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CHAPTER   XVI.
THE   LAD   WITH   THE   SILVER   BUTTON :   ACROSS MORVEN.
THERE is a regular ferry from Torosay to Kinlochaline
on the mainland. Both shores of the Sound are in the
country of the strong clan of the Macleans, and the
people that passed the ferry with me were almost all of
that clan. The skipper of the boat, on the other hand,
was called Neil Roy Macrob; and since Macrob was
one of the names of Alan's clansmen, and Alan himself
had sent me to that ferry, I was eager to come to private
speech of Neil Roy.
In the crowded boat this was of course impossible,
and the passage was a very slow affair. There was no
wind, and as the boat was wretchedly equipped, we
could pull but two oars on one side, and one on the
other. The men gave way, however, with a good will,
the passengers taking spells to help them, and the whole
company giving the time in Gaelic boat-songs. And
what with the songs, and the sea air, and the good
nature and spirit of all concerned, and the bright
weather, the passage was a pretty thing to have seen.
But there was one melancholy part. In the mouth
of Loch Aline we found a great sea-going ship at
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