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diff --git a/old/14149.txt b/old/14149.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c5bcdb --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14149.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10425 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Pilots of Pomona, by Robert Leighton + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Pilots of Pomona + +Author: Robert Leighton + +Release Date: November 25, 2004 [eBook #14149] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILOTS OF POMONA*** + + +E-text prepared by Martin Robb + + + +THE PILOTS OF POMONA + +A Story of the Orkney Islands + +by + +ROBERT LEIGHTON + + + + + + + +CONTENTS + + Chapter I. In Which I Am Late For School. + Chapter II. Andrew Drever's School + Chapter III. A Half Holiday. + Chapter IV. Sandy Ericson, Pilot. + Chapter V. The Hen Harrier. + Chapter VI. "Better Gear Than Rats." + Chapter VII. What The Shingle Revealed. + Chapter VIII. Dividing The Spoil. + Chapter IX. Captain Gordon. + Chapter X. The Dominie Explains. + Chapter XI. My Sister Jessie. + Chapter XII. A Tragedy And A Transportation. + Chapter XIII. In Which I Receive A Present. + Chapter XIV. Thora. + Chapter XV. In Which The Viking's Amulet Is Proved. + Chapter XVI. Wherein I Go A-Fishing. + Chapter XVII. How The Golden Rule Was Kept. + Chapter XVIII. The Wreck Of The "Undine." + Chapter XIX. Tom Kinlay's Bargain. + Chapter XX. The Opposition Boat. + Chapter XXI. The Rescue. + Chapter XXII. After The Accident. + Chapter XXIII. Gray's Inn. + Chapter XXIV. Carver Kinlay's Success. + Chapter XXV. A Family Removal. + Chapter XXVI. A Subterranean Adventure. + Chapter XXVII. A Family Misfortune. + Chapter XXVIII. Captain Flett Of The "Falcon." + Chapter XXIX. In Which The "Falcon" Sets Sail. + Chapter XXX. An Orcadian Voyage. + Chapter XXXI. An Arctic Waif. + Chapter XXXII. The Last Of The "Pilgrim." + Chapter XXXIII. The Light In The Gaulton Cave. + Chapter XXXIV. Colin Lothian Makes An Accusation. + Chapter XXXV. A Search And A Discovery. + Chapter XXXVI. Trapped In The Cave. + Chapter XXXVII. In Which I Am Put Under Arrest. +Chapter XXXVIII. Accused Of Murder. + Chapter XXXIX. An Unprofessional Inquiry. + Chapter XL. Ephraim Quendale. + Chapter XLI. The Last Of The Kinlays. + Chapter XLII. A Choice Among Three. + Chapter XLIII. Thora's Answer. + Notes. + + + +Chapter I. In Which I Am Late For School. + + +On a certain bright morning in the month of May, 1843, the little +port of Stromness wore an aspect of unwonted commotion. The great +whaling fleet that every year sailed from this place for the +Greenland fisheries was busily preparing for sea. The sun was +shining over the brown hills of Orphir, and casting a golden sheen +over the calm bay. Out beyond the Holms the whaling ships lay at +anchor, the Blue Peter flying at each forepeak, and between them +and the town many boats were passing to and fro. + +I remember the day, not so much in connection with the whaling +ships themselves as by the fact that their sailing fixes upon my +memory the date of other more personal events which I am about to +set forth in the following pages. Indeed, I was altogether +unaffected by the departure of the ships. As I sat on the edge of +one of the tiny stone piers that support the old houses along the +shoreline, my bare feet dangling above the clear green water, I +thought only of my fishing line and of the row of bright-scaled +sillocks that lay on a stone at my side, being quite unmindful that +the school bell had long since begun to ring. + +A small boat passed within a few yards of the jetty, rowed by Tom +Kinlay, one of my schoolfellows. + +"Now, then, Ericson," he cried out as he saw me; "d'ye not hear the +bell? Hurry up, lad, or you'll be late again. Aha! I'll tell the +dominie that you're sitting there fishing when you should be at the +school. Come away now, or ye'll get your licks." + +Without seeming to hear his warning, I drew in my line with a good +young coal fish at the end of it, and quietly counted my catch. +There were just three-and-twenty fish, and I could not resist the +temptation of making up the even two dozen; so I baited my hook +again and cast it into the water, meditating as I did so upon +Kinlay's unnecessary interference. + +Now Tom Kinlay, I must tell you, was some twelve months older than +I, and, as I had reason to remember, much taller and stronger. In +our early school days he had exercised a tyranny over me which I +even now recall with feelings partly of indignation against him, +and partly of shame in myself for having so foolishly bent under +the yoke of his oppression. When we went bathing, as we frequently +did, out on the further shores of the bay, he would not scruple to +lead us younger lads into the deepest waters, and, when we were far +beyond our depth and almost exhausted, he would swim behind us and +force us under, for the mere cruel pleasure, I believe, of seeing +our struggles and hearing our cries below the surface. From some +fancied sense of duty we allowed ourselves meekly to serve and obey +him. When we went on a cliff-climbing expedition he would choose to +remain in safety up above on the banks holding the rope, while it +was we who were sent down the dangerous precipice to harry the +sea-birds' nests. + +I had not yet forgiven Tom for what he had done a few days earlier +than this spring morning. It happened this way: + +Four of us had a boat out on the bay, and we sailed about from +point to point, fancying ourselves sailors voyaging on foreign +seas. Our dinghy, we imagined, was a sailing vessel, and the broad +bay of Stromness represented the Atlantic Ocean. The Outer Holm we +called "America," Graemsay Island was "Africa," and the Ness Point +was "Spain," while a small rock that stood far out in the bay was +"St. Helena." Tom Kinlay was, by his own appointment, our skipper; +Robbie Rosson and Willie Hercus were classed able seamen; and my +dog, Selta, and I were called upon to do duty for both passengers +and cargo, curiously enough, sailing with the ship on every voyage. + +We had touched at each of these places in turn, and when we were +homeward bound I was landed at an imaginary port in "Spain." The +boat had pushed off, when I called out to the skipper that I would +walk home to Stromness if he would take the ship into port. + +I had returned home and was seated at dinner, when I thought of the +dog and looked about for her. But she had not come back; so I went +down to the jetty at the end of the Anchor Close, to see if I could +discover the boat or any of the lads. Standing there I heard the +dog's bark across the water, and what was my consternation to see +my pet stranded like a castaway on "St. Helena"! She was tethered +by a rope to the rock, and could not escape without help. The tide +was rising, and the rock barely visible above the water. In a few +minutes my dog would be drowned. No boat was near at hand, and +there was nothing for it but that I should swim out to the rescue, +so I had to strip there on the jetty and plunge in. The swim was a +long one, and I reached the rock only just in time. The dog had +been marooned on that little island, but Tom Kinlay had fastened up +the boat and gone home, caring nothing, and neither of the other +lads dared so far offend him as to attempt to rescue poor Selta +without his permission. + +As I sat fishing on the pier, I was thinking of Kinlay's attitude +towards me, and wondering if I should ever be able to hold my own +against him in our outdoor intercourse as easily as I certainly +could hold it in our class at school. But soon I was interrupted by +feeling another twitch at my line. I hauled in another sillock; and +having now completed my two dozen fish, I gathered them and my +lines together, thrust my fishhooks into my trousers' pocket, and +went off to school, only staying a few minutes on the way to give +the fish to my sister Jessie, and get my slate and books in +exchange. + + + +Chapter II. Andrew Drever's School + + +Our schoolhouse was situated on the braeside above the main street +of Stromness. It was a plain stone building with crow-step gables +and a slated roof; and the only indication of its purpose was a +large board over the door, upon which Andrew Drever had himself +imprinted the word "SCHOOL" in bold black letters on a white +ground. + +The morning's lessons were already well advanced, as I could hear +by the hum of voices as I approached. Even Peter, the jackdaw, in +his wicker cage at the open doorway, joined in the clatter of +tongues. His quick eye noticed me hurrying to the school, and he +sidled awkwardly along his perch, put out his long black beak +through the bars of his cage, and flapped his wings with +unmistakable signs of welcome. + +I was very late; so late that I half dreaded going into the school; +and to discover if possible what humour the schoolmaster was in, I +peeped through the half-open window. In the inner room I could see +old Grace Drever seated with her gray cat beside the peat fire, +busily twirling her spinning wheel. Nearer to me Mr. Drever himself +sat at a high desk, at the side of which hung the inevitable +"tawse;" and I did not fail to notice that this instrument of +torture had already been used that morning, for it still swung with +a gentle motion from side to side, like the pendulum of a lazy +clock. + +Lest you should suppose that Andrew Drever was a severe taskmaster, +however, let me here hasten to assure you that his nature was as +sweet as summer. His methods of punishment and reward were the +perfection of justice. In stature he was a small man, but his back +was broad and strong, and his hands were firm and large. His long, +straight hair was as black as the wing of his own jackdaw, and his +cheeks, though thin, had a freshness of colour about them that was +brought there by the bracing breezes of our native hills. + +The class was at the Latin exercises, for Latin formed part of our +education, and I could hear Jessie Grey repeating a conjugation. I +saw Tom Kinlay looking absently towards the window where I stood, +and fearing that he would notice me, I moved a step nearer the +door. Then I heard Mr. Drever speak. + +"Kinlay," said he, "finish the subjunctive mood, where Jessie Grey +left off." + +Tom's trembling voice betrayed his ignorance of the-lesson. + +"Regor, I am ruled; regeris, thou--" + +"No, no," interrupted the master. "What are you thinking of, boy? +That's the indicative mood. I asked for the subjunctive. Take your +hands out of your pockets, sir, and don't stand there glowering at +the whaling ships. They'll not be away till afternoon. Now, the +subjunctive mood?" + +"I can't say it, sir. I could not get it into my head," whined Tom. + +"Can't! do you say? Can't! Was there ever such a word?