But alas! that temporary lull in which they had started was soon over. A sharper squall than any before came darkening and tearing across the loch; then another and another; until a downright gale was blowing, and apparently increasing every moment in violence. Whither were they drifting? They dared not run the coble ashore; all along those rocks a heavy sea was breaking white; they would have been upset and the boat stove in in a couple of minutes. ’This’ll never do, Johnnie, lad,’ she heard Ronald call out. ’We’ll have to fight her back, and get ashore at the top.’ ’Very well; we can try.’ And then the next moment all the situation of affairs seemed changed. There was no longer that too easy and rapid surging along of the coble, but apparently an effort to drive her through an impassable wall of water; while smash after smash on the bows came the successive waves, springing into the air, and coming down on the backs of the men with a rattling volley of spray. Nay, Miss Carry, too, got her Highland baptism—for all her crouching and shrinking and ducking; and her laughing face was running wet; and her eyes—which she would not shut, for they were fascinated with the miniature rainbows that appeared from time to time in the whirling spray—were half-blinded. But she did not seem to care. There was a fierce excitement and enjoyment in the struggle—for she could see how hard the men were pulling. And which was getting the better of the fight—this firm and patient endeavour, or the fell power of wind and hurrying seas? And then something happened that made her heart stand still: there was a shriek heard above all the noise of the waves—and instinctively she caught up the rod and found the line whirling out underneath her closed fingers. What was it Ronald had exclaimed? ’Oh, thunder!’ or some such thing; but the next moment he had called to her in a warning voice— ’Sit still—sit still—don’t move—never mind the fish—let him go—he’ll break away with the fly and welcome.’ But it seemed to him cowardly advice too; and she one behind her father in the score. He sent a glance forward in a kind of desperation: no, there was no sign of the squall moderating, and they were a long way from the head of the loch. Moreover, the salmon, that was either a strong beast or particularly lively, had already taken out a large length of line, in the opposite direction. ’Do you think,’ said he hurriedly, ’you could jump ashore and take the rod with you, if I put you in at the point down there?’ ’Yes, yes!’ she said, eagerly enough. ’You will get wet.’ ’I don’t care a cent about that—I will do whatever you say——’ He spoke a few words to the lad at the bow; and suddenly shifted his oar thither. ’As hard as ye can, my lad.’ And then he seized the rod from her, and began reeling in the line with an extraordinary rapidity, for now they were drifting down the loch again. ’Do ye see the point down there, this side the bay?’ ’Yes.’