Of High Descent. A novel

Front matter

,-slcto ,-fIobcls at the |Cibnmts. ROY'S REPENTANCE. By Adeline Sarjeaxt. 3 vols. THE STORY OF A MARRIAGE. By L. Baldwin. 3 vols. ROGER FERRON. By Mrs. Macqt*oid. 2 vols. A YOUNG GIRL'S LIFE. By B. L. Farjeon. 3 vols PRINCESS SUNSHINE. By Mrs. Riddell. 2 vols. AT THE MOMENT OF VICTORY. By C. L. Pirkis, 3 vols. WARD AND DOWNEY, PUBLISHERS, LONDON. OF HIGH DESCENT. S Sotel. BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN author of "this man's wife," etc. Ir\ IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. WcmUn : WARD AND DOWNEY, 12, YOKK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1889. [All Rights reserved.] Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, London &, Bung ay. CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. CHAP. PAGE I. "IN THE WEST COUNTREE " ... ... 1 II. ELEMENTS OP A WHOLE ... ... ... 17 III. DISCORDS ... ... ... ... ... 40 IV. A THUNDERBOLT ... ... ... ... 58 V. POISON AND ANTIDOTE ... ... ... 74 VI.

HARRY VINE SPEAKS PLAINLY ; SO DOES HIS FRIEND... ... ... ... ... 90 VII. CHEZ VAN HELDRE... ... ... ... 104 VIII. UNCLE LUKE SPEAKS HIS MIND ... ... 113 IX. IN OFFICE HOURS ... ... ... ... 124 X. HARRY VINE HAS A WANT ... ... ... 139 XI. AUNT MARGUERITE STUDIES A COMEDY ... 150 xii. uncle luke's spare cash ... ... 159 XIII. TO REAP THE WIND ... ... ... 176 XIV. DIOGENES IN HIS TUB ... ... ... 183 X\*. MY AUNT'S BETE NOIRE ... ... ... 205 XVI. IN A WEST COAST GALE ... ... ... 219 XVII. THE NEWS ... ... ... ... ... 233 XVIII. HARRY" VINE SHOWS HIS BRIGHT SIDE ... 243 XIX. A BAD NIGHT'S WORK ... ... ...

Chapter I

" IN THE AVEST COUNTREE." " Take care, Mr. Luke Vine, sir. There's a big one coming." The thin, little, sharp-featured, gray-haired man on a rock looked sharply round, saw the " big one coming," stooped, picked up a large basket, ancl, fishing-rod in hand, stepped back and climbed up a few feet, just as a heavy SAvell, which seemed to glide along rapidly over the otherwise calm sea, heaved, flooded the rock on which he had been standing, ran right up so high as to bathe his feet, then sank back in a series of glittering falls Avhich sparkled in the glorious sunshine ; there was a hissing and sighing and sucking noise among the rocks, VOL. I. B and the wave passed on along the rugged coast, leaving the sea calm and bright once more. " Many a poor lad's been took like that, Mr. Luke, sir," said the speaker, " and never heard of again.

Why, if I hadn't called out, it Avould have took you off your legs, and the current's so strong here you'd have been swept aAvay." " And there'd been an end of me, Polly, and nobody a bit the worse, eh ? " The last speaker seemed to fill his sharp, pale face full of tiny wrinkles, and reduced his eyes to mere slits, as he looked keenly at the big robust Avoman at his side. She was about fifty, but with her black hair as free from gray as that of a girl, her dark eyes bright, and her sun-tanned face rudely with health, as she bent fonvard with a great fish-basket supported on her back by means of a broad leather strap passed over her print sun-bonnet and across her forehead. " Nobody the worse, Mr. Luke, sir ? " cried the woman. " What a shame to talk like that ! You arn't no Avife, nor no child, but there's Miss Louise."