--Here, you, +Halcro Ericson, finish the--Now, where's that lad? Has he not come +to the school yet?" + +"No, sir," replied two or three voices. + +Now that the schoolmaster's attention had been so drawn to my +absence, I felt more than ever reluctant to enter. + +"Where is he? Does anyone know?" asked Mr. Drever. + +"Dinna ken, sir," was the weak response. + +Then Tom Kinlay, anxious, I suppose, to retrieve his lost ground, +droned out: "He's away down at the shore side, sir. I saw him +fishing." + +"Ah! s-sneak!" hissed one of the boys near him; "what for need you +tell?" + +"Now, now!" said the master quietly. "None of that. Get along with +the lesson." + +He glanced along the row of faces before him. + +"Thora Kinlay," he said, "finish the conjugation where Jessie Grey +left off." + +I was again at the window. + +Mr. Drever looked towards a fair-haired, blue-eyed girl who stood +directly opposite to him. At her throat there was a cowslip--a rare +flower in Orkney. She wore a rough, homespun frock, as all the +other girls did; but, for some reason which I cannot explain, Thora +Kinlay was quite unlike her companions. Such was the refined +gentleness of her nature that I can compare her only with the +tern--the most beautiful, I believe, of all our sea birds. + +"Regerer, I might be ruled; regereris, thou mightst be ruled," she +began, and as she repeated the conjugation, I listened with +attention not unmixed with envy, for she was the best scholar in +the whole school. + +As Thora concluded, the schoolmaster gave her a word of praise, and +told her to go to the top of the class, while her brother, Tom, was +ordered to the bottom. + +Andrew Drever had given these directions, and was leaning with his +elbow on the desk, his chin resting on his hand, when his eye was +attracted by my moving shadow at the doorway; and amid a sudden +silence I entered and took my place at the bottom of the class. + +"Good morning, sir!" I said, looking fearlessly into Mr. Drever's +kind face. + +"Good morning, Ericson!" said he. "You take your proper place, I +notice. But what is the meaning of this lateness? What excuse have +you this time?" + +"I was down at the shore side catching sillocks," I boldly +answered, "and I just stopped to make up the even number." + +Robbie Rosson here put his hand to his mouth in the form of a +speaking trumpet, and whispered: "How many did you catch, Hal?" + +"Just two dozen," I quietly replied, yet not so quietly but Mr. +Drever heard me. + +"Yes, Ericson," said he sternly, "you stay to make up the number of +your fish. But why do you not remember that you have a duty in +making up the number of your class at school?" + +"I'm very sorry, sir," I said; "but I'll not do it again." + +"See that you do not. I will excuse you this time, but only because +you were at the fishing." Then he added more kindly, "I have myself +lost count of time in the same way. And now let me hear your Latin +lesson." + +Fortunately I went through the lesson without mistake, and was +rewarded by being told to go above Tom Kinlay. As I took my place, +however, the next boy to me, Robbie Rosson, gave a great shout of +pain, as though a pin had been stuck into him. + +"Hello, hello! What's wrong now?" exclaimed the schoolmaster. + +"It's nothing, sir," said Robbie, looking extremely uncomfortable. + +"Nothing! What for did you cry out like that, then?" + +"'Twas one of my fishhooks stuck in his leg, sir," I explained, +extracting the offending hook from Rosson's trousers, and putting +it back with others into my pocket. + +"Give me the hooks!" demanded Mr. Drever, holding out his hand to +receive them. "I don't know what can possess you, bringing such +things to school." + +Then before putting the hooks away in his desk, he examined them +with a knowing eye, and I heard him murmur, "Dear me, dear me! You +lads beat everything. I cannot think where ye get such good hooks +from." + +The lesson was now changed. We all took our seats at the desks for +arithmetic, and throughout the morning there were few interruptions +further than the necessary disturbance caused by the changing of +places as one or another of us was distinguished for reward. + + + +Chapter III. A Half Holiday. + + +You will have gathered from Andrew Drever's remark about the +fishhooks that he was something of a fisher. He was a fisher; but +he was also a naturalist, and he varied the hard duties of the +school by making frequent excursions across the hills in search of +objects for his favourite study. In addition to the maps and +diagrams that hung on the whitewashed walls of the schoolroom there +were many cases containing stuffed birds, such as guillemots, +terns, owls, and ouzels; and specimens of the small quadrupeds of +the locality, including a weasel and a fine pair of otters. All of +these specimens had been prepared and stuffed by himself, and upon +a side table by the window he kept a collection of curious stones +and old coins that he had found on his wanderings. + +Andrew's heart was in both of his occupations. He loved his birds +and his curiosities, and I think he loved his pupils. Often, as he +sat on his high stool behind his desk, with a severity in his +features which his position seemed to demand, I have seen his brown +eyes soften as they looked round the circle of faces, and I have +known that he had some affection for each one of us. Out of school +hours he took great interest in our pursuits, giving to the girls +advice in the arrangement of colour in their needlework, and to the +boys many a valuable hint for the hooking of trout. He knew no +distinctions of rank or social position. A laird's son was treated +by him with the same dignity or kindness that was shown to the son +of a poor kelp burner; and the coveted seat at the head of the +class was as often occupied by a poor fisherman's lad as by the +better dressed, but not better educated, son of the Inspector of +Fisheries, or the bright little daughter of so great a man as +Lloyd's agent. + +Towards the close of morning school, Peter, the jackdaw, announced +by the fluttering of his wings and his chattering that a stranger +was coming to the door, and very soon Mr. Duke, one of the bailies +of the town, entered the school. We had learnt to expect something +good to come of the bailie's visits, and this occasion was no +exception. + +He sat down on one of the low forms near Mr. Drever's desk, and +took from his waistcoat pocket a large silver snuffbox. + +"Well, Andrew," he cheerily exclaimed, taking a copious pinch +between his finger and thumb and handing the box to the master, +"here's a glorious morning for you, eh? Ay, man, and how are all +your bairns? I see ye aye keep up your number. And who have you at +the head of the class the day? Is it Thora again?" + +"Yes," replied Andrew, giving a resounding sneeze and loudly +blowing his nose. "Yes, its just Thora again. She's kept it all the +morning. You see, sir, they all take the same places before the +day's out: whatever way they begin, the smartest are sure to get to +the top." + +"Ay, ay, just so," mused the bailie, again opening his snuffbox. +"They're like a pack o' cards--shuffle them as ye will before the +game begins, the honours must still come together at the finish. + +"Well, Thora, lassie," he continued, turning round to Thora Kinlay, +"and how are ye all up at Crua Breck?" + +"Oh, we're all fine, thank you, sir," said the girl; "only Crumpie +fell over the Neban bank yestreen and broke her leg." + +"Ah, indeed! but that's most serious; poor Crumpie!--and that's the +new cow, is it? or is it the old horse?" + +"It's the old cow, sir," said Thora, apparently wondering at the +bailie's ignorance. + +Then Mr. Duke thrust his hand deep into his pocket and brought it +out again full of keys and money. He selected one of the coins and +handed it to Thora, saying, "There's to you, Thora; that's for +getting to the head of the class." + +From his seat he then questioned several of us regarding our +lessons and our homes, and finally he stood up and addressed us +all, saying: "I have come in this morning, bairns, to ask Mr. +Drever to give you all a half holiday. The whaling ships are to +sail by this afternoon's tide, and as many of you have brothers and +fathers aboard, I don't doubt that Mr. Drever will let you away;" +and he added, turning to the master, "What do you say, Andrew?" + +"I'm sure, sir," said Mr. Drever, "I have no objections to offer;" +and he looked out through the window as though to satisfy himself +that the weather was suitable for an afternoon's fishing. + +Mr. Duke then went into the inner room to have a gossip with old +Grace Drever. The schoolmaster pronounced the benediction, and we +flocked noisily outside. + +As I was leaving with Robbie Rosson, Mr. Drever called me back. + +"Don't leave the hooks here, Ericson," he said; "you'll be needing +them for the fishing." + +And taking the fishhooks from his desk he again examined them +attentively, admiring the fine workmanship displayed in the turn of +their points. + +"My lad, these are fine hooks for a sea trout," he continued; +"you'll have gotten them from Kirkwall, no doubt?" + +"No," I said. "Father got them from one of the captains. I'd like +if you'd keep some of them, Mr. Drever;" and I offered him three of +the best. + +"Oh no, no!" he exclaimed, "I could not think of taking them from +you. I didn't mean that. + +"But maybe, well, maybe I might just have the loan of one of them +to try this afternoon. I'm going away to Kirbister to see if I can +catch a few sea trout." + +"Kirbister for sea trout!" said I, knowing that on the subject of +fishing I might venture to disagree with even so practised an +angler as Andrew Drever. "If you're seeking sea trout you need go +no further than the Bush. There's not a stream in the Mainland +equal to the Bush. Take the hooks, sir, and I'll warrant you'll +bring home a full basket." + +"Well, I'll take your advice and try the Bush, for it's aye the +lads that find out the best waters. Thank you for the hooks, +Halcro. Away with you; and see you're not so late at the school +another morning." + +And as I scampered down the brae, I knew that he was watching me +from the door. + +In the street I found Tom Kinlay and two other boys waiting for me, +and arranging an excursion across the hills to Skaill Bay to hunt +for seals. It was an expedition in which I very readily agreed to +join, and it was arranged that we should meet early in the +afternoon on the moor between Voy and Crua Breck. + + + +Chapter IV. Sandy Ericson, Pilot. + + +My home was close beside the school. There were only a few steps to +skip across the narrow main street, and a turn into the Anchor +Close brought me to my mother's door. Many of my companions, +however, had several miles to travel. Tom and Thora Kinlay lived at +Crua Breck farm, distant from Stromness four miles; and little +Hilda Paterson, the youngest girl in the school, lived at her +father's croft away beyond Stenness, and walked the five +miles--barefooted--twice a day. + +When I got home the brose for dinner was cooling on the windowsill, +and my mother was frying the fish I had caught in the morning. My +sister Jessie sat near the window plaiting straw--an industry +common in Orkney at that time. + +"Hello, Hal! back already?" Jessie exclaimed, putting her work +aside as I threw my books and slate in the corner beside her. "Come +away and look out for father. He has just brought in a new ship." + +We went out upon the little jetty where I had fished in the +morning, at the extremity of the passage in which our house stood, +and there we waited and watched for my father's boat. + +With this stone pier my earliest recollections were connected. When +I was but an infant my father had carried me out in his great +strong arms, and for the first time showed me the sun rising over +the furrowed hills of Orphir. He had directed my childish eyes to +the deep green of the sea water as it rippled gently against the +wall of our house. It was here that, as a boy, I had, by rolling +over the pier like a ball, made a more intimate acquaintance with +the element that was to be as familiar to me as my native air. +Here, too, I had caught my first fish, and hence despatched to +unknown lands my little fleet of wooden boats with their quaint +paper sails. + +The ship that my father had just brought into port was a trim +barque, with high, tapering masts and a bright-green hull. + +"What's her name, Hal?" inquired Jessie as the vessel was brought +to. + +I had accustomed myself to make out ships' names at great +distances, and as the barque swung round with the stream I could +read the words "Lydia of Leith" painted on her counter. + +"Yonder is father, and there is Uncle Mansie," said Jessie, as the +two men climbed over the ship's rail and swarmed down into the +boat. Then up went the brown sail, and the little Curlew sped +blithely past the whaling ships and across the broad bay, and it +was not long ere she was moored alongside our jetty and father +stepped ashore. + +My father was a tall, muscular man, with a long, fair beard, and +blue eyes as clear and deep as the summer sky. He was a worthy +representative of the old Norse sea king, from whom he was +descended, and his descent was shown in his great love of the sea. +He was the chief pilot of the port of Stromness, and no man knew so +well as he all the dangerous currents and shoals of the Orcadian +seas. There was not a flow or a sound