The distance from land was not more than a few hundred yards;
nevertheless, it occupied a considerable time to pass over that space,
the raft being ill-adapted for quick progression through the water.
Close to the shore there was a flat rock, to which, as they approached
it, their attention was drawn by the appearance of what seemed to be
living creatures of some sort. Quin and Robin Tips, sitting on the
raft, naturally saw them first.
"I do belave it's men, for they're liftin' their hids an' lookin' at us.
Av it was the South Says, now, I'd say they was saviges peepin' at us
over the rocks."
"P'raps they're boys a-bathin'," suggested Tips.
"Are they white?" asked Captain McPherson, who, being chin-deep in the
water and behind the raft, could not see the rock referred to.
"No; sure they seem to be grey, or blue."
"Oo, they'll be seals," returned the skipper, nasally--a tone which is
eminently well adapted for sarcastic remark without the necessity of
elaborate language.
"In coorse they is," said Tips; "don't you see they're a-heavin' up
their tails as well as their 'eads?"
On advancing a few yards farther, all doubt upon the question was put at
rest. The animals, of which about a dozen were enjoying themselves on
the rock, raised themselves high on their flippers and gazed, with
enormous eyes, at the strange-looking monster that was coming in from
the sea! Thus they remained, apparently paralysed with astonishment,
until the raft was within pistol-shot, and then, unable to endure the
suspense longer, they all slipped off into the sea.
A few minutes later and the raft struck on the shore. And well was it
for the party that the weather chanced to be so fine, for if there had
been anything like a breeze, their frail contrivance would inevitably
have been dashed to pieces. Even a slight swell from the westward would
have raised such a surf on that rugged shore that it would have been
impossible for the best of swimmers to have landed without broken limbs,
if not loss of life. As it was, they got ashore not only without
difficulty, but even succeeded in hauling the raft up on the beach
without much damage to its parts--though, of course, the unfortunate
fowls in the hen-coops had all perished!
While Mabberly and the others were engaged in securing the raft, Barret
was sent off along shore with directions to ascertain whether there was
any habitation near. To his right the high cliffs came down so close to
the sea that it seemed very improbable that any cottage or hamlet could
be found in that direction. He therefore turned towards the left, where
the cliffs receded some distance from the shore, leaving a narrow strip
of meadow land.
Hurrying forward about a quarter of a mile, he stopped and looked about
him. The sun was still high in the heavens--for the days are long and
nights brief in that region during summer--and its rays had so far
scattered the mists that all the low-lying land was clear, though the
mountain-range inland was only visible a short distance above its base.
The effect of this was to enhance the weird grandeur of the view, for
when the eye had traced the steep glens, overhanging cliffs, rugged
water-courses, and sombre corries upward to the point where all was lost
in cloud, the imagination was set free to continue the scenery to
illimitable heights.
The youth was still gazing upward, with solemnised feelings, when there
was presented to him one of those curious aspects of nature which are
sometimes, though rarely, witnessed in mountainous regions. Suddenly an
opening occurred in the clouds--or mist--which shrouded the
mountain-tops, and the summit of a stupendous cliff bathed in rich
sunshine, was seen as if floating in the air. Although obviously part
of the mountain near the base of which he stood, this cliff--completely
isolated as it was--seemed a magical effect, and destitute of any real
connection with earth.
While he was looking in wonder and admiration at the sight, he observed
a bird hovering about motionless in the blue vault high above the
cliffs. Although inexperienced in such scenery and sights, Barret knew
well enough that nothing but an eagle--and that of the largest size--
could be visible at all at such a distance. Suddenly the bird sailed
downwards with a grand circular sweep, and was lost among the shadows of
the perpendicular rocks. A few minutes more and the mists drifted over
the opening, causing the vision to disappear.
This was Barret's first view of the Eagle Cliff, which was destined to
exercise a powerful and lasting influence upon his fortunes!
