And lo! there they were at the south end of Suliscanna, and there was the schooner Sea Unicorn just coming out from her anchorage under full sail within two hundred yards of them.
It was no use to row or to set the sail. Our three were so taken with deadly apprehension that they sat quite still as the vessel approached. The captain hailed them from his station by the helm, but neither Wat nor Scarlett had the heart to reply. A boat was lowered, and in a few moments Wat and Kate were being received on board the Sea Unicorn, of Poole, by Captain Smith, her owner and master.
And there before them, as they looked across the deck from the side up which they had come, were seated three people—a man of stately presence, gray-headed and erect, a lady of doubtful years and charms not wholly departed—and Barra.
The old man rose and came forward towards Kate with a strange expression of apology and appeal on his face.
"Kate, my lass!" said he.
"My father!" cried the girl, taking, however, no step towards him, but keeping her hold of Wat Gordon's hand.
But Wat was staring at the lady who sat beside Barra.
"My Lady Wellwood!" he said, in utter astonishment.
Barra smiled his thin, acrid, unmoved smile.
"You mistake, sir," he said; "not now my Lady Wellwood, but the fair bride of Roger McGhie and the very charming mistress of his mansion of Balmaghie."