between the North and South +Ronaldsays, or from Bore Head in the west to the Start in the east +that he did not know as well as the eagle knows her corrie, or +which he could not navigate on the darkest night. The perils of the +whirlpools, of the sunken rocks, and of the wild winter storms +which beat in fury upon our iron coasts, were part of his life; and +I have heard it said that he had saved more ships from destruction +than any other man in Orkney or Shetland. If you had asked anyone +in Stromness, What man in all Pomona could least be spared? the +reply would have been given, "Sandy Ericson, the pilot." + +I need not say that for these reasons I was proud of my brave +father. But it was not from him I learned these things, for he +would never say a word in his own praise, and, had I not heard of +his hardy bravery from other lips, he might have been to me no more +than the gentle, affectionate parent that he ever was. + +We left the four men who were the crew of the Curlew to look after +the boat, while Uncle Mansie and father came into the house to +dinner. + +When, being the youngest of the family, I had said grace and we +were supping our brose, Uncle Mansie looked over to me and asked: +"Well, Hal, are you coming out in the Curlew with us to see the +whaling ships away?" + +I replied in true Orkney fashion by asking another question: + +"How far are you to take them?" + +Mansie turned to father, who said: "Och, we'll take them as far as +the Braga Rock anyway. If you'll come wi' us, Hal, we'll stow you +snugly in the bow o' the Curlew, and you'll get a fine sail. What's +an Orkney lad, whatever, if he's not to have a taste o' the dangers +o' the sea? There's more for him to do than daunder about the +hillside with a trout wand over his shoulder." + +"'Deed, I dinna ken about that, father," said my mother, helping me +to a plateful of fried sillocks. "If it's danger you're wantin' the +laddie to seek, he's seen o'er many dangers already, I'm thinking. +It's nearly drowned he was, only a week ago, in the Barra Flow, +swimming out after a dog that wasna worth the saving; and I have +seen him mysel' dangling over the Breckness cliffs, like a spider, +at the end of a rope I would not have trusted to hang Lucky +Drever's cat with! Danger, forsooth! the laddie is always in +danger." + +It was like my mother to object to my taking to the sea, even for +the pleasure of a sail. Although she well knew that it was the only +life open to an Orkney lad, yet she was ever anxious to delay its +beginning, and at these words from her my father did not urge me +further, but quietly watched me as I rose from the table and took +from a rack over the window a small harpoon, the sharp point of +which I tested by pressing it against my thumb. + +"Oh, there's a lad!" exclaimed Jessie. "Off to the sealing when he +might have a fine sail in the Curlew. I wish I could get such a +chance." + +"All right, lad!" interrupted my father. "Away with you to the +sealing. You'll get many another chance of a sail. Who's going with +you?" + +"Robbie Rosson and Willie Hercus and--" I added with some +hesitation, "Tom Kinlay," for I knew my father did not entirely +approve of Tom as a companion. + +"Kinlay again?" he muttered, knitting his brows. "I would advise +you not to go with that lad so often. But then you dinna ken what +his father is, I suppose." + +It was seldom that I heard my father speak an ill word against any +man. I did not ask him any question, but his brief warning was +enough to show me that there was some serious cause of enmity +between him and Tom's father, Carver Kinlay. + +"Father," I said, "I'll not go with Tom if you object." + +"Object!" said he. "What care I for the lad? It's the father that's +my enemy. His bairns may be better than he. Away to the sealing +with you, and may you get good sport!" + +And he followed me to the door. + + + +Chapter V. The Hen Harrier. + + +I lingered about the little quay while my father and the crew were +hoisting sail. For a moment I questioned if I should not be happier +in the bow of the Curlew, than tramping half a score of miles over +rough uninteresting moorland on the chance of capturing a seal; but +in the end I was satisfied in keeping to the plan arranged by my +companions. I waited only to see the boat bend over in the fresh +breeze as she sailed outward to the ships; then, armed with my +harpoon and a knobbed stick, I hastened out of Stromness, followed +by my dog. + +Selta (so called after one of our native streams) was a +long-bodied, long-haired animal, with a touch of the otter hound in +her nature. I got her from Colin Lothian, an old "gaberlunzie" man +who travelled our countryside. He gave me the dog when she was a +young thing, and he had another of the same litter which followed +him wherever he went about the island. + +Selta was notable for her shaggy brown coat and ungainly head, and +for her keen scent. One day during the previous winter I had been +over to Russadale for my mother, and in coming home I was caught in +a snowstorm. The mist was thick and the way obscured by the driving +snow, but Selta lowered her nose and led me over the hills in a +beeline to Stromness. + +She had never before been out with me at the seal catching; but I +took her this day, thinking she might prove useful--as indeed she +did. + +The direct way to Skaill lay along an almost straight road to the +northward, by Hamla Voe and the western shores of the loch of +Stenness, past the Druid standing stones. + +On this May afternoon, as I walked along the familiar road, there +was little to attract my attention. The gray stretch of water lay +still and cold, and the ploughed fields beyond it were brown and +barren. In a more southern clime every tree and bush would be, at +that season, putting forth fresh verdure, and the budding hedgerows +would be bursting into green beauty; but to me, at that period of +my life, the sweet-smelling hawthorn, the golden-fingered laburnum, +and the full, rich blossom of an apple orchard were unknown +delights. I had never yet seen a real tree, and our highest bushes +in Pomona reached scarcely to my shoulder. The land was all gray +and barren. + +At the old mill of Cairston I was joined by Robbie Rosson, and, +instead of continuing by the road, we cut across country, climbing +the stone dykes and jumping over the gurgling streams. A walk of +three miles brought us to Crua Breck, a small farmhouse on the +hillside of the same name, overlooking the Pentland Firth. The +ridge tiles of this house ran precisely north and south, and it was +a superstition amongst us that this same ridge had the power of +deciding whether the north wind should blow towards the German +Ocean or the Atlantic; just as King Eric of Orkney could, in his +time, change the direction of the winds by altering the position of +his cap. + +Crua Breck was at least a mile from any other house--unless, +indeed, the ruined and tenantless cottage of Inganess merited the +name. Carver Kinlay had lived there as long as I could remember; +but the fact that the fisher folks often spoke of him as a "ferry +jumper" implied that he was still regarded as a foreigner on +Orcadian soil. + +I had never been inside the Crua Breck house, nor, I may say, did I +much covet a visit there, for the inmates of the farm were not +distinguished for their friendliness or hospitality, and, with the +one exception of Thora, whom I always regarded with a sense of +kindliness, and Tom, who was my class fellow, I had little +acquaintance with the family. + +Had I been more warmly inclined towards them I would have gone up +to the door at once and asked for Tom, instead of sitting on the +dyke side with Rosson and waiting till he chose to come out to us. + +As we sat there, however, Thora Kinlay came past us, driving before +her a hen and her brood of chickens, which she had found straying +along the cliffs, and of her we asked for Tom. She at once offered +to run to the house and bring him, but ultimately Robbie Rosson +went instead, with my terrier at his heels. + +"How is it you are not at the fishing, Halcro?" inquired Thora when +we were alone. "I saw the schoolmaster away down at the Bush just +now as I came past. He seemed to be catching very little, though." + +"Ah!" I said, "I doubt it's too clear a day for the trout. We're +off to Skaill Vie to see if we can catch a seal." + +"That will be fine fun," said Thora, with a touch of envy in her +voice. "I wish I was going with you. Will you not take me?" + +"Indeed," I returned, not unwilling that she should join us in our +sport, "I'd be real glad if you would come. But here's Tom, we'll +ask him." + +Robbie and Tom approached across a plot of potatoes. Tom was eating +a huge piece of oatcake, and slashing, with a long stick he +carried, at the heads of the thistles that grew, all too +plentifully, among the potatoes. + +Tom was a tall, large-boned lad, and his feet, which were encased +in rivlins, or rough hide shoes, projected several inches below his +trousers; his arms, too, seemed to have grown far beyond the length +of his jacket sleeves. His untidy black hair and dark eyes +contrasted strangely with the fair and delicate beauty of his +sister Thora. A stranger might have taken Thora to be of pure Norse +family, and her adventurous spirit would have justified the belief. +But Tom took after his father, whose type was that of a race not +uncommon in the north of Scotland, and called--for I know not what +reason--"The dark men of Connemara." + +"Tom," I asked when he was beside us, "what do you say to Thora +coming with us to the sealing?" + +"What! Certainly not," replied Tom, who was ever jealous of his +sister and loved not to favour her in any way. "What would a lassie +do at the sealing? Let her go back home and do her lessons, and try +if she can win to the head of the class again." + +"Indeed," said Thora with suppressed indignation, "it is you who +should try to do that, Tom. You're the eldest and biggest lad in +the school, and have never yet been at the head of the class, dunce +that you are! But away with you to the sealing. I do not care, for +I have adventure of my own. I know where there's a hen harrier +building her nest on the Black Craigs, and it's not you I will tell +where it is, my lad." + +This was a successful parting shot from Thora. She well knew that +any lad in Orkney would envy her the discovery of a falcon's nest, +and that Tom, more than any other, would be jealous of her finding +what he might have searched for in vain. + +"Just fancy that lass finding a harrier's nest!" he murmured as we +went along. "I wonder if it's true! I bet she only said that out of +spite because we would not let her come with us. But who wants a +slip of a girl at such work? She'd only frighten the seals and +prevent us from catching any. It's my opinion we have enough of the +girls in the school without them joining us in our sports. What do +you say, Ericson?" + +"I don't know about that," I said. "For my part I shouldn't have +objected to Thora coming with us. As for the hen harrier, I don't +doubt that what she said was quite true. It's well known that she's +one of the best cliff climbers of us all." + +"Tut! you always side with the lassies, Ericson. That's because +you're aye beside them at the head of the class. What was it that +old Duke gave her this morning? Was it a bawbee?" + +"I took no notice of what it was, Tom," I replied. "But it was very +kind of him to give her anything." + +"It was a sixpence he gave her," said Robbie Rosson. "I saw the +colour of it." + +"A sixpence!" exclaimed Tom. "The sneak that she is! Let's go back +and make her give us a share of it." + +"Get away, man," said Robbie. "What is it to us though the bailie +gave her a dozen sixpences? He'd have given it to any of us if we'd +been at the head of the class." + +The discussion upon Thora ended here, and we continued our walk in +comparative silence. + +Willie Hercus was waiting for us when we reached the hill of +Yeskenaby. Hercus was a barefooted, red-haired boy, with gray eyes +that were almost hidden in the fatness of his cheeks, and totally +so when he