Page:Blackwood's Magazine volume 137.djvu/765

1885.] slow at best, whether to those who figure in it or to those who read about it; so we spare our readers many of the details. But with the rising tide, driven over the reef by the winds, the water at every seventh wave or so actually washed over Winstanley's boot and slipper; and although it became pretty plain that no one need be actually drowned, it seemed probable that his constitution might be shattered for life. He was so lost in a labyrinth of gloomy thoughts, that he was indifferent even to the presence of the irrepressible American, who opined that he would rather run the chances of being sky-rocketed from high-pressure "ingines" among the snags of the Mississippi, than be cast adrift on an empty stomach in that herring-pool, when a man should be turning his attention to mutton-chops and ham-and-eggs.

Nothing could be more welcome, then, than the sight of the Clansman, steaming southward on the way to Oban. She answered the signals of distress, and bore down to the assistance of the wreck. The embarkation was a matter of time, and of some little inconvenience as well; but the reef acted as to kind of breakwater against the freshening gale, and the castaways were hospitably welcomed into snug quarters, where they had an opportunity of changing their damp garments.

"I seem to have known you from your boyhood," said Winstanley very warmly to his young acquaintance. "You have stood by me in a way I shall never forget; and as you were ready to do me one inestimable service in the way of risking your life, I mean to ask you to do me another. It's the way of the world, you know, so you need not be surprised."

"Very willingly," answered Jack, with graceful readiness – not the less readily, no doubt, that he felt instinctively that the favour to be asked was to pave the way to some return for his generous devotion.

"Well, I fancy I may take it for granted that your time is at your disposal, otherwise you would hardly have shipped for a cruise in that miserable old tub. I mean to land at Oban, where I fear I may have to lay up and take medical advice. If you could bestow a day or two on a fretful invalid, I should feel, if possible, more grateful than I do at present." And he threw as much significance into his words as was compatible with consideration for a gentleman's feelings.

And as we know something of Mr Venables's views and nature – and as he made it a golden rule never to miss a chance – we need hardly add that he jumped at the invitation with a cordiality which greatly flattered his senior.

CHAPTER X. – A HIGHLAND TRAGEDY.
A man must be a bore, or a social wet blanket, if he be not missed from the society of a Highland hall. Venables was missed by his uncle; he was missed by his cousin Grace; he was missed and mourned by Donald Ross and the gillies. And, no doubt, he might have been more missed than he was by Leslie, had it not been for certain significant intimations, dropped in the course of the conversation which Glenconan had with his elder nephew according to arrangement. It is true that Mr Moray said very little, being