ON THE COAST OF ARRAN 147 



tide was too low for bringing the Blue Bell into 

 harbour, and we had to pull out to her a dozen 

 times with miscellaneous and much-mixed car- 

 goes of provisions and passengers. Then, as 

 there was no convenient ladder, it may be ima- 

 gined what merriment resulted from the neces- 

 sary hauling of baskets and ladies up the steep 

 sides of the Blue Bell. Of course at the last 

 moment it was found that we had forgotten 

 the corkscrew and the egg- spoons ; and once 

 more, therefore, our young crew must return 

 and bring these necessities of over-civilisation. 

 When, finally, one of us, standing at the bow, 

 waved the corkscrew as a signal that our outfit 

 was at length complete, the anchor-chains began 

 to rattle and the assembled Corriesters (as we call 

 them), who by this time had gathered to a man 

 round the harbour and stood open-eyed wonder- 

 ing what the mad English would do next, gave a 

 great cheer which echoed from the old quarry 

 behind, and away we went, with a swirl and a 



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