" Louisa, woman, Louisa," said the fisher sharply. " Well, Louisa, sir. I only want to be right ; but it was only yes'day as old Miss 'IN THE AVEST COUNTREE.' 3 Vine, as stood by when I was selling her some hake, shook her finger at me ancl said I was to say Miss Louise." " Humph ! Never mind what my sister says. Christened Louisa. — That ouo-ht to fetch em." " Yes, sir ; that ought to fetch 'em," said the woman in a sing-song Avay, as the elderly man gave the glistening bait at the end of his running line a deft SAving and sent it far out into the brip-ht sea. " I've seen the water boiling* sometimes out there Avith the bass O leaping and playing. What, haven't you caught none, sir ? " "No, Polly, not one; so just be off about your business, and don't Avorry me Avith your chatter." " Oh, I'm a-p-oina;, sir," said the woman o-ood humouredly; "only I see you a-fishing, and said to myself, ' Maybe Mr. Luke Vine's ketched more than he wants, and he'd like to sell me some of 'em for my customers.' " " Ancl I haA'en't seen a bass this mornino*, so be off."

" Toe be sure, Mr. Luke Vine, sir ; and Avhen are you going to let me come up and give your place a good clean ? I says to my 'Liza up at your brother's, sir, only yes' day " B " Look here, Polly PerroAv," cried the fisher viciously, " will you go, or must I ? " "Don't be criss-cross, sir, I'm going," said the Avoman, givinp; her basket a hitch. " Here's Miss Louise — isa — coming down the rocks with Miss Madlin." " Hans her confounded chatter ! " snarled the fisher, as he drew out his bait, unwound some more line, ancl made another throw, " bad as those AA*retched stamps." He cast an angry glance up at the mining works high on the cliff-side, whose chimney shaft ran along the sloping ground till it reared itself in air on the very top of the hill, Avhere in constant repetition the iron-shod piles rose and fell, crushing the broken ore to powder.

" A man might have thought he'd be free here from a woman's tongue." He gave another glance behind him, alono the rocky point Avhich jutted out several hun dred yards, and formed a natural breakwater to the estuary, which ran, rock-sheltered, right up into the land, and on either side of which were built rugged flights of natural steps, from the brio-ht water's edo-e to where, fiA*e hundred feet above, the gray wind-swept masses of granite looked jagged against the sky. Then he Avatched his great painted float, ' IN THE AVEST COUNTREE.' 5 as it ran here and there in the eddies of the tremendous Atlantic currents which swept along by the point. The sea sparkled, the sun shone, and the gray gulls floated above the deep blue transparent water, uttering a querulous cry from time to time, and then clipping down at the small shoals of fry which played upon the surface.

Far away seaward a huge A*essel was going Avest, leaving behind a trail of smoke ; on his right a white-sailed yacht or two glistened in the sun. In another direction, scattered here and there, brown-sailed luggers were passing slowly along ; Avhile behind the fisher lay the picturesque straggling old town known as East and West Hakemouth, with the estuary of the little riA^er pretty Avell filled with craft, from the fishing luggers and trawlers up to the good-sized schooners and brigs Avhich traded round the coast or adventured across the Bay of Storms, by Spain and through the Straits, laden AA*ith cargoes of pilchards for the Italian ports. "Missed him," grumbled the fisher, with drawing his line to re-bait with a pearly strip of mackerel. " Humph ! now I'm to be Avorried by those chattering girls."

The worry was very close at hand, for directly after, balancing themselves on the rough rocks, and leaping from mass to mass, came two bright-looking girls of about twenty, their faces flushed by exercise, and more than slightly tanned by the strong air that blows health-laden from the Atlantic. As so often happens in real life as Avell as in fiction, the companions were dark ancl fair ; ancl as they came laughing and talking, full of animation, looking a couple of as bonii)*-looking English maidens as the AVest Country could produce, their aspect Avarranted, in reply to the greetings of " Ah, Uncle Luke ! " " Ah, Mr. Vine ! " something a little more courteous than — " Well, Nuisance ? " addressed with a short nod to the dark girl in white serge, ancl " Do, Madelaine ? " to the fair girl in blue.

The gruffness of the greeting seemed to be taken as a matter of course, for the girls seated themselves directly on convenient masses of rock, and busied themselves in the govern ance of sundry errant strands of hair which were playing in the breeze. The elderly fisher Avatched them furtively, ancl his sour face seemed a little less grim, and as if there was something after all pleasant to look upon in the bright youthful countenances before him. * IN THE AVEST COUNTREE.' 7 " Well, uncle, 1ioav many fish ? " said the dark girl. " Bah ! and don't chatter, or I shall get none at all. How's dad ? " " Quite Avell. He's out here somewhere." " Dabbling ? " " Yes." The girl took off her soft yachting cap, and fanned her face ; then ceased, and half closing her eyes and throwing back her head, let her red lips part slightly as she breathed in full draughts of the soft western breeze.