laughed, as he invariably did on the least provocation. +His brow and nose were covered with brown freckles, like a turkey's +egg; and he wore a large sea jacket that had belonged to his +father, one of the crew of the Curlew. + +We walked leisurely along the brink of the Black Craigs--a line of +steep cliffs bordering the western portion of the Mainland. At +times a hoodie crow would fly across our path, or the red grouse be +startled from their nests in the freshly-budding heather; and sea +fowl in large numbers sailed gracefully over our heads or deep down +the cliffs, making the chasms echo with their ceaseless screaming. + +We made no attempt to kill or capture any of the birds. One bird, +however, we did take, and that more by accident than intention. It +happened this way: + +My dog was trotting before us, with her nose to the ground, when +suddenly she made a run through the short heather after a lapwing, +which was, or pretended to be, unable to fly. I think it was trying +to decoy the dog away from its nest. As we watched the chase, Tom +cried out: + +"Look, look, there's a hawk after them!" + +And, indeed, so it was. The lapwing ran with wondrous speed, and +before Selta had time to snap at it a hawk had nipped in before the +dog's nose in the attempt to rob her of her prey. Unfortunately for +the larger bird, however, the dog's snap, intended for the +fugitive, came upon the hawk's outstretched neck. The lapwing +escaped unhurt, and flew screaming into the air, but Selta held to +the hawk till we ran up and helped her. I managed to secure the +bird's wings, which flapped about with surprising strength, while +Tom held its struggling legs. + +"Thraw its neck, thraw its neck!" cried Rosson, now coming up to +us. + +Selta loosened her hold, and Willie Hercus took the hawk's head in +his hand, carefully guarding against its sharp beak, gave its neck +a rapid twist, and the bird was dead. + +"What kind of a bird is it?" eagerly asked Kinlay, whose knowledge +of our native birds was as imperfect as his knowledge of Latin +conjugations. + +"Can you not see it's a harrier--a hen harrier?" I said, as I +stretched out the large and beautiful wings of gray-blue feathers +and proceeded to bind the bird's feet with a string. + +"The very same that Thora spoke of, I'll be bound!" Tom exclaimed +with satisfaction, as he evidently thought of his sister's secret +of the nest on the Black Craigs. + +"What'll we do with it?" asked Hercus. "Is it good for eating?" + +"Nonsense, Willie!" said I. "Surely we've birds in plenty without +eating hawks! Let's give it to the dominie." + +"Ay, let's give it to the dominie," chimed in Robbie Rosson, always +ready to agree with whatever I proposed. + +"The dominie! What for would you give it to the dominie?" objected +Kinlay. "It's my bird. I first saw it." + +"Your bird! your bird, indeed!" exclaimed Hercus, putting his hands +in his pockets and assuming an attitude of indignant surprise. "Is +it the man who first sees the whale that has the blubber? No, no, +Ericson's dog caught the bird. Let Hal do as he likes with his +own." + +I have no doubt that Tom coveted the dead falcon in order to +persuade his sister that he had discovered her harrier's nest. When +we agreed to keep the bird for the schoolmaster, he accordingly +grew gloomy, and the rest of the journey to Skaill was accomplished +without his joining in the merry talk, of which there was no lack, +you may be sure. + + + +Chapter VI. "Better Gear Than Rats." + + +Skaill Vic is a large, sheltered inlet of the sea. I have heard +that in ancient times it was a meeting place of the Norse vikings, +and it is just such a place as a pirate might choose to make his +headquarters, being a convenient station from which he could ravage +the adjacent shores of Scotland, or sail over to Norway, or even +north to Iceland, and safely return to its secluded shelter, to +store his treasure in the dark caverns of the rugged cliffs. I may +here remind you that Pomona Island was, long ago, the holy land of +the Northman, and that the cairns and cromlechs scattered over our +hills and plains are to this day associated with the visits of the +old viking buccaneers. Andrew Drever, who was exceedingly well +versed in the antique lore of the Orkneys, once told us in school +of a Runic inscription he had seen in the Maes Howe at Stenness. It +was interpreted to the effect that one of the old vikings "had +found much fee in Orkhow," and that this treasure had been buried +"to the northwest." + +"Happy is he," the legend continued--"Happy is he who may discover +this great wealth." + +But, of course, no person had ever found trace of it, and Mr. +Drever supposed that it must have been swept away by the furious +storms that, in wintertime, dash continually against the rocky ribs +of the Orcadian coasts. + +We got down by a pathway to the sloping beach, which the tide had +left bare. At the point where we hoped to find some seals, we +observed several men and women gathering seaweed, preparatory to +burning it for kelp. This was a disappointment to us, since, if +there were any seals about, it was likely they would be scared away +by the kelp burners. But we walked along under the high banks as +far as the northern extremity of the bay, in expectation of finding +some sport on the outer shores. + +We sat for a long while talking, as schoolboys will talk, in a +sheltered cleft of the headland, which, I believe, had once been a +cavern, and was known by the name of the Kierfiold Helyer. Here the +force of many an Atlantic storm had so worn away the face of the +rocks that the cliff was driven back to the innermost parts of the +original cave. Great pieces of granite lay about in disorder, +showing where the roof of the cavern had fallen in; and on one of +these boulders we sat until we were weary, looking out to the +water's edge, in expectation of seeing some seals appear. + +Skaill Bay was our favourite spot for the sealing, and at the +proper season the seals were generally plentiful and not timid. +Indeed, so bold were they sometimes, that on a Sabbath morning, +when the bell of Sandwick Church, hard by, had been ringing for +divine service, I have seen the animals collect in numbers on the +beach to listen to the strange sound, which held them so fixed and +charmed, that it required an effort to startle them away. Now, +however, the seals seemed to have deserted the place, and I was not +sorry when Tom Kinlay proposed that we should give up our search +for them and return home. + +Just as we were moving away I chanced to look along the shoreline, +and at some distance from where we stood I detected a moving object +in the water, and presently saw what I took to be three seals +basking on a bank of sand. Now was our weariness changed to eager +desire, and we at once prepared for some good sport. + +Leaving our dead falcon on a slab of rock, we quietly distributed +ourselves. Willie Hercus approached the seals under cover of a +large boulder. I crept along by the foot of the cliffs with Selta, +intending to get down to the water's edge, and so work back again +to cut off the retreat of the seals; while Kinlay and Rosson did +the same on the other side. + +We gradually and silently closed round our game. Our approach was, +however, somewhat marred by an alarm given by a seagull flying over +the seals. The largest animal turned round towards the sea. Its +mates took the signal and, with it, made for the water. + +I gave a word to the dog, and Selta ran forward to meet the middle +seal, which she kept at bay as she might have kept a sheep, barking +in its face and always getting between it and the water. Tom and +Robbie ran after one of the others, while the largest seal, which I +had marked as my own prize, managed to escape me and plunge into +the sea. I then turned to encounter the seal that the dog and +Willie Hercus had arrested. Willie, having no stick or harpoon, was +throwing large stones at the animal, which seemed to pay little +attention to them, but kept its large, beautiful eyes fixed upon +the dog. One of the stones, unfortunately, struck Selta, and when +she turned, the seal made its way past. I saw the movement and +succeeded in striking the seal on the nose with my knobbed stick. +The animal collapsed at once; its head dropped on the sand, and it +moved no more. + +Meanwhile Robbie and Tom, who had my harpoon, were having a hard +fight. Their seal had been struck once with the harpoon on the left +shoulder. Tom tried to intercept its retreat, and just as it was +entering the water he fell down upon it with all his weight, at the +same time grasping its wounded flipper in his two hands. The seal, +though weak, drew him some way over the slippery stones and into +the sea; but Tom proved victor. Rising on his knees in the water, +he wrapped both his arms round the seal, and, with the assistance +of Rosson, succeeded in carrying it ashore, where it was finally +killed. + +We had heavy work conveying our two seals up the beach to the place +where we had left our dead bird; and there with our knives we +proceeded to secure the skins and the blubber, leaving the +carcasses behind for the cormorants and carrion crows. + +Willie Hercus and I were finished first, and we carefully folded up +our perfect sealskin. But Tom, who was less accustomed to the work, +fumbled away awkwardly, muttering to himself when his sharp blade +cut into the skin instead of neatly parting it from the body. + +As we sat on a rock waiting for our companions, Selta went sniffing +about on her own account and rooting into the far corners of the +old cave. She at length found her way to the dead hen harrier, as +it lay on a slab of flagstone. Hercus called her off as she put her +nose too closely to the bird. But Selta was following her +instincts; for, in turning the bird with her nose, she disturbed a +small rat which was coolly making its meal there. I ran to examine +the damage done to the hawk (for I was anxious to give the bird +uninjured to Mr. Drever), while Willie followed the dog into the +crevice where she had chased the rat. I found the harrier was not +much damaged; a few feathers were bitten out and a little of the +skin was broken, that was all. + +I put my harpoon and stick through the string that secured the +bird's legs and slung it over my shoulder, gathered up our +sealskin, and went to hurry up Tom and Robbie, for the tide was +rising and we had a long journey before us. Tom had just cut the +last of the skin from the seal's head, and when he had folded it +up, the three of us began our walk towards the further shore of the +bay, expecting Hercus to follow with the dog. + +"Hello! what can be keeping Hercus so long?" asked Robbie, when we +had walked some distance. + +I told him about the rat that the dog was after, and looked back +for Willie. Not seeing him, we concluded he had gone round by the +top of the cliffs, and we continued our way a few yards further. +Then we heard Hercus calling after us in an excited way. + +"Come back, lads, come back!" he shouted; and I looked at the sea +line, fearing lest it was the rising tide that Hercus was warning +us against. + +"I'm not going back," objected Tom. "We've got time to get to the +other side long before the water's up. Besides, I'm hungry. I'm +going home." + +"Tut, didn't we wait for you while you skinned your seal? Let's go +back," I urged. "Maybe Hercus is hurt." + +"Come away back, Tom," added Rosson. + +So we all returned to where Willie Hercus still remained, and +wondered what he could mean by calling us back. + +When we entered the chasm we were much surprised to find Hercus +lying flat on the shingle, with his right arm deep in a hole he had +dug, and the dog at his side, wagging her tail and uttering short +barks of excitement. + +"Good sakes!" exclaimed Robbie Rosson. "What's wrong with the lad?" + +Much relieved we were to hear Hercus speak. I confess I had felt +certain some harm had happened to him. + +"Come away," he said, in a tone which was far from being a cry of +pain. "Come away, lads, and give us a hand here. There's better +gear than rats in this hole, I'm thinking." + +And, so