'Jump, Tricksy,' cried Reggie half impatiently, as his little sister hesitated. Tricksy, who was pale and overwrought, sprang, but fell short and plunged overhead in the water. Instantly two or three were in the flood, trying to prevent her being swept out to sea. Allan secured her; and gasping, struggling, with water running over her face, Tricksy was pulled on to dry land. 'It isn't so very bad, is it, Tricksy?' inquired Reggie, in a tone of somewhat forced cheerfulness; 'what a thing to do, to jump in when you're told to jump over!' Tricksy tried to smile; a miserable attempt, for her teeth chattered and her lips were blue with the cold. 'Run to Rob MacLean's cottage, Reggie,' said Hamish, throwing off his coat and wrapping it round Tricksy; 'ask him to lend us his pony, and we'll take Tricksy to Corranmore; it's nearer than your house.' With Hamish running by her side and holding her on to the pony, Tricksy was not long in reaching Corranmore, and when the others arrived she was already in bed, with Mrs. MacGregor beside her; the little girl drinking hot milk and trying to restrain the tears that _would_ roll down her cheeks, even when she forced herself to laugh. 'Feeling better, Tricksy?' asked Reggie apprehensively. 'She has had a nasty fall,' said Mrs. MacGregor somewhat reproachfully, 'and we may be thankful it is not any worse. She can't possibly go home to-night; you had better tell your parents that she is safe with us.' A look of relief overspread Tricksy's tired features. 'Oh, you _are_ a dear,' she exclaimed, springing up and throwing her arms round Mrs. MacGregor's neck, forgetting that the lady had once said that Tricksy Stewart was a spoilt little girl. 'Hooray, I'll sleep with Marjorie and we can talk about what we have seen to-day!' CHAPTER VII THE SIEGE 'No, Mr. Allan,' Duncan was declaring, 'if I wass you, I would not pe telling the laird whateffer; it can do no good pringing honest folk into trouble.' 'But they are not honest folk if they're smugglers,' interposed Reggie, who had been listening to the conversation without joining in. A peculiar expression flitted across Duncan's face. 'Well, but, Mr. Allan,' he maintained; 'I'm just telling you, that it will pe petter if you will not pe telling the laird; you will only pe meking trouble in the island and will pe doing no good at ahl, at ahl.' 'But what if it was they who robbed the post-office?' said Allan. 'Robbed the post-office, Mr. Allan!' cried Duncan; 'what will they pe doing that for? Not them, Mr. Allan! So do not pe meking trouble by telling the laird----' 'But we _have_ told him,' said Reggie. 'Dear, dear, Mr. Allan and Master Reggie,' said Duncan with a vexed face; 'what will you haf peen doing that for? That wass a treatful thing to do, to pe tale-bearers. Tear me; and what iss to pe done now?' 'But, Duncan, smuggling is against the law, and it will be their own fault----'