" If he ever giA^es her a moment's pain," said the old man to himself, as he jerked a look up at the mining Avorks, " I'll kill him." Then, turning sharply to the fair girl, he said aloud — " Well, Madelaine, how's the bon pere r " Quite Avell, and very busy seeing to the lading of the Corunna," said the girl Avith animation. " Humph ! Old stupid. W7orrying himself to death money-grubbing. Here, Louie, Avhen's that boy going back to his place ? " " To-rnorroAA', uncle." "Good job too. What did he want with a holiday ? Ne\'er did a day's Avork in his life. Here ! Hold her, Louie. She's going to peck," he added in mock alarm, and with a cynical sneering laugh, as he saw his niece's companion colour slightly, and compress her lips. " Well, it's too bad of you, uncle. You are always finding fault about Harry."

" Say Henri, pray, my child, and Avith a good strong French accent," cried the old man, with mock remonstrance. " What would Aunt Marguerite say ? " "Aunt Margaret isn't here, uncle," cried the girl merrily ; " and it's of no use for you to grumble and say sour things, because we knoAV you by heart, and we don't belieAre in you a bit." "No," said the fisherman grimly, "only hate me like poison, for a sour old crab. NeA'er gave me a kiss when you came." " Hoav could I, without getting wet ? " said the girl, with a glance at the tiny rock island on which the fisher stood. " Humph ! Going back to-morroAv, eh ? Good job too. Why, he has been a Avhole half-year in his post." " Yes, uncle, a Avhole half-year ! " " And never stayed tA\*o months before at any of the excellent situations your father and ' IN THE AVEST COUNTREE.' 9 I Worried ourselves ancl our friends to death to get for him."

"Now, uncle " " A lazy, thoughtless, good-for-nothing young A'ag There, hold her again, Louie. She's going to peck." " And you deserve it, uncle," cried the girl, Avith a smile at her companion, in whose eyes the indignant tears Avere rising. " What ! for speaking the truth, ancl trying to let that foolish girl see my lord in his right colours ? " " Harry's a good affectionate brother, and I love him \*ery clearly," said Louise, firmly ; " and he's your brother's son, uncle, ancl in your heart you love him too, ancl you're proud of him as proud can be." " You're a silly young goose, ancl as feather brained as he is. Proud of him ? Bah ! I AA'ish he'd enlist for a soldier, and get shot." " For shame, uncle ! " cried Louise indignantly ; ancl her face flushed too as she caught and held her companion's hand.

" Yes. For shame ! It's all your aunt's doing, stuffing the boy's head full of fantastic foolery about his descent, ancl the disgrace of trade. And noAv I am speaking, look here," he cried, turning sharply on the fair girl, ancl holding his rod over her as if it were a huge stick which he Avas about to use. "Do you hear, Madelaine ? " "I'm listening, Mr. Vine," said the girl, coldly. " I've knoAvn you ever since you Avere two months old, and your silly mother must insist upon my taking hold of you — you miserable little bit of pink putty, as you Avere then, ancl fooled me into being godfather. How I could be such an ass, I don't knoAA* — but I am, and I gave you that silver cup, and I've wanted it back eA*er since." " Oh, uncle, AA'hat a Avicked story ! " cried Louise, laughing. " It's quite true, miss.

Dead AA*aste of money. It has neArer been used, I'll swear." " No, Mr. Vine, never," said Madelaine, smiling iioav. " Ah, you need not shoAv your teeth at me because you're so proud they're AA*hite. Lots of the fisher-girls have got better. That's right, shut your lips up, and listen. W7hat I've got to say is this : if I see any more of that nonsense there'll be an explosion." " I don't know what you mean," said Made laine, colouring more deeply. " Yes you do, miss. I saw Harry put his ' IN THE WEST COUNTREE.' 11 arm round your Avaist, and I won't have it. AVhat's your father thinking about ? AVhy, that boy's no more fit to be your husband than that great, ugly, long, brown-bearded Scotch man who poisons the air Avith his copper-mine, is to be Louie's." " Uncle, you are beyond bearing to-day."

