"Don't I wish I could!" he exclaimed. "But I'm not so ignorant as they think. I know more than ten words of Gaelic. You fellows from the Oa remember to tell that!"
There was a hearty laugh round the table. "By Jove, I will tell it," said Donald Neil, when the conversation had become general again, "I'll tell Catchach!"
"Tell him what?" inquired Wee Andra.
"That the minister speaks Gaelic."
A shriek of laughter from those who heard greeted this announcement, and Wee Andra thumped his chum upon the back in the exuberance of his delight.
"Great head, Don!" he roared. "Catchach'll swallow him with joy before he has time to deny it."
"Don Neil," cried Jessie, "you surely wouldn't play a trick on a minister!"
"It would be fearful wicked," put in Sandy piously.
"He'll never know," laughed Donald. "We'll let Catchach foam a while and then bring him down to earth before he does any damage."
"Well, a minister should be considered above such things," said Sarah loftily.