She glanced at Bertrand as she spoke. Notwithstanding her alliance with him, there was something in Ruby's nature that made it impossible for her to resist vexing him by this little hit.

The black look came over the boy's face.

'What do you mean by that?' he muttered. 'I'm not going to

'Rubbish, Bertrand,' interrupted Ruby. 'I never said anything about you. Winfried's a fisher-boy; it's his business to scramble about.'

Then she went close up to her cousin and whispered something to him, which seemed to smooth him down, though this only made Mavis more anxious and unhappy.

CHAPTER VIII

A NAUGHTY PLAN

"The boatie rows, the boatie rows, the boatie rows fu' weel.' -EWEN.

THEY were nearly at the cove, when they caught sight of a scarlet cap moving up and down among the rocks.

'There's Winfried,' cried Mavis joyfully. She could not help having a feeling of safety when the fisher-lad was with them, in spite of her fears about the mischief the other two were planning.

fried, Winfried,' she called, 'here we are.'

Win

He glanced up with his bright though rather mysterious smile.

'I knew you'd be coming,' he said quietly.

'Of course you did,' said Bertrand in his rough, rude way, 'considering I told you to meet us here. Have you got that boat of yours ready?'

E

'Yes,' said Winfried, and he pointed towards the cove. There, sure enough, was the little boat, bright and dainty, the sun shining on its pretty cushions and on the white glistening oars.

Bertrand was running forward, when there came a sudden exclamation from Ruby. She had put up her hand to her neck.

'Oh, my cross,' she cried, 'my little silver cross. I forgot to fetch it from the turret-room. I left it there last night, and I meant to go and get it this morning. And I daren't go on the sea without it— I'd be drowned, I know I should be.'

Mavis looked at her.

'Ruby,' she said, 'I don't think you could have left it up there. You had no reason to take it off up there.'

'Oh, but I did, I did,' said Ruby. I have a trick of taking it off; the cord gets entangled in my hair. I know it's there.'

I'll fetch it you,' said Bertrand, with perfectly astounding good-nature. And he actually set off up the rocky path. Winfried started forward.

'I will go,' he said. 'I can run much faster than he,' and he hastened after Bertrand.

But Bertrand had exerted himself unusually. He

was already some way up before Winfried overtook him.

'No,' he said, when Winfried explained why he had come, 'I want to go. But you may as well come too. I want to carry down my fishing-tackle-I'd forgotten it. You haven't got any in the boat, I suppose?'

'No,' said Winfried, 'it would keep us out too long. It's too cold for the little ladies, and we should have to go too far out to sea.'

'I'll bring it all the same,' said Bertrand doggedly; 'so mind your own business.' But as Winfried walked on beside him without speaking, he added more civilly, 'you may as well look at it and tell me if it's the right kind. It's what my father gave me.'

'I'm pretty sure it's not right,' said Winfried. 'The fishing here is quite different to anything you've ever seen. And any way we cannot keep your cousins waiting while we look at it.'

They were at the arched entrance by now.

'Well, then,' said Bertrand,' 'you run up and look for the cross. No need for two of us to tire our legs.

I'll wait here.'

Winfried entered the castle, and after one or two wrong turnings found himself on the right stair. He knew pretty exactly where he had to go, for he had