"Ami? AVell then, be off. But you mind, Miss Maddy, I won't have it. You'll be silly enough to marry some day, but Avhen you do, you shall marry a man, not a feather-headed young ass, with no more brains than that bass. Ah, I've got you this time, have I ? " He had thrown in again, and this time struck ancl hooked a large fish, Avhose struggles he watched Avith grim satisfaction, till he drew it gasping and quivering on to the rock — a fine bass, Avhose silver sides glistened like those of a salmon, and whose sharp back fin stood up ready to cut the unwitting hand. "Bad for him, Louie," said the old man Avith a laugh ; " but one must have dinners, eh ? AVhat a countenance ! " he continued, holding up his fish ; " puts me in mind of that fellow you have up at the house — Avhat's his name, Priddle, Fiddle ?

" " Pradelle, uncle." " All, Pradelle. Of course he's going back too." " Yes, uncle." "Don't like him," continued Uncle Luke, re-baiting quickly ancl throwing out ; " that fellow has got scoundrel Avritten in his face." " For shame ! Mr. Vine," said Madelaine, laughing. " Mr. Pradelle is very gentlemanly ancl pleasant." " Good-looking scoundrels ahvays are, my dear. But he don't Avant you. I watched him. Going to throAv oA'er the Scotchman and take to Miss Louie ? " " Uncle, you've got a bite," said the girl coolly. " Eh 1 So I have. Got him, too," said the old man, striking and playing his fish just as if he were angling in fresh water. " Thumper." " What pleasure can it giA'e you to say such unpleasant things, uncle ? " continued the girl. "Truths always are unpleasant," said the old man, laughing.

" Don't bother me, there's a shoal off the point now, and I shall get some fish." " AVhy, you haA'e all you want now, uncle." " Rubbish ! Shall get a feAV shillmgsAvorth to sell Mother PerroAA*." "Poor Uncle Luke!" said the girl with 'IN THE AVEST COUNTREE.' 13 mock solemnity ; " obliged to fish for his liA'ing." " Better than idling ancl doing nothing. I like to do it, ancl There he is again. Don't talk." He hooked ancl landed another fine bass from the shoal which had come up Avith the tide that ran like a millstream off the point, Avhen as he placed the fish in the basket he raised his eyes. " Yah ! Go back and look after your men. I thought that would be it. Maddy, look at her cheeks." " Oh, uncle, if I did not knoAv you to be the best and clearest of " " Tchah ! Carney ! " he cried, screwing up his face.

" Look here, I want to catch a few fish and make a little money, so if that long Scot is coining courting, take him somewhere else. Be off ! " " If Air. Duncan Leslie is coming to say good-day, uncle, I see no reason why he should not say it here," said Louise, calmly enough now, and with the slight flush which had suffused her cheeks fading out. " Good-day ! A great tall sheepish noodle who don't know when he's well off," grumbled the fisher, throAving out once more as a tall gentlemanly-looking young fellow of about eight-and-twenty stepped actively from rock to rock till he had joined the group, raising his soft tweed hat to the ladies ancl shaking hands. " AVhat a loA*ely morning ! " he said eagerly. " I saw you come clown. Much sport, Air. Vine ? " he added, as he held out his hand. " No," said Uncle Luke, nodding ancl holding tightly on to his rod.

" Hands full. Can't you see ? " " Oh, yes, I see. One at you now." "Thankye. Think I couldn't see?" said the old man, striking ancl missing his fish. " A7ery kind of you to come and see how I Avas getting on." " But I didn't," said the new-comer, smilino-. " I knew you didn't Avant me." " Here, Louie, make a note of that," said Uncle Luke, sharply. " The Scotch are not so dense as they pretend they are." " Uncle ! " " Oh, pray don't interpose, Aliss A7ine. Your uncle and I often have a passage of arms together." " AVell, say Avhat you've got to say, and then go back to your men. Has the vein failed ? " " No, sir ; it grows richer every day." 'in the west countree.' 15 " Sorry for it. I suppose you'll be burroAv ing under my cottage and burying me one of these days before my time ? " " Don't be alarmed, sir. " I'm not," groAvled Uncle Luke.

