the tide was low, and the yellow sandbanks were shining through the blue waters of the sea.  And would she not, seeing that the boat was lying down at the quay now, sail round the island, and see the splendid sight of the Atlantic breaking on the wild coast on the western side?  She hesitated; and then, when it was suggested that she might walk across the island, she eagerly accepted that alternative.  They set out, on this hot, bright, beautiful day.