A few yards beyond this the explorer came upon a sheep track, and a
little farther on he found one of those primitive roads which are formed
in wild out-of-the-way places by the passage of light country carts,
with the aid of a few rounded stones where holes required to be filled
up, or soft places strengthened. Following it a short distance to a
spot where it ran between a precipice and the shore, he came suddenly in
sight of a wilderness of fallen rocks, which were varied in size from
mere pebbles to masses the size of an omnibus. These had all fallen
from a steep spur of the mountains which projected towards the sea of
that place. The whole of the level land at the base of the spur was
strewn with them; some being old, moss-covered and weather-worn, others
fresh and sharp in outline, as if they had fallen only the previous
winter, as probably they had, for the places from which they had been
dislodged could be seen still fresh and light-coloured, nearly a
thousand feet up on the riven cliffs. It was a species of desolation
that powerfully recalled some scenes in Dante's "Inferno," and had a
depressing effect on the youth's spirits, for nothing seemed more
unlikely than the existence of a human habitation in such a place.
A new view of the matter broke upon him, however, when he suddenly
became aware that a spot in the confused scene which he had taken to be
a clump of withered bracken was in reality a red cow! Looking a little
more narrowly at objects he soon perceived a hut among the rocks. It
was so small and rude and rugged as almost to escape detection. A
furious barking soon told that he had been seen, and two collie dogs
rushed towards him with demonstrations that threatened him with
immolation on the spot. The uproar put life into a few more clumps of
red bracken, and produced a lively display of sheep and cattle
throughout the region.
Barret walked straight up to the door of the hut, and the collies
withdrew from the attack--as most noisy demonstrators do when treated
with silent indifference.
"Is there any one inside?" he asked of a bare-legged, shaggy-headed boy,
who came out and gazed at him, apparently with his mouth as well as his
eyes.
"Na," answered the boy.
"Any other cottages or houses near this?"
"Ay; yonder."
The boy pointed in the direction of the sea, where, in a stony nook
between two jutting masses of rock, nestled about a dozen huts built of
boulder stones gathered from the sea-shore. So small were these huts,
and so stupendous the rocks around them, that they might easily have
been overlooked by a careless eye. So might the half-dozen
fishing-boats that lay in the little cove beside them.
A stream or rivulet--better known in Scotland as a burn--ran past the
hamlet, formed a pool just below it, and dropped into the cove close to
the place where the boats lay.
Rejoiced to find even the poorest kind of shelter in such a place,
Barret hastened down to the cove, and, tapping at the door of the
largest of the cottages, was bidden "come in" by a soft voice.
Entering, he was surprised to find a neatly, though plainly, furnished
room, which was evidently the kitchen of the house--indeed, the sole
room, with the exception of an off-shoot closet. The large open
fireplace contained a peat fire on the hearth, over which hung a
bubbling pot. There were two box-beds opposite the fire, and in the
wall which faced the door there was a very small window, containing four
panes of glass, each of which had a knot in the middle of it. One of
them also presented the phenomenon of a flattened nose, for the boy with
the ragged head had rushed down and stationed himself there to observe
the result of the unexpected and singular visit.
Beside the window, in a homely arm-chair, sat an invalid girl with pale
thin cheeks, bright blue eyes, and long flaxen hair. If not pretty, she
was, at all events, extremely interesting, and possessed the great charm
of a winning smile.
Apologising for causing her alarm by his damp, dishevelled, and sudden
appearance, Barret asked if there were any men about the place.
No, there were none there at the moment; most of them being out after
the sheep and cattle, and some gathering peat, or away in the boats.
"But surely they have not left you all by yourself?" said Barret, struck
not only by the appearance of the girl, but by the comparative
refinement of her language.
"Oh no!" she replied, with a slight smile; "they look well after me.
Mrs Anderson has only gone to fetch some peats. But where have you
come from, sir? Your clothes are all wet!"
"You are right. I have just been saved from drowning, through God's
mercy, along with my companions."
Here Barret gave her a brief outline of the recent disaster, and then
asked if Mrs Anderson was her mother.
"No; she is my aunt, but she is very good to me; takes as much care of
me as if I was her own daughter. I don't belong to this place. They
have sent me here for my health."
At this point they were interrupted by Mrs Anderson herself, who
entered with a load of peat, which she flung down, shook her fist at the
nose-flattener outside, and turned in astonishment to her visitor.
Of course our shipwrecked friend had to retail his story to the woman,
and then learned from her that the island was a very large one, with a
name unpronounceable by English lips, that it was very thinly inhabited,
that it consisted almost entirely of pasture land, and that "the laird"
owned a large portion of it, including the little fishing village of
"Cove."