" Uncle is cross, because he is catching more fish than he wants this morning," said Louise quietly. " Hear that, Maddy, my clear ? " said the old man, sharply. " Here's a problem for you : — If my niece's tongue is as keen-edged as that before she is twenty, what will it be at forty ? " The girl addressed laughed and shook her head. " Any one would think it would be a Avarn ing to any sensible man to keep his distance." " Uncle ! Pray ! " Avhispered the niece, looking troubled ; but the old man only chuckled ancl hooked another fish. " Going to make a fortune out of the old mine, Leslie ? " he said. " Fortune 1 No, sir. A fair income, I hope." " AVhich with prudence and economy — Scottish prudence and economy — " he added, meaningly, " Avould keep you when you got to he an old man like me.

Bah ! " He snatched out his line and gave an im patient stamp with his foot. " AVhat is the matter, uncle ? " " AVhat's the matter ? It w*as bad enough before. Look there ! "

Chapter II. Elements Of

A AVHOLE. AIadelaine Van Heldre had seen the object of Uncle Luke's vexation before he called attention to it ; ancl at the first glance her eyes had lit up with pleasure, but only to give place to an anxious, troubled look, and faint lines came across her brow. " AVhy, it is only Harry with his friend," said Louise quietly. " l7es : flopping ancl splashing about in the boat. There will not be a fish left when they've clone." " I'll tell them to land at the loAver stairs," said Louise eagerly. " No ; let 'em come ancl do their worst," said the old man, with quite a snarl. " AVhy doesn't Harry row, instead of letting that miserable cockney fool about with an oar ? " " Aliserable cockney ! " said Duncan Leslie to himself ; and his face, Avhich had been over- VOL. I. cast, brightened a little as he scanned the boat coming from the harbour.

" Air. Pradelle likes exercise," said Louise quietly. Duncan's face greAv dull again. " Then I Avish he would take it in London," said the old man, "jumping over his desk or using his pen, and not come here." The water glistened and sparkled with the vigorous strokes given by the tAvo young men who propelled the boat, and quickly after there was a grating noise as the bows ground against the rocks of the point and a young man in Avhite flannels leaped ashore, while his com panion after aAvkAvardly laying in his oar followed the example, balancing himself as he stepped on to the gunwale, and then, after the fashion of a timid horse at a gutter, makino a tremendous bound on to the rocks. As he did this his companion made a quick leap back into the boAA*s to seize the chain, Avhen he had to put out an oar once more and paddle close up to the rock, the boat having been sent adrift by the force of the other's leap.

" AVhat a fellow you are, Pradelle ! " he said, as he jumped on to a rock, and twisted the chain about a block. AVHOLE. 19 " Very sorry, dear boy. Didn't think of that." " No," said the first sourly, " you didn't. He was a Avell-knit manly fellow, singularly like his sister, while his companion, whom he had addressed as Pradelle, seemed to be his very opposite in every way, though on the Avhole better looking ; in fact, his features Avere remarkably handsome, or Avould have been had they not been marred by his eyes, which Avere set close together, and gave him a shifty look. " How are you, uncle ? How do, Leslie ? " said Harry, as he stood twirling a gold locket at the end of his chain, to receive a grunt from the fisherman, aud a friendly nod from the young mine-OAvner. " So here you are then," he continued ; " we've been looking for you everyAvhere.

You said you were going along the west walk." " Yes, but we saAv uncle fishing, and came doAvn to him." " AVell, come along now.' " Come ? AVhere ? " " Come where ? AA7hy for a sail. AA7ind's just right. Jump in." Duncan Leslie looked grave, but he brightened a little as he heard what folloAved. " Oh, no, Harry." C As she spoke, Louise Vine glanced at her companion, in whose face she read an eager look of acquiescence in the proposed trip, which changed instantly to one of agreement AA*ith her negative. " There, Vic. Told you so. Taken all our trouble for nothing." " But, Harry " " Oh, all right," he cried, interrupting her, in an ill-used tone. "Just like girls. Here's our last clay before Ave go back to the con founded grindstone. AA7e've got the boat, the weather's lovely ; we've been looking for you everywhere, and it's ' Oh no, Harry ! ' Ancl Aladelaine looking as if it would be too shock ing to go for a sail."

