'We're shipwrecked, Neil; or rather we've been cut off by the tide-way,' said Marjorie.
'The others are here,' said Allan, 'in the cottage; you're quite safe. Come along.'
They entered very softly, Neil dragging his limbs as though he were fatigued.
'What's the row?' inquired Reggie, opening his eyes.
'Hush, don't wake the others,' said Marjorie; but already Harry had stirred on his heather couch.
'It's Neil,' said Allan, as the boy sprang up, wide awake. 'He's going to stay here till morning.'
'Neil?' repeated Harry. 'Oh, I say, what a lark. Gerald, wake up, you lazy beggar, here's Neil at last—Neil, I tell you; get up,' and he administered a shove to his sleeping brother.
By this time all the inmates of the cottage were awake, Hamish being the last to open a pair of bewildered, sleepy eyes. Room was made for Neil at the fire, the smouldering peats were roused to life, and the boys and girls clustered round, staring and asking questions, much too excited to think of sleep.
'How is your mother, Neil?' asked Tricksy, whose dark eyes looked bigger and darker than ever between surprise and sleepiness.
'She iss better, thank you, Miss Tricksy. I will have left her sleeping quietly, and I will pe coming here so that I can be going back early to see how she iss in the morning.'