“Not—very much,” said Kenneth, with a shudder of pain. “Thank ye, Tav, old chap. There, I’m like a little boy again; but it’s too bad to let you carry me.”
“Haud yer wheesht, Maister Ken—haud yer wheesht!” cried the big forester angrily. “What would she pe for if it wasna to help ta young Chief o’ ta Mackhai? Why, Long Shon here and she would lie doon for ye to walk upo’ us if it would do ye good.”
“Ay!” cried Long Shon.
“Noo then, slow and steady. Come along, Maister Max; and we’ll be doon to the sands before Scoodrach can get across ta bay.”
The great fellow walked slowly and carefully down the gully; but, before they had gone far, Kenneth’s head dropped, and they laid him down again, to revive him after a few minutes by bathing his face on the brink of the rushing stream, after which Tavish raised him as tenderly as if he had been a baby, and bore him in his arms.
They reached the shore at last, after a very slow progress, to find Scoodrach approaching fast, and tugging at the oars with all his might.
“Is ta Mackhai at hame?” cried Long Shon, as the boy came within hail.
“Na,” shouted Scoodrach, without turning his head, and toiling away till he was close in, when he reversed the boat, and backed in till she grounded on the sand.
The pillows were there, so was the whisky, but no one touched it. Kenneth was laid carefully in the stern, and Max supported him, Scoodrach scowling angrily at being sent into the bows; while the two men made the water surge beneath the keel till they reached the rock, where, once more taking the injured lad in his arms as if he were a babe, Tavish carried him up the rock, and then right up to his bedroom, where he stopped and tended him as carefully as a trained nurse.
“I’ve been a’ ower him, Maister Crant, and ye may rest easy till ta Mackhai comes pack. If she likes to sent for ta toctor, weel, let her sent; pit there’s naething wrang wi’ the laddie, nae banes brukkit, and naething wrang inside. She has gien her heit a gran’ ding or twa, and she’s verra sair, and she’s been maist trooned. I’ve seen to manny a worse hurt than hers, so let the bairn go to sleep, and we’ll see her when she wacks.”