Then the movement ceased, and Max exclaimed excitedly,—
“Is he down safely?”
“Ou ay! she’s all right,” replied Tavish, as he gazed calmly down. “Come and look.”
Max shook his head. He had had shocks enough to his nerves that day, and could bear no more.
Long Shon, however, went to the edge, and stood looking down with a grim smile. Sneeshing did the same, and barked; while Scoodrach threw himself down, and lay on the edge of the cliff looking over.
“Haul away!” came from below, and Tavish drew up a pair of coarse worsted stockings knotted together and tied to the rope.
These were set at liberty, and, as they were placed upon a rock, there was a good deal of shuffling and movement inside, the occupants of the stockings trying first to ascend the legs, and then travelling back toward the toes, and remaining quiescent till there was the shadow cast by a bird, as it darted overhead, and a shrill cry, which seemed to set the young birds in a state of great excitement.
“Oh, if I’d been up there!” shouted Kenneth from below. “What a chance for a shot!”
“Retty, Maister Ken?”
“Yes; haul away.”