Then an impulse took the girl and she picked up the line.

"That's right," cried the man, "pull it as tight as you can," and Alice tugged heroically at the waterproof silk.
She felt horribly nervous, and was conscious that she must look a very flushed and untidy young barbarian.

Many times she wanted to drop it and run away, but the thought of the menaces against the absent Jock and of her swift discovery deterred her.

When he was done with her help he might go on working and never look round.

Then she would escape unnoticed down the burn.
But no such luck befell her.