"AVe don't like to disappoint you," said Aladelaine, "but " " But you'd rather stay ashore," said the young man shortly. " Never mind, A7ic, old chap, Ave'll go alone, and have a good smoke. Cheerful, isn't it ? I say, Uncle Luke, you're quite right." " First time you ca'ct thought so then," said the old man shortly. *** Perhaps Aliss A7ine will reconsider her determination," said the young man's com panion, in a low soft voice, as he Avent toward WHOLE. 21 Louise, and seemed to Duncan Leslie to be throwing all the persuasion possible into his manner. "Oh no, thank you, Air. Pradelle," she replied hastily, ancl Duncan Leslie once more felt relieved and yet pained, for there was a peculiar consciousness in her manner. ' AA7e had brought some cans with us and a hammer and chisel," continued Pradelle.

" Harry thought Ave might go as far as the gorns." " Zorns, man," cried Harry. " I beg pardon, zorns, and get a few speci mens for Air. A7ine." " It Avas very kind ancl thoughtful of Harry," said Louise hastily, " and Ave are sorry to disappoint him — on this his last clay —but- " "Blessed but!" said Harry, with a sneer; ancl he gave Aladelaine a withering look, which made her bite her lip. " And the fish swarming round the point," said Uncle Luke impatiently. " AVhy don't you go Avith them, girls ? " " Right again, uncle," said Harry. The old man made him a mocking bow. " Go, uncle ? " said Louise eagerly, ancl then checking herself. Duncan Leslie's heart sank like an ingot of his OAvn copper dropped in a tub. "Yes, go." " If you think so, uncle " AVell, I do," he said testily, " only pray go at once."

" There ! " cried Harry. " Come, Maddy." He held out his hand to his sister's com panion, but she hesitated, still looking at Louise, whose colour Avas going ancl coming as she saAv Pradelle take off his cap and folloAv his friend's example, holding out his hand to help her into the boat. " Yes, dear," she said to Aladelaine gravely. " They would be terribly disappointed if we did not go." The next moment Aladelaine was in the boat, Louise still hanging back till, feeling that it would be a slight worse than the refusal to go if she ignored the help extended to her, she laid her hand in Pradelle's, and stepped off the rock into the gently rising ancl falling boat. " Another of my mistakes," said Duncan Leslie to himself ; and then he started as if some one had given him an electric shock. "Hullo!" cried the old man.

"You're going too ? " " I ? going ? " AA'HOLE. 23 . " Yes, of course ! To take care of them. I'm not going to have them set offi Avithout some one to act as ballast to those boys." Louise mentally cast her arms round the old man's neck ancl kissed him. Harry, in the same manner, kicked his uncle into the sea, ancl Pradelle' s eyes looked closer together than usual, as he turned them upon the young mine-owner. " I should only be too happy," said the latter, " if " " Oh, there's plenty of room, Mr. Leslie cried the girls in duet. " Pray come." The invitation was so genuine that Leslie's heart seemed to leap. " Oh yes, plenty of room," said Harry, " only if the wind drops, you'll have to pull an oar." " Of course," said Leslie, stepping in. Harry raised the boat-hook, and thrust the little vessel away, and then began to step the mast.

" Lay hold of the rudder, Leslie," he cried. " Send us up some fish for tea, uncle." "I'll wait and see first Avhether you come back," said the old man. " Good-bye, girls. Don't be uneasy. I'll go and tell the old people if you're drowned." " Thank you," shouted back the young man as he hoisted the little sail, which began to fill at once, and by the time he had it sheeted home, the boat was swiftly running eastward with the water pattering against her bows, and a panorama of surpassing beauty seeming to glide slowly by them on the left. "There!" cried Harry to his friend, who had seated himself rather sulkily forward, the order to take the tiller having placed Leslie betAveen Louise and Aladelaine. " Alake much of it, Vie : Paddington to-morrow night, han som cab or the Underground, and next morning the office.

Don't you feel happy ? " " Yes, now," said Pradelle, Avith a glance at Louise. "Easy, Leslie, easy," cried Harry; "where are you going ? " " I beg pardon," said the young man hastily, for he had uiiAvittingly changed the course of the boat. " That's better. Any one Avould think you Avanted to give Uncle Luke the job he talked about." Aladelaine looked up hastily. " No ; avc will not clo that, Aliss Van Hel dre," said Leslie smiling. " Shall I hold the sheet. Vine ? " AVHOLE. " No need," said the young man, making the rope fast. " But " " Oh, all right. I know what you're going to say — puff of Avind might lay us OA*er as Ave pass one of the combes. Wasn't born here for nothing." Leslie said no more, but deferred to the opinion of the captain of the boat. " Alight as well have brought a line to trail.