He would have died any moderately painless death rather than say, "The oatcake and water-keg." So in a little they met again at the Boat Cove which Providence had placed at the single inlet upon the practicable side of Suliscanna, which could not be seen from either the Laggan Light or the construction cottages. Only the lighter that brought the hewn granite could spy upon it. "Mind you sneak past your father, Anna!" cried Simeon, afar off. His voice carried clear and lively. But yet higher and clearer rose the reply, spoken slowly to let each word sink well in. "Teach-your-grandmother-to-suck-eggs--ducks' eggs!" What the private sting of the discriminative, only Simeon knew. And evidently he did know very well, for he kicked viciously at a dog belonging to Donald the second keeper--a brute of a dog it was; but, missing the too-well-accustomed cur, he stubbed his toe. He then repeated the multiplication table. For he was an admirable boy and careful of his language. But, nevertheless, he got the provision out with care and promptitude. "Where are you taking all that cake?" said his mother, who came from Ayrshire and wanted a reason for everything. In the north there is no need for reasons. There everything is either a judgment or a dispensation, according to whether it happens to your neighbour or yourself. "I am no' coming hame for ony dinner," said Simeon, who adopted a modified dialect to suit his mother. With his father he spoke English only, in a curious sing-song tone but excellent of accent. Mrs. Lauder--Simeon's mother, that is--accepted the explanation without remark, and Simeon passed out of her department. "Mind ye are no' to gang intil the boat!" she cried after him; but Simeon was apparently too far away to hear. He looked cautiously up the side of the Laggan Light to see that his father was still polishing at his morning brasses and reflectors along with Donald. Then he ran very swiftly through a little storehouse, and took down a musket from the wall. A powder-flask and some shot completed his outfit; and with a prayer that his father might not see him, Simeon sped to the trysting-stone. As it happened, his father was oblivious and the pilfered gun unseen. Anna's experience had been quite different. Her procedure was much simpler. She found her father sitting in his office, constructed of rough boards. He frowned continuously at plans of dovetailed stones, and rubbed his head at the side till he was rapidly rubbing it bare. Anna came in and looked about her. "Give me the key of the boat," she said without preface. She used from habit, even to her father, the imperative mood affirmative.