"Let Archie come with me," said Uncle Donald.  "I will put him in the way of doing far better than he ever can knocking about on salt water; and as for adventures, he'll meet with ten times as many as he would if he becomes a sailor."  He used some other arguments, probably relating to my future advantage, which I did not hear.  They, at all events, decided my mother; and my father, hearing of the offer, without hesitation gave his consent to my going.  It was arranged, therefore, that I should accompany Uncle Donald back to his far-off home, of which he had left his faithful follower, Sandy McTavish, in charge during his absence.