"The anchor's holding, but perhaps we'd better take the kedge farther out," he said.
It cost them half an hour's hard work; for they had to follow up the heavy warp while angry, broken waves splashed into the dinghy; and then, after tearing the anchor out of the sand, they had to row some distance against the drag of the rope. At last, however, Andrew was satisfied.
"I'm not sure all that was necessary, but it was wiser to make things safe," he said, when they carried the dinghy up on the shore.
Whitney did not answer, and as they passed a sod cabin on the common a man came out.
"Is that you, Jock?" Andrew asked. "It's a wild night, and when Mr. Staffer told me what you said I thought I'd come down to see how the boat was riding."
"It's wild enough," agreed the fisherman; and Whitney recognized him as the man who had come on board on the morning after their arrival. "What was it Mr. Staffer said?"
"I can't remember exactly, but I understood you thought the boat might drag."
"Weel, I wouldna' say that was impossible, but ye hae good ground tackle."
Whitney looked hard at him, but he could not see the Scot's face well.
"And Mr. Staffer sent ye off in his car to see if she was a' right?" Marshall chuckled.