While the woman was speaking an elderly man entered, whom she introduced
as her husband Ian. To him Barret had to re-repeat his story, and then
asked if he and his friends could obtain shelter in the village for the
night.
"Iss it shelter ye'll be wantin'? Ye'll hev that an' welcome, though it
will be of the poorest. But in the mornin' ye'll gang up to the hoose,
for the laird wud be ill-pleased if we keepit ye here."
"Pray, who is this laird?" asked Barret; "your wife has already
mentioned him."
"Maister Gordon is his name. He lives near the heed o' Loch Lossie. It
iss over eight mile from here," said Ian; "an' a coot shentleman he iss,
too. Fery fond o' company, though it iss not much company that comes
this way, for the steam-poats don't veesit the loch reg'lar or often.
He'll be fery glad to see you, sir, an' to help ye to git home. But
we'd petter be goin' to tell your freen's that we can putt them up for
the nicht. I'll go pack with ye, an we'll take the poy to help an'
carry up their things."
"You forget that we have been wrecked," returned Barret with a laugh,
"and have no `things' to carry, except our own damp carcases."
"That's true, sir, but we'll be none the worse o' the poy, what-e-ver.
Come away, Tonal'," said Ian, as they started back along the shore. "It
iss under the Eagle Cliff where ye came to laund, I make no doot?"
"Well, I suppose it was; at least, there is a range of cliffs close to
the place where our raft struck."
"Oo ay--but it iss not the wee precipices, it iss the big hull behind
them that we ca' the Eagle Cliff."
"Oh, indeed! I saw that cliff in a peculiar manner as I came along,"
said Barret giving a description of the scene.
"Ay; it iss sometimes seen like that," said Ian; "an' we often see the
eagle, but it's no' possible to git a shot at that crater. The laird is
real keen to bring it doon, for it plays the mischief among the lambs,
an' him an' his freen's hes aften tried, but they hev not manicht it
yet."
Thus chatting they soon reached the raft, and found the disconsolate
party waiting impatiently for them.
"Shall we leave it where it lies, or drag it further up on the beach?"
asked Mabberly, referring to the raft.
"Ye petter haul it a wee higher up," said Ian, examining the machine
with much interest; "for when it comes on to plow there's a heavy sea
here. Weel, weel, but it iss a strange contrivance!"
"Ay; an' also a useful one," said the skipper, drily--at least as duly
as was possible in the circumstance.
"Noo, shentlemen, I think we had petter be goin'."
It was indeed time, for although the weather was warm and fine, the sun
had set, and their damp garments began to feel uncomfortable.
At the Cove the whole party was accommodated in a single-roomed hut,
which chanced to be empty at the time. Here the hospitable fishermen
spread nets for bedding, and with plaids made up for the lack of
blankets. They also kindled a large peat fire, and put on a pot of
potatoes, and some splendid sea-trout, while Mrs Anderson prepared
oat-cakes at her own fire, and sent them in as required.
"Noo, shentlemen, ye'll tak a tram?" said Ian, producing a black bottle.
Immeasurable was the astonishment of the Highlander when the gentlemen
refused a dram.
"But--but, ye'll catch yer death o' cauld, if ye don't!" he said,
remonstratively, as he stood bottle and glass in hand.
"Thanks, friend," replied Jackman, "but we have taken in so much salt
water during our swim to land that we are not sure whether the whisky
would agree with it."
"Hoots! havers!" exclaimed Ian, pouring out some of the liquid; "ye're
jokin'."
"In truth we are not, then," said Mabberly; "for we are all total
abstainers."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Ian, who could not understand the principles or
feelings of men who, after a long exhausting swim in their clothes, were
capable of refusing whisky! For it is to be remembered that, although
the time we write of is comparatively recent, that remote island had not
been visited by any apostle of temperance or total abstinence in regard
to alcohol. Of course Ian had heard something of such principles, but
he did not believe in them, and certainly did not practise them.
"Hooiver, shentlemen," he added, "if ye wunna tak it--here's wushin'
your fery coot health!"
Raising the glass, he drained it without winking, as if the contents had
been water, smacked his lips and put the bottle away.