saying, he rose to his knees and held out to us a heavy and +black piece of metal, which at first I took to be an iron bolt. + +"Well, what is it?" I asked, taking the thing in my hand and +examining it. + +"What is it?" said Hercus. "Can you not see, lad? Why, it's +silver!" + + + +Chapter VII. What The Shingle Revealed. + + +Now the explanation of Willie's curious discovery, as we afterwards +fully learned, was this: When I took up the dead falcon, Hercus, +intent upon witnessing Selta's skill at ratting, stood beside the +dog as she scraped with her forefeet the shingle from the crevice +through which the rat had escaped. Disappointed at losing her +prize, the terrier dug and dug away at the shingle and moist sand, +scattering it behind her, and burying her nose deep down. Then a +strange, grim object was unearthed. In the midst of the stones, +Hercus, to his horror, saw lying there a ghastly human skull, with +the great cavities where the eyes had been, staring at him. +Hesitating at the sight of this frightful spectacle, he at last +mustered courage to take the thing in his hand. He was in the act +of examining it, when, from one of the hollow eye sockets, out +jumped the fugitive rat. Had the jaws of the skull moved in speech, +Willie could not have been more terrified than he was by seeing the +rat spring from its strange hiding place. + +Dropping the horrible thing upon the rock at his feet, where the +rotten bone broke into fragments, he rushed out upon the beach and +called us back. Attracted to the spot again, he watched the dog +burrowing in the shingle. Amongst the stones and sand he saw the +dull sheen of what he at first supposed was a curious seashell, but +which, when he picked up and examined it, he found to be an old +coin. Believing that there might be more of these buried in the +sand, he went down upon his knees once more to search. He had just +discovered the bar of metal when we returned. + +"What is it?" he said. "Why, it's silver?" + +We each in turn handled the little bar, and expressed our opinion +regarding what Hercus supposed it to be. It was heavy enough, +certainly, to be silver; but the improbability of such a piece of +the precious metal being left there presented itself, and none of +us was quite satisfied until Hercus, taking out his knife, cut and +scraped the surface of the ingot and revealed the shining white +metal underlying the grit and tarnish that had gathered upon it +during the years--perhaps the centuries--it had lain there +undisturbed. + +By our united efforts we enlarged the hole that Willie and the dog +had made, digging with the harpoon and removing with our hands the +loosened stones. We found a quantity of antique coins of various +sizes, which, by reason of their lightness, I suppose, were much +scattered about. Then deeper down below these we came upon a number +of large rings, or bracelets, in the form of horseshoes, and +several ingots of silver, similar to the one Hercus had first +found. + +We grew excited in our search; and as the quantity of treasure we +unearthed increased, so did we increase our exertions, until there +was quite a heap of silver gathered upon the slab of flagstone +where we placed it. + +At a spot near where Hercus had discovered the skull we found a +curious garment, formed of a fine network of rings and chains. It +was much broken and torn--though the shoulder bands were preserved, +as well as the collar--and we could see that the owner, whoever he +might have been, must have had a large and strong body, for the +coat was of great weight. Beside it there were what we took to be +the remains of a helmet, the ornaments upon which were of a yellow +and still untarnished metal, with a large crimson stone set in the +front. + +Hercus pronounced the metal to be brass; but I never discovered +truly what it was, as I did not handle the fragments again, for the +reason that (as I happened to notice at the time) Tom Kinlay, who +kept silence regarding them, quietly put them in his pocket, +allowing us afterwards to suppose that we had left them behind us. +I had my suspicions, however, that the ornaments were of pure gold. + +In addition to the coat of mail and the helmet, there were three +other objects that engaged our special regard. These were a broken +belt--made of link rings of bronze--the head of a battle axe, and a +long sword. The sword, which was in a scabbard embossed with fine +ornaments, had a richly-figured handle. It was a heavy weapon, and +none of us could draw it from its scabbard, for the rust that +encrusted it. + +When all that it seemed possible to find had been collected, and +our digging brought nothing more to light, we opened our two seals' +skins--throwing away the blubber, which seemed of little worth to +us now that we had possessed ourselves of all this wealth--and +lifting the treasure into them we made them into slings, one of +which was carried by Tom Kinlay and Willie Hercus, the other by +Robbie Rosson and myself. We bore our burdens joyfully as far as +the other side of Skaill Bay, just managing to escape the tide that +was creeping up to the base of the cliffs. + +The last rays of the sun were setting across the broad Atlantic +when we reached the top of the headland, and in the gray twilight +spreading over the sea we watched the fleet of whaling ships +sailing to the westward. + + + +Chapter VIII. Dividing The Spoil. + + +Resting after the work of carrying our burden up the cliffs, we +stood for a space upon the heights above Row Head to watch the +sails of the fleet growing smaller as they approached the distant +line of the horizon. The leaden sea danced in the fresh breeze, and +the sky gradually lost its golden tints and assumed the clear, cold +hue of the northern twilight. To the southward, across the moor, +rose the dark mountains of Hoy Island, with the moon gleaming pale +above them. From the shore came the fresh smell of the seaweed and +the plaintive crying of the gulls. + +The evening was growing late, and there were still half a dozen +miles of rough moorland between Ramna and Stromness. Over the braes +of Borwick we travelled at a steady pace. We were light of heart, +for we had had a successful expedition, as was proved not only by +our dead falcon and the two seals' skins, but, more than all, by +the great wealth that those seals' skins carried. + +Many were our conjectures as to the meaning of that great horde of +silver we had discovered hidden in the sands of Skaill Bay. + +"I wonder how it all came there!" mused Robbie, and then he added, +"D'ye ken what I think, lads?" + +"What think you, then, Robbie?" I asked. + +"Well," said he, "I just think it must have been cast there by some +shipwreck in the olden time. D'ye mind, Hal, of the story of the +wreck of yon Spanish ship on the Carrig-na-Spana?" + +"What! the San Miguel?" + +"Ay, maybe that was her name, I dinna ken. Well, if you mind, she +struck on the reef there, and the skipper dropped all his treasure +chests overboard, in mortal fear that the Orkney wreckers would rob +him of them. I suppose he took his bearings, but for many a day the +wreckers searched the waters, and never a thing did they find. +Well, years and years after that the old skipper's son came to +Orkney, and went straight to the spot where the treasure had been +sunk and carried it all off to Spain." + +"But that explains nothing, Robbie," I argued. "However, we ken +well enough that those Spanish ships were aye loaded with gold and +precious stones. And then, d'ye not mind of hearing about the +Spanish Armada ships that were wrecked on the Orkneys? Now, I +wouldn't be surprised though the gear we have gotten was nothing +else than the wreckage of an Armada ship. Even the skull that +Willie found, maybe belonged to one of the soldier chaps that came +to fight the English. But what is your opinion, Willie? You should +know, for it was you who found the treasure." + +"Well, Ericson," said he wisely, "I just think it was most +extraordinary to see the heaps of siller come out of the very sands +of the seashore, and in such a desolate place; and beyond that, it +was a most providential thing that the dog ran after yon wee rat. +What most gets over me, though, is to think of the rat making its +nest in the dead man's skull. Man! what a fright I had when the +beast jumped out! As for how the siller came there, I canna just +say; but, you mind, the dominie told us in the school that, lang +syne, some of those viking lads used to cruise hereabout. Now, I'm +thinking that it's just possible one of them had maybe left the +siller for safety in the Kierfiold Cave where I--where we found it, +and clean forgotten to go back for it; just as old Betsy Matthew +forgot the guineas she hid under the floor in the heel of a +stocking." + +"Ay, I dinna doubt it may be so, Willie," observed Rosson. "But +then, what about the dead man's head?" + +"'Deed I canna say what way that could be there. I'm thinking we +must e'en refer it to the dominie. He kens all about these things," +said Hercus; and then he turned to Kinlay, who hitherto had +expressed no conjecture. + +"But what think you of it all, Tom?" + +"What do I think!" said Kinlay in a tone of indifference. "I care +not what way the silver came there. What does it matter? I'm only +thinking what I'll do with my own share of it." + +Now I confess that I had not before thought anything at all about +what we should do with the silver. I was so much interested in the +circumstance of our curious discovery of the hidden treasure that +the thought of its market value, or of our means of disposing of +it, had never entered my head; and I believe Hercus and Rosson were +totally ignorant of the fact that our find was really worth more +than the mere interest we naturally attached to the articles as +curious antiquities. Had I been asked as to the disposal of them, I +believe I would have proposed that the whole treasure should be +handed over to the care of our schoolmaster, who would doubtless +see that we did not lose by any sale he might effect. + +Tom Kinlay was the first to suggest the sharing of the silver +pieces. We could offer no reasonable objection to a plan which +seemed so fair to all of us, and we agreed that before we parted an +equal division should be made. + +Walking along a stretch of bleak moorland bordering the sea, taking +always the nearest cuts across the jutting points of rocky +headland, we at length approached the quaint graveyard of Bigging. +The night was clear, and light almost as day; but Robbie and Willie +would, I believe, rather have gone many miles out of our direct way +than go near that awesome place. + +The ruined chapel and the long, flat tombstones surrounding it, +seemed to have an eerie influence upon our imagination, and we +could but whistle some merry tune to keep up our hearts. Willie +Hercus, though naturally daring, was now especially timid, the +remembrance of that skull he had handled having taken such hold of +his mind that the simple mention of it by one of us was enough to +make his voice sink to a trembling whisper, as though he feared the +dead man might come to life again and appear in our midst to accuse +us of having disturbed his bones. + +I think Tom Kinlay was the only one of us who did not look with +superstitious awe into the dark shadows that hung about those +ruined walls and silent tombstones; but he was so tall and strong +that nothing seemed to daunt him, and soon he made a proposal that +went far towards assuring me that he was absolutely fearless. + +"Now, lads," said he, when we were passing the low wall of the +burying ground, "let us get in here and spread out our things on +one of those flat stones, and then we can share them out. Come +along; nobody can disturb us in that quiet burying ground." + +"What!" exclaimed Robbie, betraying his terror at the proposal. +"Over there among the graves! Not I. I'm not going into such a +place after the sun has gone down. Why, we canna be sure that the +ghosts of the dead will not spring out upon us!" + +"No, I'm not going in there either," chimed in Hercus. "We can +divide the siller here on the moor just as well as in