Mrs Burnet smiled and shook her head.
“Here, you boys, don’t get into any mischief.”
“No, father,” said Vince, and the next minute they were outside.
“Scraw?” said Vincent; and his companion nodded unwillingly, as the boy thought, but he changed his opinion the next moment.
“I’ve got the hammer and bar ready, and a small rope; but we must have yours.”
“Yes, of course.”
“Well, run back and get it, and meet me out by the Dolmen.”
“Brought it,” said Mike: “tucked it under a furze bush out on the common.”
Vince’s face lit up with eagerness, and the pair were about to start when they saw old Daygo in the distance, and they turned back, went into the house, and waited till he had gone by.
Giving the fisherman time to get well out of sight, they sallied forth, and went to where the coil of rope was hidden—a thin, strong line that would have borne a couple of men hanging on its end—and as soon as this was brought out, and a glance round taken to make sure they were not watched, Mike cried—