They got up to the house, and the Gillie Ciotach delivered his parcels, and the newspapers, and one or two letters, and said that Miss Glendinning had sent him over to take back assurances of their safety. "But I was telling the lady there was no chance of harm," said he; "for we saw Miss Stanley go on board, and we saw Archie’s lugger standing in for Heimra, and every one knew there would be good shelter from the storm——" "And the _Sirène_, Andrew—have you heard anything of the _Sirène_?" Mary asked quickly—and her eyes were alert and anxious, if the rest of her features looked tired and worn. "Aw, the _Sirène_, mem?" said the Gillie Ciotach, confidently. "I am sure the _Sirène_ is just as safe as any of us. There’s no harm coming to the _Sirène_, mem, as long as Mr. Ross himself is on board. It’s the God’s truth I’m telling ye, mem. Mr. Ross he would put in to Loch Broom or Loch Ewe; and he knows every anchorage to half a fathom; and, with plenty of chain out, and an anchor-watch, where would the harm be coming to him?" "You have no doubt of it, Andrew?" "It’s as sure as death, mem!" said the Gillie Ciotach, with an almost angry vehemence. She seemed a little relieved. "And the sea outside, Andrew—is it very bad?" "It’s a bit wild," he admitted; and then he added, with a cool audacity: "but mebbe Miss Stanley would be for going back with me now, if Archie is too afraid to go out?" "Oh, no, thank you," said she. "If Archie does not think it safe, I should not think of venturing. I will wait for him—thank you all the same." Here there was an awkward pause. Mary left the little group, walking over to the edge of the plateau, to get a better view of the distant and troubled line of the sea. The Gillie Ciotach stood twirling his Glengarry bonnet. Then he said timidly to Martha— "Are there any empty casks going back?" "None but yourself, Andrew, my lad," said Martha, with a dark smile in her eyes. At this he plucked up spirit. "There’s a way of curing that, as you know, Martha," said he. "And it’s many’s the time I have come out to Heimra, and I never before had to complain of going away like an empty cask." "And you need not complain of it now, Andrew, my son," said Martha. "Come away round to the kitchen, and I will get you something—ay, and you will take something down to old Dugald, too. For although the master of the house is not in his own home, I know his wish; and it is I who would get the blame if any one went away hungry or cold from Eilean Heimra." But it was not until the afternoon that Big Archie considered it prudent to cross to the mainland; and a rough passage they had of it. Mary, however, was on this occasion provided with an abundance of wraps; and was indifferent to wind, and spray, and rain. Possibly there may have been other reasons for her apathy. Kate Glendinning was down at the slip beside the quay.