He seemed a deal more troubled about that French boat than any one else." "Yes; and I suppose he is a clever pilot, and knows all about the currents and the rocks; but I don't quite understand about his being so well off." Mike began to whistle, and said nothing for a few moments.
"I don't see why he shouldn't be well off," he said; "he's getting old, and he's very mean, and never spends money upon himself." Vince nodded, and remained silent.
Then came a lovely morning after the week's bad weather, and Vincent was just starting for Sir Francis Ladelle's rather unwillingly, to join Mike for the day's studies, when there was a cheery whistle outside and his fellow-pupil appeared.
"I say!" he cried, "father said it was a shame for us to lose such a fine day, and he told Mr Deane to give us a holiday." "Eh?
What's that ?" cried the Doctor.

"Here, I'm off up to the house to put a stop to that.

I'm not going to pay half that tutor's expenses if this sort of idleness is to be encouraged." Mike looked aghast.
"It's all right," said Vince merrily; "father doesn't mean it." "Oh, don't I!" cried the Doctor, frowning.
"No: does he, mother ?" Mrs Burnet smiled and shook her head.
"Here, you boys, don't get into any mischief." "No, father," said Vince, and the next minute they were outside.
"Scraw ?" said Vincent; and his companion nodded unwillingly, as the boy thought, but he changed his opinion the next moment.
"I've got the hammer and bar ready, and a small rope; but we must have yours." "Yes, of course." "Well, run back and get it, and meet me out by the Dolmen." "Brought it," said Mike: "tucked it under a furze bush out on the common." Vince's face lit up with eagerness, and the pair were about to start when they saw old Daygo in the distance, and they turned back, went into the house, and waited till he had gone by.
Giving the fisherman time to get well out of sight, they sallied forth, and went to where the coil of rope was hidden--a thin, strong line that would have borne a couple of men hanging on its end--and as soon as this was brought out, and a glance round taken to make sure they were not watched, Mike cried-- "But what about the hammer and bar ?" Vince opened his jersey to show the head of the hammer on one side, the crowbar on the other, snugly tucked in the waistband of his trousers.
"Well done! that's capital!" cried Mike.

And the two lads went off in the direction of the Scraw, but in a zigzag fashion, as if their intentions were entirely different; and this at Vince's wish, for he had a strong impression that old Daygo was keeping an eye upon their movements, though Mike laughed at the idea.
"I don't feel nervous about it now, do you ?" said Vince, as soon as they were well under cover of the rugged ground.
"No; but I don't like to think about that ugly slip you had," said Mike thoughtfully.
"I didn't have an ugly slip: you knocked me over." "Oh, well, I couldn't help it, could I?
and I did hold on till you got out of it." "Never mind that now," said Vince; "let's think about what we are going to do.

There'll be no danger so long as we are careful--and I mean to be, very, and so I tell you.