Donald's loyalty was stronger than his professional pride. He was not
offended that he had been silenced; he only bottled up his musical
fervor all the more; and at length, as he neared the land, and knew that
Lady Macleod and Miss Macleod were within hearing, he took it that he
knew better than any one else what was proper to the occasion, and once
more the proud and stirring march strove with the sound of the hurrying
waves. Nor was that all. The piper lad was doing his best. Never before
had he put such fire into his work; but as they got close inshore the
joy in his heart got altogether the mastery of him, and away he broke
into the mad delight of "Lady Mary Ramsay's Reel." Hamish on the quay
heard, and he strutted about as if he were himself playing, and that
before the Queen. And then he heard another sound--that of Macleod's
voice:

"_Stand by lads!... Down with her!_"--and the flapping sail, with its
swinging gaff, rattled down into the boat. At the same moment Oscar made
a clear spring into the water, gained the landing-steps, and dashed
upward--dripping as he was--to two ladies who were standing on the quay
above. And Janet Macleod so far forgot what was due to her best gown
that she caught his head in her arms, as he pawed and whined with
delight.

That was a glad enough party that started off and up the hillside for
Castle Dare. Janet Macleod did not care to conceal that she had been
crying a little bit; and there were proud tears in the eyes of the
stately old dame who walked with her; but the most excited of all was
Hamish, who could by no means be got to understand that his master did
not all at once want to hear about the trial of the young setters, and
the price of the sheep sold the week before at Tobermory, and the stag
that was chased by the Carsaig men on Tuesday.