that fearsome +place. Come back, Hal, dinna you gang either." + +"Well, well, what a pack of frightened bairns ye are!" said Kinlay, +preparing to enter by the open gate. "Come along. What on earth can +ye be feared at?" + +Thus taunted for want of courage, Willie and Robbie overcame their +superstitious scruples, and we all four made our way in among the +graves. + +We spread our treasures upon the top of a flat tombstone that was +somewhat higher than its neighbours and formed a convenient table +for our purpose. The stone was overgrown with lichens and moss, and +skirted by a growth of nettles and thistles. As we stood around it +in the twilight, surrounded by a wild solitude, we might have been +mistaken for a company of pirates dividing their ill-gotten gains. + +Whilst Kinlay and Hercus were opening out the two seals' skins my +eyes idly wandered over the surface of the tombstone, and were +arrested by the inscription carved thereon. There was an epitaph in +some foreign language, old and worn, but under this was a name that +seemed to be newly cut. It was the name "Thora Quendale." + +Now the name Thora is not a common one in Orkney, and seeing it on +that strange old tombstone naturally made me think of the Thora +whom I knew--Tom Kinlay's sister. + +"Tom, did you ever notice the name on this grave? It's some woman +buried here named Thora." + +He turned and read the inscription. + +"Ay, I've seen it before. It's some woman that was found drowned at +the foot of the Black Craigs, years ago. I dinna ken who she was. I +think she was in a shipwreck." + +"Oh! Then it was no relation of yours?" + +"No. That is, I dinna think it. But I have heard that Thora was +named after her." + +I asked him to tell me about the wreck; but just then Willie Hercus +interrupted, saying: + +"Come along, Ericson; you had better be the one to divide the +treasure for us. We all ken you'll divide it fairly." + +The treasure was heaped upon the tombstone, and as I regarded it I +foresaw the difficulty of the task before me; for the pieces were +obviously of very varied values, and I did not see how I could +easily distribute them into four equal shares. But I made the +attempt according to the manner that I had seen adopted by the +fishermen at Stromness in dividing their fish. + +To begin with, there was the sword--apparently the most valuable of +all the treasures. Who was to have this? I naturally thought it +should go to Hercus, to whom we owed our possession of the wealth, +and I remembered that Kinlay already had an equivalent share in the +pieces of broken helmet he had appropriated. I handed the sword +over to Hercus, therefore. Tom offered no opposition at the time, +but he afterwards bartered with Hercus for it, giving him in +exchange two of the ingots of silver and the coat of mail which +subsequently fell to his share. + +The sword and the coat of mail being apportioned to Hercus and +Kinlay, I then gave the bronze belt to Rosson, and took for myself +some pieces of armour and a fragment of a shield. Then there were +twenty-two ingots, or bars of silver, each of about six ounces in +weight. Five of these were apportioned to each of us, two being +left to be dealt with afterwards. + +Next, there were thirteen brooches, such as the Scandinavians--as I +learned later on--were accustomed to use for binding their mantles. +They were all of similar pattern, and would weigh, perhaps, three +ounces each. Of them we had three apiece. There were three massive +torques, or rings, something in the form of horseshoes, the opening +being left to admit of their being fastened upon the neck, where +the ornaments were worn, I believe, by the ancients as symbols of +rank or command. These articles were composed of a series of rings +interlaced, some of them being embossed with rude but curious +designs. + +I saw that we could not each of us have one of these, and here I +was again in a difficulty; but since the ingots of silver were of +about an equal weight, I took one of them myself and gave an +ornament to each of my companions. Hercus, however, would not agree +to this, and he showed, truly enough, that the ingots were worth no +more than their weight in metal; whereas the rings were of much +greater value, on account of being curious specimens of ancient +art. He therefore asked me to take a few of the coins in order to +make a fair division. The remaining coins, of which there was a +considerable quantity, were then counted and equally shared amongst +us. + +We had now left one ingot of silver, one brooch, some odd fragments +of silver, and a small black stone which had a metal ring round it; +and the sharing of these cost more trouble than all the other +articles together. They were all, so far as we could judge, of +unequal values. The stone was considered worthless, except for the +little band of metal with which it was clasped. The brooch was only +about half the weight of the ingot, and it was not counted +precious, because already each of us had three like it, while the +small pile of silver fragments was not worth half the ingot +{i}. I thought I was acting very fairly when I suggested that +Hercus should have what remained, because, I said, if it had not +been for him we would have had nothing at all. + +"'Deed you'll do nothing of the kind," objected Kinlay. "What for +should Hercus take all?" + +"Well, well," I said, somewhat ruffled, I admit, at Tom's greed, +"you needn't be so sulky. Take you and divide the things. You'll +not do it any fairer." + +But Tom saw a way of sharing the things which suited himself, if it +did not quite agree with my own views of fairness. To Willie he +gave the brooch, to Robbie he passed the pile of fragments; and now +he held the two remaining pieces, the ingot of silver and the +little black stone. We awaited with much interest his final +decision. With an unpleasant flash of his dark eyes he cast the +stone to my end of the rude table, and quietly thrust the bar of +silver with his other possessions into his capacious pockets. + +I tried hard to check the words that rose to my lips. Throughout +the afternoon I had noticed Tom's pointed objections to many things +I had done or had proposed to do. He had objected to Thora +accompanying us on the sealing expedition. He had disagreed with +the disposal of the dead hen harrier; other little incidents, most +of which had testified to his deep-rooted selfishness, I had not +failed to notice. More than all, I remembered how he had pocketed +the jewelled fragments of the helmet, and kept the knowledge of +their value from us all. As for the opinions of the other two lads +regarding him, it was Willie Hercus who had called him a "sneak" in +school that morning, and Robbie Rosson, I knew, had certainly no +love for Tom, who had persistently bullied him. + +"Well, are you not satisfied?" said Kinlay, seeing my undisguised +indignation. + +"Yes, with my own share," I replied. "But if you'd taken the +smaller piece of siller for yourself, and given Willie Hercus yon +piece you've taken, I'd have thought you more honourable." + +And then I roundly accused him of having stolen the fragments of +the helmet. + +"You have stolen the things," I said. "You saw that they were of +more worth than the rest, and you were afraid that we would want a +share of them." + +"You're a liar!" he exclaimed angrily. + +"And you're a thief!" I retorted; and I walked round to him, +determined, if necessary, to defend my accusation in a more +practical way than by empty words. + +Now, I am confident that Kinlay was almost eager for such a chance +as this to pay back many debts which his own jealousy had from time +to time conjured up against me. For, apart from the fact that I +happened to be a little more brilliant than he in our class at +school, there were not wanting indications that he was in other +ways losing ground in our common race, and circumstances seemed to +require that we should each make a final effort now for the upper +hand. + +Seeing my determined attitude, he regarded it as a challenge, and +at once took off his jacket and held it out for Robbie Rosson to +take charge of. Robbie promptly showed the tenor of his feelings by +allowing the jacket to fall upon one of the gravestones, and by +coming to my side. Hercus merely busied himself in pacifying my +dog, which had become restless on hearing our high words. + +Kinlay and I now stood face to face, and I almost trembled to think +of the thrashing that was probably in store for me. He gave the +first blow, which struck me soundly on the side of the head and +knocked my cap off. I buttoned my jacket tight and closed with my +adversary, yet with small success. The fight was for a few moments +unequal. Tom was much the taller, and his big feet, with their hide +sandals, seemed to grip the elastic turf. His fists, too, were +large and hard, and his lunging strokes were enough to stagger one +of our native ponies. + +Against this superiority I had to depend upon such power of limb +and endurance as I had acquired by long practice at cliff climbing +and in swimming the strong currents of Scapa Flow. For a time a +heavy blow on my chest disabled me, and my right arm was sorely +bruised by the many blows it had suffered in guarding my face. +Still, I was determined not to give in; and, just as one gets a +second wind in swimming, so did I now feel a new and strange +strength come upon me. I continued the conflict with renewed +energy. + +Stepping backward upon one of the flat tombstones, I once more +stood ready to receive my opponent. He struck without effect at my +face, and while he was recovering his balance I saw my opportunity, +and hit him a strong blow between the eyes. He staggered and fell, +and I saw that the fight was over. Rising to his feet he did not +retaliate, but picked up his jacket, wrapped his store of the +treasure into his seal's skin, and wiping the dripping blood from +his nose, walked away across the heath in the direction of Crua +Breck, muttering a vow of vengeance. + +The combat had been sharp and effectual; but it was the outburst of +an antagonism which had long been gathering strength; it was the +practical declaration of an enmity that grew and lasted for many a +day. + + + +Chapter IX. Captain Gordon. + + +I was oppressed with a weight of weariness by the time that I came +within sight of Stromness. After leaving Hercus and Rosson over at +Yeskenaby, I met not a person until I reached the shores of Hamla +Voe. Here, however, on turning from the moorland path into the main +road, I saw a stranger resting upon the low wall at the roadside. +He was evidently admiring the scene presented by the quiet bay of +Stromness. + +A barque lay at anchor in the harbour, her tall, tapering masts and +taut ropes clearly defined against the gray sky. Beyond the bright +beacon light of the Ness, the sloping island of Graemsay could +barely be distinguished from the deep purple mountains of Hoy, and +along the line of the bay stood the gabled houses of the town, +their dimly-lighted windows reflected on the water. + +As I approached the stranger, I saw that he was a seafarer. + +"Fine night, sir," I said in salutation as I passed him. + +"Ay, very fine. What way is the wind, my lad?" + +"Sou'-sou'-west," I replied, looking up at a few flecks of white +cloud in the clear sky. + +"Are you going on to Stromness? If so, I will walk along with you. +That's a fine bird you're carrying. What do you call it?" + +"A hen harrier, sir. My dog caught it over on the moor. Is that +your barque lying in the bay, sir, the Lydia?" + +"Ay; she's a rakish craft, isn't she? We're sailing again in the +morning for South America. Do you think we shall have a fair wind, +my lad?" + +"Yes, if it does not veer round too much to the westward." + +"You appear to have studied the weather," he said. + +"Yes," I answered. "In Stromness we all notice the wind, and father +has taught me to know all the signs of the weather." + +"Then your father is a fisherman, I suppose?" he remarked, as he +turned to walk down the brae with me. + +"Father's a pilot," I said. "I'm Sandy Ericson's lad." + +"Ericson! Ah! I know Ericson. He's a