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tried to explain in a way that wouldna incriminate him but she gave him a sharp look and reminded him that the chob at Inveraray wouldna wait for effer. ‘Get you to Tarbert, Colin Turner’ she said. ‘Or you’ll answer to me for it!’
    â€œHere and when they left to go back to the yat did Vickery’s brither and anither couple o’ his cronies no’ come wi’ them, and wi’ their ain jars, and the perty sterted aal over again. At eight o’clock Vickery consulted his watch and annoonced that it wisna worth settin’ off that night, they’d wait till next mornin’ and get awa’ sharp: and he went back ashore wi’ his brither and left the Tar in charge.
    â€œNext morning, the Tar woke at seven and there wass no sign of Vickery at aal. But within the hour he wass back, wi’ a grey face, a short temper and a heid as spiky as a bagful o’ old spanners. ‘Iss this Campbeltown or Cairo,’ he cried, ‘and am I comin or goin’? Be a good lad, Colin, and nip ashore and get a can o’ mulk at the dairy and a pooder frae the chemist, and if I can find where I pit ma heid we’ll mak’ a start.
    â€œWho did the Tar meet on the quayside but his wife Lucy, wi’ the elder wean on her shoulder and the baby in a pram full o’ dirty washin’, on her way to the laandry.
    â€œ ‘Colin Turner!’ she shouted on him, ‘You should be in Tarbert by noo. Wait till I tell my mither on you!’ And though the Tar tried to explain she chust stormed off in a real tizzy but not afore she’d gi’en him the bleckest look he’d effer seen on a wumman.
    â€œWhen he got back on board the Midge he managed to persuade Vickery to loose her from her moorin’ and off they set.
    â€œBut ass luck wud have it the winds wass against them, and then when they were off Carradale at aboot fower in the afternoon, the sea haar cam’ doon like cotton wool and they couldna see the tap o’ the mast.
    â€œ ‘It’s nae use, Colin,’ said Vickery. ‘Ah’m no riskin’ the boat in fog like this.’ And he picked his way into the harbour at Carradale.
    â€œPretty soon the Tar foond himsel’ in the Inns at the head of the pier and again efferybody seemed to know Vickery and in no time at aal there wass a spree goin’. Wan o’ the company wass a Campbeltown cairter caaled McCallum, wi’ the by-name o’ the Twister, who wass a kizzin o’ the Tar’s mither-in-law, and a man wi’ a dreadful reputation for a dram, so soon they wass aal in full flight.
    â€œThe poor Tar had had enough of it and he tried to get his skipper back on board. ‘I will no’ be long at aal, Colin,’ said Vickery. ‘Why don’t you chust awa’ ootside and streetch oot on McCallum’s cairt and have a snooze? I’ll gi’e ye a shout when we’re ready to go and we’ll be in Tarbert in no time at aal.’
    â€œWell, the Tar went and did chust that, for he wass aalways a man wi a great capacity for sleep. If Dougie was here he would tell you himself. The cairt wass half full o’ sacks o’ corn so he made himsel’ a comfortable bunk and snugged doon.
    â€œSo he slept and better slept.
    â€œWhen he finally woke up it wass seven o’clock next mornin’ and broad daylight! He sat up at wance, feart that Vickery had sailed withoot him — and foond they wassna even in Carradale at aal! The cairt was stood at the foot of Main Street in Campbeltown! They wass outside the Ferry Inn and what had woke him wass the din ass Vickery and McCallum kept bangin’ on the door to get the landlord to open and gi’e them their mornin’s!
    â€œChust then, who came roond the corner from the close leadin’ to his ain single-end but his wife and his mither-inlaw!
    â€œThey both clapped eyes on him at the same time and let oot a