I must have stared at that mad man for a full ten seconds. I had vivid memories of scuttling crabwise across the North Loch in that contraption, with various bits and pieces breaking every few minutes and a mocking straggle of spectators. I could not contemplate venturing into the less-than-sheltered waters of the Firth of Forth in such a device.
“Is your boat not on the Nor" Loch?” I knew there was relief in my voice.
“One of my boats is,” Mr. Kemp told me, “the experimental one. The other, my older and more reliable model, is only a few hundred yards from here.”
“You have two of such monstrosities?” The next words escaped before I could help myself. “God save us from such tomfoolery!”
Mr. Kemp only smiled. “Such tomfoolery may yet save your cousin.” He looked hard at me. “However, I