It must not be supposed that all the crew of the late unfortunate
_Fairy_ witnessed this proceeding unmoved, for, although they had all
been engaged on the understanding that no strong drink was to be allowed
or consumed while the voyage lasted, not one of them was a pledged
abstainer, and now that the voyage was ended it did seem as if the laws
of the voyage should no longer be binding. Still there remained a
feeling that, as long as they continued a united party, the spirit of
the agreement should not be broken; therefore the skipper and "Shames"
let the bottle pass with a sigh, and Quin followed suit with an
undertoned remark to Tips that, "he wouldn't have belaved tim'tation to
be so strong av he hadn't wrastled wid it!"
By that time most of the men of the hamlet had returned, and a rig out
of fisher clothes was lent to each of the unfortunates, so that they
were enabled to pass the night in comfort while their own garments were
in front of a good fire.
"Is that sick girl your daughter, Ian?" asked Giles Jackman that night,
as he walked on the shore with his host before retiring to rest.
"No, sir; she's a niece--the daughter of a brother o' mine who hes
feathered his nest petter than me. He's a well-to-do grocer in Oban,
an' hes geen his bairn a pretty good edication; but it's my opeenion
they hev all but killed her wi' their edication, for the doctor has telt
them to stop it altogither, an' send her here for a change o' air."
"Indeed! An interesting child, and so well-mannered, too," remarked
Jackman.
"Humph! Nae doot she is. They do say that it's because my brither has
gotten an English wife. But for my pairt, oor weemen seem to me to be
as weel mainered as the weemen sooth o' the Tweed."
"Quite as well, I doubt not; though I have not seen much of your
countrywomen, Ian. Besides, good manners are to be judged by varying
standards. What is good in the opinion of the Eskimo may be thought
very bad by the Hindoo, and _vice versa_. It is very much a matter of
taste. The manners of your niece, at all events, are admirable. Now it
is time to turn in. Good-night, Ian."
The sun was high next morning when the wrecked men awoke, and began to
feel the outcries of nature with reference to breakfast. Long before
that time the men of Cove had gone off to the hills, the peat-hags, or
the sea, according to their respective callings. But Mrs Anderson had
a sumptuous breakfast of oatmeal porridge and fresh milk ready for the
strangers.
"Musha! but it'll make me mouth wather all the afthernoon thinkin' of
it," said Quin, on finishing his second plateful.
"It's prime wittles," remarked Tips, as he helped himself to more.
"Now, Barret, have you finished?" asked Mabberly.
"No; why?"
"Because, in the first place, you are evidently eating too much for your
health, and, in the second place, I want you to go up to what Ian calls
the Hoose, as a deputation to the laird. You see, although we are
forced, as it were, to throw ourselves on his hospitality, I don't quite
like to descend on him all at once with the whole strength of our party.
It will be better for one of us to break the ice, and as you are the
best-looking and most hypocritically urbane, when you choose, I think we
could not do better than devolve the duty upon you."
"Right, Bob, as usual; but don't you think," said Barret, helping
himself to another ladleful of the porridge, "that my going may cut in
two directions? Doubtless the laird would be agreeably surprised to
meet with me; but then that will raise his expectations so high, that he
will be woefully disappointed on meeting with _you_!"
"Come, friends," cried Jackman, "it is dangerous to play with edged
tools immediately after a meal. My medical knowledge assures me of
that. I quite approve of Barret forming the deputation, and the sooner
he starts off the better. The rest of us will assist Ian to fish in his
absence."
Thus authorised and admonished, Barret finished breakfast, put on his
own garments--which, like those of his companions, were semi-nautical--
and sallied forth for an eight miles' walk over the mountains to the
mansion of the laird, which lay on the other side of the Eagle's Cliff
ridge, on the shores of Loch Lossie.
He was guided the first part of the journey by Tonal' with the ragged
head, who, with an activity that seemed inexhaustible, led him up into
wild and rugged places such as he had never before dreamed of--rocky
fastnesses which, looked at from below, seemed inaccessible, even to
goats, but which, on being attempted, proved to be by no means beyond
the powers of a steady head and strong limbs.
Reaching the summit of a heather-clad knoll that projected from a
precipitous part of the mountain-side, Barret paused to recover breath
and look back at the calm sea. It lay stretched out far below him,
looking, with its numerous islets in bird's-eye view, somewhat like a
map. The mists had completely cleared away, and the sun was glittering
on the white expanse like a line of light from the shore to the horizon.
