Who was coming?
Every heart beat quick with anxiety. Then the inner door was thrown wide, and in stalked Bunko, red coat on and pole in hand.
His bonnet was pulled down over his ears, and his face was rain-battered and red. He looked indeed an uncouth figure.
"He is a good man," said Bunko, "and bringeth good tidings."
"Oh, may the Lord love you for they words!" cried one of the women; "but speak, Bunko, speak!"
"It's like this," said the half-witted lad. "There is hope yet, ye mustna let down your hearts. I've just come back from the harbour, and ae [one] boat has just come in."
"Oh, bless you, Bunko! Who's boat is it?"
"None o' your men."
The women wrung their hands.
"It's Will Scroggie's boat. Will had a mis-shanter, and bore up afore the brunt o' the storm cam' on. But the boat is sadly tashed. And a' the rest are blown oot to sea."