Well, then Bounder put in an appearance with his red tongue out over his white teeth and laughing all down both sides.
"Hilloa! you fellows"--it was Kep's voice--"I've been looking for you everywhere."
The journey back to the Cottage was a lightsome and happy one. The dinner was a splendid one. All McTavish's despondency had fled, and he kept his host laughing almost continuously all the while with the strange stories he told.
After dinner the Squire and he went out to smoke in the garden, while the full moon rose silently up and sparkled on the beautiful sea.
You must have known long before this that this great athlete surgeon was not the man to hang fire about anything. His motto was, if you've got to fight, why, the sooner you charge the better.
He stopped so quickly in his walk that the Squire had forged ahead a few paces before he too could stop ship and get about.
Thus the two men faced each other.
"Squire Drummond, I love your daughter, and have reason to believe she is fond of me. Squire Drummond, may I call you father?"
The Squire looked the bold young rascal up and down, then burst out laughing. And here is what he said as he held out his hand--
"Damn me, Duncan McTavish, if I think I can do better."