"It is not the sort of fun I can appreciate, Mr Vine," said Leslie, turning as he reached the stern of the boat. "Well, I know that," cried Harry mockingly. "Scotchmen never can appreciate a joke." "There, ladies, what did I tell you?" cried Pradelle triumphantly. There was no reply, and the visitor from London winced, for his presence in the boat seemed to be thoroughly _de trop_. "Miss Vine--Miss Van Heldre," said Leslie quietly, "will you change places now? Get right aft and we will climb in over the bows." "But the boat?" faltered Louise, whose emotion was so great that she could hardly trust herself to speak. "We'll see to that," said Leslie. "Your brother and I will row back." It did not seem to trouble him now that the two girls took their places, one on either side of Pradelle, while as soon as they were seated he climbed in streaming with water, seating himself on the gunwale, Harry climbing in on the other side. "Harry, how could you?" cried Louise, now, with an indignant look. "Easily enough," he said, seating himself calmly. "Thought you'd lost me?" He looked at Madelaine as he spoke, but she turned her face away biting her lips, and it was Louise who replied: "I did not think you could have been so cruel." "Cruel be hanged!" he retorted. "Thought I'd find out whether I was of any consequence after all. You people seem to say I'm of none. Did they begin to cry, Vic?" "Oh, I'm not going to tell tales," said Pradelle with a smile. "I should have had a pipe in there, only my matches had got wet." "Ha-ha-ha!" laughed Pradelle, and the mirth sounded strange there beneath the rocks, and a very decided hiss seemed to come from out of the low rugged opening. "Try again, Vic," said Harry mockingly, but his friend made no reply, for he was staring hard and defiantly at Leslie, who, as he handled his oar, gave him a calmly contemptuous look that galled him to the quick. "Ready, Leslie?" said Harry. "Yes." The oars dipped, Leslie pulling stroke, and the boat shot out from its dangerous position among the rocks, rose at a good-sized swelling wave, topped it, seemed to hang as in a balance for a moment, and then glided down and went forward in response to a few vigorous strokes. "Never mind the tiller, Vic," said Harry; "let it swing. We can manage without that. All right, girls?" There was no reply. "Sulky, eh? Well, I'd a good mind to stop in. Sorry you got so wet, Leslie." Still no reply. "Cheerful party, 'pon my word!" said Harry, with a contemptuous laugh. "Hope no one objects to my smoking." He looked hard at Madelaine, but she avoided his gaze, and he uttered a short laugh. "Got a cigar to spare, Vic?" "Yes, dear boy, certainly." "Pass it along then and the lights. Hold hard a minute, Leslie." The latter ceased rowing as Pradelle handed a cigar and the matches to his friend. "Will you take one, Mr Leslie?" said Pradelle.