'She's coming along pretty quickly. Hadn't we better call the others and let them know?'
'Yes, do,' said Reggie; and hollowing their hands, they shouted, 'Neil!—Hamish!—hulloa!—the steamer!'
Their voices were blown back to them by the wind; but the lad on the rope happening to look up, the others pointed energetically out to sea, where the hull of the steamer was now becoming visible.
The boy glanced round; then climbed quickly hand over hand up the rope, and joined the others.
'The steamer at last,' said Reggie. 'See, she is just rounding Erricha Point now; she won't be long in coming in. Isn't it jolly about the measles, Neil?'
'Jolly for those who didn't happen to take them,' suggested Marjorie.
'Allan's holidays began six weeks sooner than they would have done if the boys hadn't all been sent home,' continued Reggie.
'He is coming just when we're having the best fun,' said Marjorie, watching the steamer with thoughtful eyes; 'what jolly times we'll have now. That was an awfully good idea of yours, Neil.'
The tall lad looked gratified. He was a handsome youth of about seventeen, dressed in the rough clothes of a fisherman, but refined in appearance, with a straight nose, dark blue eyes, and curly black hair.
'I will be thinking that you and the others had as much to do with it as I had, Miss Marjorie,' he replied.