Never before had our Englishman felt so like a bird, both as to the
point of vision from which he surveyed the glorious scene, and the
internal sensation of joy which induced him not only to wish that he
could fly, but to think that a very little more of such exultation of
spirit would enable him to do so!
"Is that the Cove down there?" he asked of the ragged companion who
stood beside him.
"Ay, that's the Cove!"
"Why, Donald, it looks like a mere speck in the scene from here, and the
men look no bigger than crows."
As this observation called for no answer none was given, and Donald
seemed to regard his companion as one who was rather weak-minded.
"Have we come half-way yet, Donald?"
"No--no' near."
"Is it difficult to find the rest of the way from this point?"
"No; but it wad be diffeecult to miss it."
"Well, Donald, my boy, I have a strong desire to be alone--that is, to
try if I cannot go the rest of the way without guidance; so, if you will
just give me a little direction, I'll let you go home, and many thanks
for coming thus far. Now, point out the landmarks."
He turned, as he spoke, towards the grand mountain that still towered
behind him.
"There's naethin' t' pint oot," returned the boy; "ye've only t' haud on
by this sheep track till ee come close under the cliff yonder."
"The Eagle Cliff?"
"Ay. It'll bring ee to a cairt road, an' ye've only to follow that
through the pass, an' haud on till ee come to the hoose. Ye can see the
hoose frae the other side o' the pass."
"And what is the `hoose' called?" asked Barret.
"Kinlossie."
"Thank you. Good-bye, my boy."
A few coppers sent the youth of the ragged head away in high spirits.
The young man watched him till he was concealed by a clump of small
birch trees that hung like a fringe on the top of a neighbouring
precipice. Barret had just turned to continue the ascent to the Eagle
Cliff, whose frowning battlements still rose high above him, when a wild
shout from the boy made him turn and look anxiously back. The place
which he had reached was strewn with great masses of rock that had
fallen from the cliffs. He was about to clamber on to one of these, in
order to obtain a better view, when the cause of the shout became
obvious. A splendid stag, frightened from its lair by the boy, burst
from the birchwood, and, with antlers laid well back, bounded up the
slope towards him. It was closely followed by two does.
Barret crouched at once behind the mass of rock. The deer, thinking,
doubtless, only of the danger behind, had failed to observe him.
"Oh for Giles, with his rifle!" thought the youth, as the agile
creatures passed within less than a hundred yards of him, and headed
straight for the pass of the Eagle Cliff.
Scarcely had the thought occurred, when a flapping noise behind caused
him to turn quickly. It was the eagle himself, sailing majestically and
slowly overhead, as though he knew full well that an Englishman without
a gun was a harmless creature!
Considerably excited by these unexpected and, to him, stirring sights,
Barret pushed steadily upward, and soon reached a part of the pass
whence he could see the valley beyond, with a house in the far
distance--which, of course, must be Kinlossie--standing in a clump of
wood on the margin of an inlet of the sea, known by the name of Loch
Lossie.
But a far more astonishing sight than anything he had beheld that
morning was yet in store for Barret. On turning round a projecting rock
at the foot of the Eagle Cliff, he suddenly came upon a young girl,
lying on the road as if dead!
Springing towards her, he knelt and raised her head. There was no blood
upon the face, which was deadly pale, and no apparent injury. She did
not seem to breathe, but on feeling her pulse he fancied that he felt a
flutter there. A feeling of desperate regret passed through him as he
thought of his utter destitution alike of medical or surgical knowledge.
But Barret was not by any means a helpless man. Running to one of the
many streams of water which trickled from the cliff, he filled the top
of his wideawake therewith, and, returning, laved the girl's face, and
poured a little into her mouth.
His efforts were successful. She recovered consciousness, opened her
eyes, and asked, with a confused look, what was the matter.
"You must have had a fall, dear child; but you'll be better presently.
Let me raise you."
The girl tried to rise, but, with a sharp cry of pain, fell back again
unconscious.
Barret soon ascertained that one of the poor girl's arms was severely
bruised, perhaps broken. He knew not what to do, but he knew that the
greatest present evil was delay. He therefore wrapped her in the
shepherd's plaid which she wore, and raised her as gently as possible in
his arms--making use of the plaid as a sort of sling, with part of it
round his own neck. Then, thanking God for the strong limbs and muscles
with which he had been endowed, he set off with vigorous tread for
Kinlossie House.