'I did not notice anything,' said Allan.
Tricksy had almost said, 'No, boys never do, but checked herself in time.
The road between Ardnavoir and Corranmore led across the northern part of the island, through fields and moorland. All the turnings of the way brought into view fascinating glimpses of the sea, running inland between brown rocks. Fishing-boats with white and russet sails lay upon water turned to a sheet of silver by the sunlight, and grey and white gulls floated about and screamed.
The breeze was blowing shoreward, tempering the warmth of the sun and bringing brine and the odour of seaweed to mingle with the perfume of bell-heather from the moors.
Laddie stepped lightly beside his young friends, waving his tail in the air, and now and again pausing to investigate a rabbit-burrow or an interesting tuft of heather or cotton-grass.
'Well, Tricksy, getting tired yet?' said Allan to his little sister after they had walked between three and four miles.
'Not a bit,' replied Tricksy, trudging along determinedly, but with a little roll in her gait which betrayed that she was.
'I think we'll rest awhile,' said Allan, and the three young folk sat down upon a patch of fragrant, springy heather, while Laddie, after looking at them for a minute, surprised at such an early halt, curled himself up beside them.
'I wish Father would get the yacht out soon,' said Allan, watching the sea and the fishing-boats.
'Yes,' said Reggie; 'he is very late this year.'