As they came nearer the two walking bundles proved to be indeed Reggie and Tricksy, carrying enormous bundles of ferns. Reggie's face peeped, hot and perspiring, round one side of his bundle, which he clasped with the utmost extent of his arms; and Tricksy, with a smaller burden, looked with a long-suffering expression over the fronds which tickled her little nose. Beside them Laddie stepped lightly along, his tail curling over his back; while in the rear a small King Charles spaniel waddled painfully along upon his little short legs; his tongue hanging out, and his long ears sweeping the dust of the road. 'Well,' said Allan; 'whatever are they up to now?' Reggie came down to the shore, picking his way cautiously over the stepping-stones. 'You might hold the boat steady for me,' he said in a half-stifled voice; then, stepping on to the thwarts, he lost his footing and fell forward, load and all, into the boat. Promptly he struggled to his feet and wiped his forehead, looking around with a self-congratulatory smile. 'There,' he said, 'these will be a great improvement to the place. Got them up, roots and all.' Meanwhile Hamish had relieved Tricksy of her load, and Neil was helping the little girl over the stones. 'Why, Tricksy,' said Marjorie, as the little girl took her seat, 'you _have_ got yourself into a state!' 'I know, but I couldn't help it,' said Tricksy, looking ruefully down at her little black hands and muddy frock. 'Reggie wanted the ferns for our garden, and we've been digging away with pieces of wood in the banks of the burn. Some of them had roots ever so deep down, and we couldn't help making ourselves muddy. I'll wash my face and hands in the sea.' 'Why ever did you bring _that_ thing with you?' said Allan in disgust, pointing to the little dog who was standing on the shore. Already Laddie had sprung on board and was lying curled up on the stern seat, confident of his welcome. 'We'll have to leave him in one of the cottages until we come back.' 'No, no!' cried Marjorie and Tricksy; 'Carlo must come too.' 'Let him come,' said Hamish; 'he won't be in the way.' The little dog, who had been frisking about and wagging his tail, sat up and begged, looking from one to the other of the young people with a beseeching whine. 'You darling,' cried both the girls; and Tricksy sprang out of the boat and lifted him in. Allan looked contemptuous as he pushed off; but Laddie gave a little yelp of satisfaction, and the little spaniel curled himself cosily in Tricksy's lap, while Marjorie leaned over and petted him when the boys were not looking. The steady strokes of the rowers brought the boat rapidly through the water, while the herring gulls flew screaming around, and a small island in the middle of the firth came nearer and nearer. Presently the sea became shallower, and the boat shot up on the beach.