'What shall we do?' said Marjorie. 'We'll have every one coming to the island. Hide Neil; let's pile all the heather on the top of him----' 'What's the matter?' cried Neil from the hut. 'Why are you waiting?' 'The boat's gone,' they cried. Neil came out. 'Mine's still there, on the other side,' he said. 'Take her, and some of you can come back for me.' 'Oh, Neil, we couldn't do that! What if any one were to come in the meanwhile?' 'We must risk it. It will be better than bringing the whole boat-load upon us. Quick, get in; they will be shoving down the boat.' In another minute they had pushed off, leaving Neil behind. When the boat left the island the figures on shore stood still and waited; and half-way across Marjorie waved her handkerchief. 'It's Father,' said Tricksy, 'with Mr. Graham and Duncan and a lot of others; and there's Laddie jumping about and barking.' 'Allan,' said Marjorie, touching his arm, 'there's Andrew MacPeters, do you see him? standing behind the others.' The boat glided in beside the landing stones, while a row of anxious faces watched and waited. 'Down, Laddie,' said Mr. Stewart, as the collie rushed forward with a joyful welcome. 'So there you are,' he said to the young people. 'You are not cold, are you?' 'We're all right, Father,' said Allan. 'We landed on that island yesterday evening and we were surrounded by the tide-way so we could not return. I hope Mother was not anxious. We thought you would rather we stayed there than tried to cross when the current was flowing.' 'You were quite right not to try to get back under these circumstances,' said Mr. Stewart gravely; and the young people knew that he had been anxious, although he did not wish to blame them. Mr. Graham said nothing, but after his eyes had travelled over the group, and he had, as Tricksy afterwards expressed it, 'counted his boys,' he placed himself between them and set off in the direction of Ardnavoir, still without speaking except to ask them whether they had wet feet. Reggie, as the quickest runner, was sent on ahead to tell his mother that they had returned, and a brisk walk brought them all to the house. 'By the way,' said Mr. Stewart as the young people were refreshing themselves with a good breakfast; 'what man was that who was with you on the island?' A startled movement went round the group, and Allan looked at his father without replying. 'That man who helped you with the boat,' said Mr. Stewart; 'he stayed behind after you left; who was he?' CHAPTER XIII ANDREW MACPETERS For a moment no one stirred; then Allan braced himself to meet the difficulty. 'I'm sorry, Father; but I can't tell you that,' he said. Mr. Stewart looked at him in astonishment. 'You can't tell me? You mean you don't know?' Allan was silent. Mr. Stewart waited. Tricksy crept closer to Marjorie and trembled with dismay.