As time went on, by dint of hard and constant work, the sum in
the savings bank slowly increased; and at last Rob announced to
his companions that they had saved enough to enable him to
purchase a share in Coll MacDougall's boat.
These MacNicol boys had grown to be very much respected in
Erisaig; and one day, as Rob was going along the main street, the
banker called him into his office. "Rob," said he, "have you seen
the yacht at the building yard?"
"Yes," said Rob, rather wistfully, for many a time he had stood
and looked at the beautiful lines of the new craft; "she's a
splendid boat."
"Well, you see, Rob," continued Mr. Bailie, regarding him with a
good-natured look, "I had the boat built as a kind of
speculation. Now, I have been hearing a good deal about you, Rob,
from the neighbors. They say that you and your brothers and
cousin are good, careful seamen. Now, do you think you could
manage that new boat?"
Rob was quite bewildered. All he could say was, "I am obliged to
you, sir. Will you wait for a minute till I see Neil?" And very
soon the wild rumor ran through Erisaig, that Rob MacNicol had
been appointed master of the new yacht the Mary of Argyle and
that he had taken his brothers and cousin as a crew.
Rob sold out his share in MacDougall's boat, and bought jerseys
and black boots and yellow oilskins for his companions; so that
the new crew, if they were rather slightly built, looked spruce
enough as they went down to the slip to overhaul the Mary of
Argyle.