splendid fellow, a regular +Norseman, in fact." + +And then he proceeded to praise my father as I had so often before +heard him praised, and with all of which I did not venture to +disagree. + +He spoke with me until we reached the entrance to the town, where I +noticed Andrew Drever, my schoolmaster, walking in advance of us, +carrying his rod under his arm and a string of fish in his hand. + +"Good evening, sir!" I said, as we overtook him. + +"Hello, Halcro, my lad!" he exclaimed, as cheerily as though he had +not seen me for weeks. + +"Good evening!" said my sailor companion to the dominie. "I see you +have some fine trout there." + +"Yes," said Andrew, when he had returned the greeting. "They're not +so bad, and I've had some fine sport with them. Are you coming from +Kirkwall?" + +"No," replied the sailor. "I was just up the hill there for a +saunter in the gloaming. The gloaming lasts very long here, I +notice. What time is it dark in midsummer?" + +"In midsummer?" replied Andrew. "Well, it's seldom darker than +this; and on the twenty-first of June you can see the sun even at +midnight from the top of the Ward Hill yonder. You'll belong to one +of the ships here, no doubt, sir?" + +"Yes, that barque out there with the tall masts." + +"Ay, she came in today. That will be the Lydia, I'm thinking, and +you will be Captain Gordon? Bailie Duke was telling me you were in +the port. And when do you sail?" + +"Tomorrow," said the captain. "We're bound for Brazil; but I was +wanting to see some people tonight. Pilot Ericson asked me to smoke +a pipe with him. Then I have to see Grace Drever, to--" + +"Grace Drever!" exclaimed the dominie, evidently wondering what the +sailor could want to see his mother for. + +"Yes," continued Captain Gordon. "My ship's overrun with mice, and +I was directed to Grace Drever, who, I am told, deals in all the +charms and cantrips a sailor can require." + +"Charms and cantrips!" echoed the schoolmaster. "Why, who on earth +has been putting such notions into your head? I doubt if you go to +Grace Drever on such an errand you'll be disappointed, sir." + +"You know the old lady, then?" said the captain. + +"Just as well as a man can know his own mother," replied Andrew. + +"Oh! then, you'll be the schoolmaster? Really, I beg your pardon; +but I was told that Mistress Drever had dealings with such things; +and although I am not exactly superstitious--" + +"Never mind, sir, never mind. It's just some ignorant lads have +been making up the story; and it's all one to me, for I know well +it's not true. There was once a woman in Stromness, I will allow, +who used to sell favourable winds to the sailors. But though there +is still a most lamentable amount of superstition in the Orkney +folk--belief in witches and warlocks and such nonsense--it's +gradually, just gradually, dying away." + +"No doubt the influence of your schools," observed the captain, +anxious to conciliate. + +"Ay, no doubt," said Andrew. "But what was it you were saying about +mice?" + +"Why, we're just infested with them, and I must get either cats or +poison for them, or I'll not say but we may be manned by mice +instead of men before we get beyond Cape Wrath." + +"My mother has a cat," quietly remarked Andrew, "one of the few we +have in Orkney. And though she does not deal in witchery, you might +bring her to part with Baudrons. Now, if you'll come home with me +and have a taste of these trout--" + +"Oh, thanks, thanks, most happy!" said the captain. + +Now this, I thought, was a very graceful invitation for Andrew +Drever to give to a stranger who had only a few moments before +implied that his mother was a witch. But it was a kindness such as +he was ever showing; and I must add that Captain Gordon was one of +those easy-mannered sailors who at once give an agreeable +impression. I myself liked him from the very first, and I had +afterwards many reasons for rejoicing in the friendship thus +casually made. + +"I have something here for you, sir," I said to the schoolmaster, +holding up the dead falcon that I carried. + +"Oh! come along with us, too, Halcro. Send your dog home, and come +and take some supper with me." + +I assented, and continued walking by his side as he talked with the +captain. + +We had now entered the street of Stromness. It was a narrow passage +which one might span with arms outstretched, and paved without a +causeway--for it was built when there were no vehicles in +Orkney--and crooked as the inside of a whelk shell, suggesting +starlight smuggling and romantic meetings. In the windows and +obscure corners of the passages dim lamps peeped forth in the +darkness, and the flickering firelight in the houses fell upon the +stones through the open doorways, whereat sailors stood smoking +their pipes and gossiping women talked. + +We turned up a little lane that led to the schoolhouse, and my dog +trotted home without me, to let my mother know I was near. + + + +Chapter X. The Dominie Explains. + + +We found Grace Drever preparing the peat fire for frying the fish. +The good old woman did not hear us enter, but Andrew was a punctual +man, and it was with no show of surprise that his mother at length +recognized his presence. + +Grace Drever was an active woman, somewhat bent with age, but with +no signs of decaying faculties, save in the case of her extreme +deafness. Her hair was still black, and her eyesight was quick. Her +memory for local events was as good as an almanac to the people of +Stromness, and there was something strangely uncanny about her +nature that was itself almost an excuse to those who hinted that +she had dealings with the underworld. She was one of the older +style of inhabitants, who retained the primitive habits and customs +of the island, whose spoken language had in it a mixture of the +Norse, which distinguished it from the simpler Scotch dialect +familiarly used by us of the younger generation, and yet more from +the purer English into which we were drilled at school. + +Andrew Drever generally spoke good English in the presence of +strangers, though he lapsed into the broad native speech in +friendly talk with the fisher folk. + +"I hae brought Captain Gordon wi' me to hae a taste o' the trout," +he said to his mother as we entered the room, where she bent over +the fire. + +"Gordon! Gordon! I dinna ken ony Gordon. What's the name o' his +ship?" + +"He belongs to the Lydia, the barque that cam' in this forenoon." + +"Aw, yes, I ken his ship, but I dinna ken the captain. Yes, yes, +he'll get a taste o' the troot, I warrant him that." + +Then turning to Mr. Gordon, she continued: "Ye were never in +Stromness afore, captain? No? Ye maun speak loud--it's terrible +dull o' hearing I am." + +The captain looked at Grace as she applied a strange, shell-like +horn to her right ear, and went closer to him. + +"The Lydia has a great many mice on board," said the captain. + +"Ay, you'll be takin' it out to America for the black folk, no +doubt. It's terrible hot in America, they say. But where got you +the ice? Not from Leith?" + +"He didna say ice," interposed Andrew. "The captain says his ship's +full o' mice." + +"Ah, mice! What for does he not get a cat?" + +"It's your own cat he was wanting to get," said Andrew. + +"My cat! my Baudrons! Troth, I dinna think I could part with +Baudrons. I'm terrible fond of Baudrons. Was there not a cat in +Stromness forbye mine?" + +Grace said this as she selected some of the largest trout and took +them away to clean. + +As I sat on a chair near the door, weary after my long tramp with +the heavy burden of silver and the dead hawk, and somewhat bruised +by my fight, Mr. Drever and the captain engaged in a long +conversation relating to the Orkneys. But during an interval of +their talk I ventured to draw the schoolmaster's attention to the +dead bird that I had brought for him. + +"We caught this bird over on the moor the day, sir," I said, "and I +brought it, thinking ye'd like to put it in one o' your glass +cases." + +"Man, Halcro, but that's a bonny specimen! A harrier, a hen +harrier, I declare! 'Deed but it will be a right fine addition to +our collection. And what way did ye kill it, d'ye say? Not wi' a +gun, surely?" + +"No; it was flying after a peewit, and the dog caught it. Willie +Hercus thrawed its neck." + +"Well, well, that's most amazing. How I wish I'd been with you. I'd +rather hae caught a harrier than a hundred sea trout." + +"Did ye get some good fishing at the Bush, sir?" I asked, changing +the subject. + +"Oh, ay, very good, very good; thanks to those hooks o' yours, +Halcro. I left a dozen trout wi' Jack Paterson's wife, and a dozen +wi' Mary Firth, and these I brought home. That's no sae bad, is +it?" + +Then, when he had satisfied his admiration of the dead hawk, he +took us into the schoolroom, to show the captain his cases of +stuffed birds and animals. Already he had determined that he would +mount the hawk in the attitude of swooping down upon a lapwing. + +It turned out that Captain Gordon was interested in birds, and knew +a good deal about their habits. I remember he told us of a swallow +which had once flown on board his ship when they were over a +thousand miles from any land, and of how the bird, exhausted by its +long flight, allowed him to hold it in his hand and feed it with +small insects taken from the decayed timbers of the ship. + +When we were seated at the table over our meal of fried trout, I +had to relate my experiences of the afternoon, which I did from +beginning to end, omitting only the circumstance of my fight with +Kinlay. I did not wish to say anything against a schoolmate, and an +account of the fight would have involved unpleasant explanations. +The two men listened with attention to my account of the sealing; +but they were incredulous when I told them about finding the hidden +silver. When the table was cleared, however, and I spread out the +contents of the seal's skin, Grace and they gathered round in +astonishment and eagerly examined the curiosities by the light of +the hanging lamp and the flaming peats. + +Captain Gordon weighed the bars of silver in an imaginary balance +in his hand, and gave his opinion as to their weight. The neck +rings and brooches also engaged his attention; but Andrew Drever +found greater interest in the ancient coins, which he carefully +examined, endeavouring to decipher the rough inscriptions upon +them. Most of the coins were foreign, but there were two which he +recognized as English--a Peter's penny of the tenth century, and an +older coin, which he told me was nearly a thousand years old, +bearing the name Aethelstan Rex. I cannot describe his delight in +looking over these little pieces of silver, or his satisfaction +when I offered to let him take charge of them until we determined +what should be done with the collection. + +When the interest in my treasures had somewhat abated, Mr. Drever +and the captain exchanged conjectures concerning the probable +origin of what we had discovered at Skaill Bay. They could come to +no issue by all their arguments, until I chanced to mention once +more the incident of the rat and its curious hiding place in the +skull. + +"A skull! a human skull!" exclaimed the dominie. "Why, that +explains it all. I can see it now. I can see it clearly!" + +"See what clearly?" inquired the captain. + +"This," said Andrew with a tone of conviction, "that what the lads +have discovered is nothing less than the grave of Kierfiold +Haffling, the great viking of Orkney." + +Then turning to the captain he continued: "You see, Captain Gordon, +it was the custom of the old sea kings to bury their dead heroes in +caves on the seashore, or to place the body in a boat and send it +drifting to sea on its long voyage. In either case it was usual to +dress the hero in full battle array, with helmet, sword, and +shield, to enable him to fight his way to Valhalla. These relics +here of Ericson's, and those that the other lads have gotten, are +just such things as would be buried in a viking's grave. The human +skull in their midst puts the matter beyond a doubt." + +"Curious, very curious!" murmured Captain Gordon. "But, sir, how do +you identify this supposed grave with that of the particular +warrior you have mentioned?" + +"Kierfiold Haffling? Oh, well, you see, captain, I may be making a +mistake; but, as it happens, I have seen a runic inscription over +at Stenness which expressly states that the Jarl Haffling was +buried with his earthly treasures to the northwest of the Maes +Howe. Now, the Bay of Skaill, where the lads made the discovery, is +exactly northwest of Stenness. The one thing that surprises me is +that the treasure was not found long since, for the inscription has +clearly indicated its position, and has further stated that 'happy +is he who discovers this great wealth.' It seems to me, however, +that no person ever thought of searching within the tide line." + +"But, after all," said the captain, "the wealth does not seem so +enormous. Why, I would hesitate to offer a ten-pound note for the +whole lot." + +"No, it is not indeed enormous, in a worldly sense, I admit. But +you must consider the importance of the discovery from what I may +call an archaeological point of view. You see the relics have a +historical value, Mr. Gordon." + +The schoolmaster then turned to me and said: + +"I think, Halcro, it's a pity that you lads didn't keep these +things all together, and bring them here as ye found them. What for +did ye divide them, as though they were so many blackberries? Ye +couldn't do anything with them--ye can't sell the things." + +"It was Tom Kinlay said he thought we should share them, sir. I +didn't think we were doing wrong." + +"Tom Kinlay kens nothing about such matters, Halcro. Just you get +the three other lads to bring each his share to me. I will look +after it and see that ye dinna lose anything. You see, although ye +found the treasure, you lads, it doesn't rightly belong to you. No +doubt ye'll be rewarded in some way for your find; but I must tell +you that the law will not let you keep it to yoursels. A person +finding treasure of this sort can have only a third part of its +value. Is that not so, Mr. Gordon?" + +"Yes," said the captain, "I fancy you're right, Mr. Drever. Of +course you refer to the law of treasure trove?" + +"Exactly," agreed the master. Then turning to me, he continued: + +"You see, Halcro, the Crown will claim a share of it, and the laird +gets another part. So ye'd better let the other lads ken about +this. Let them understand that they are breaking the law if they +keep their discovery a secret." + +"Yes, sir, I'll tell Rosson and Hercus before school time in the +morning." + +"And Kinlay?" said Mr. Drever, looking questioningly in my face. + +"Maybe you'd better speak to him yoursel, sir," I returned, almost +afraid to say that my companionship with Tom was at an end. + +"Hello! what's in the wind in that quarter? A quarrel, eh? I have +noticed that scratch on your cheek. Has that anything to do with +Kinlay?" + +I put my hand to my cheek and found that there was blood there. I +had received a scratch that I was before unconscious of. + +"Well, sir," I said, "Kinlay and I did have a bit of a fight over +at Bigging. There was a dispute over the sharing of the treasure." + +And then I thought of the small black stone that Tom had given me +as an equivalent of the bar of silver he had appropriated for +himself. It was not amongst the articles I had shown to the +schoolmaster and the captain. I thought that I had perhaps left it +lying on the gravestone; but searching my pockets, I at last found +it in one of them, where I had carelessly thrust it when the fight +began. I placed it on the table before Captain Gordon, who examined +it curiously. + +"What d'you make of this, sir?" asked he, turning to the dominie. +"The stone, if it is a stone at all, looks worthless; and yet I see +this ring round it is the only piece of metal that is neither +silver nor bronze, but gold." + +"Gold!" I exclaimed, bending over to look at it. + +"Yes, gold undoubtedly," said the captain. + +Grace Drever, who had said little during the examination of the +store of silver coins and ingots beyond asking questions as to the +manner of our finding it, and giving utterance to such ejaculations +as "Losh me!" and "Saw ever onybody the likes o' that?" now took +the black stone in her hand, and having pondered over it for a +while, said, holding up her finger to me: + +"Laddie, take care of this peerie {ii} thing. It will be of +more worth to thee than all the other gear together." + +I did not quite understand. The gold ring, I thought, could not +surely be worth more than that heap of silver. And yet Grace was so +serious in what she said that I could scarcely doubt her word. + +I was about to ask her for an explanation when we were interrupted +by the lifting of the latch of the door, and a rush of cold air +made the lamp light flicker. + + + +Chapter XI. My Sister Jessie. + + +We all turned to the door to see the cause of this interruption. It +was my sister Jessie who entered, and paused on the threshold as +she observed the presence of a stranger. She wore no covering on +her head, and her brown hair fell in natural curls on her shoulders +and about her neck. + +Captain Gordon rose politely and stood with his hands clasping the +back of his chair. Jessie raised her large dark eyes towards him +for a moment and looked confused. + +I think this was the first time in my life that I felt conscious +that my sister was more beautiful than any other Orkney girl I +knew, with the one exception of Thora Kinlay. She was at that time +nineteen years of age; she was tall and graceful, and very easy in +her movements. It is true she had no accomplishments, such as those +of Bailie Duke's daughters; but her education in Mr. Drever's +school had been sound, and she could keep house as well as any +fisherman's wife in Orkney, and row a boat as well as any lad. + +"Was it Halcro ye were seeking, Jessie?" asked old Grace, as though +my sister's presence there was a matter of as little concern to her +as the presence of the old German clock in the corner of the room. + +"Yea," said Jessie. "His dog came home without him, and we were +feared he had gone ower the cliffs, or that some other mischance +had happened him. + +"Where have ye been, Halcro, so late as ye are? You should have +been in your bed lang syne." + +As I went to the nail for my cap, the dominie introduced Captain +Gordon to Jessie. She greeted the sailor without ceremony--for in +Orkney we are not demonstrative in this particular. But the officer +held out his hand, and she took it with evident confusion. I think +she could not have failed to notice the difference between this +handsome young man and the gray-haired, toddy-drinking captains who +usually came into Stromness and hung about our home in the Anchor +Close. + +Captain Gordon did not sit down again. Perhaps the mention of the +name Ericson reminded him of his appointment with my father. But he +had not yet effected his purpose of securing Grace Drever's cat, +and he turned to the old woman, asking her again if she would part +with Baudrons. + +Grace, I do not doubt, had been impressed by the open-hearted +bearing of the captain, and I had noticed his kindly way of +addressing her, so that she might hear him without effort. But she +looked fondly at her cat as he sat before the crimson fire, licking +his lips after the fish bones he had eaten. Few mice or rats came +in his way, but--luck for Baudrons--there was an abundance of fish, +and the wild birds that Andrew brought home supplied him with many +a stolen banquet. + +There was one ruling passion in Baudrons, and that was his desire +to gain possession of the noisy jackdaw which so often disturbed +him with its steady shining eyes as they looked down at him from +behind the wicker bars of the cage. I believe Baudrons anticipated +the death of Peter as the crowning achievement of his life; and had +he been consulted in the matter of the Lydia he might have shown +some reluctance to enter the community of mice before he had +compassed the jackdaw's death. + +Grace was finally prevailed upon--much to the satisfaction of the +dominie--to give up her cat; and it was arranged that I should take +Baudrons out to the ship before school time on the following +morning. + +I was preparing to leave with Jessie and Captain Gordon, when Mrs. +Drever called me to her near the fire. + +"Come here, Halcro, laddie. Tak the peerie stone, see, and have a +care that ye dinna lose it;" and she handed to me the little black +stone. + +Mr. Drever was standing beside her, and I looked to him to ask if I +should take possession of this much of the viking's treasure. + +"Take it, take it, Halcro," he said. "There can be no harm in your +keeping it--at least until we find whether the authorities claim it +or not. I canna think that there would be any money value in it to +speak of. But you'd better be careful not to lose it at any rate." + +"But the thing is of no use to me, sir, is it?" I asked. + +"That's for you to find out, Halcro," said he. "You see it is a +sort of charm, or amulet. The old Scandinavian vikings used to +carry such things about with them, in the belief that by so doing +they would be protected from all personal harm. Our Jarl Haffling, +I suppose, wore this same amulet at his neck to ensure his safety +through the perils of the battle and the storm. No doubt he +believed that the possession of such a talisman gave him a charmed +existence. The sea could not drown him, sword could not wound him, +fortune favoured him, so long as he wore this little stone on his +breast." + +"And yet, sir, the Jarl Haffling came to his grave in the Bay of +Skaill," I said incredulously. + +"Ay, lad, so he did, so he did. But we must suppose that Odin, the +god of the Norsemen, had thought it time to reward him by calling +him off from his earthly battles to the Halls of Valhalla." + +Captain Gordon here approached us, and whilst he and Mr. Drever +were bidding each other goodnight, I stood looking into the fire, +meditating upon the strange thing my schoolmaster had told me. I +put the little stone securely into my breast pocket, feeling the +new responsibility I bore in being guarded by such a mysterious +influence; for I did not doubt that the protection given by my +talisman to the dead viking would now be extended to myself. + +Grace Drever had some instructions to give me regarding the taking +away of her cat, and when I left her my sister Jessie and Captain +Gordon were already walking together down the brae. I soon overtook +them. Jessie was questioning the captain about his ship. + +"Father was saying she's a very good ship," said she; "but I think +mysel' that her masts are ower high; and if ye were taken in one o' +the spring gales off the Orkneys you'd find that they are, Mr. +Gordon." + +"Did the pilot say that our masts are too high, Miss Ericson?" +asked the captain. + +"Nay, I was thinkin' it mysel'," said Jessie, "when I saw the +barque lying near the Holms. High masts are good, I will allow, for +carrying a heap o' sails, but our whaling ships never have masts so +high as yours." + +"Well, but you must understand," urged the sailor, "that we are not +bound for Davis Straits as your whalers are that went out today. In +the tropical seas, where there is often a calm lasting several +days, we need high masts and widespread sails, Miss Ericson." + +"Yes, I ken that well enough," argued Jessie. "But I have seen many +a good ship wrecked on the Black Craigs in the spring time, and I +can aye tell when a ship will come back safe to Stromness." + +Captain Gordon seemed to treat my sister's criticism of his ship +very lightly; but as events turned out, her warning was perhaps +justifiable. + +When we turned into the Anchor Close, we found my father standing +at the house door, smoking his pipe and looking out for us. + +"Where has the lad been?" he asked of Jessie before he greeted the +captain. + +"I found him up at the dominie's," she explained. + +And then she held out her hand to Mr. Gordon. + +"Fare ye well, Captain Gordon!" she said; "fare ye well, and a good +voyage to you!" + +And she glided past him into the house. + +"Was the lass speakin' wi' you, skipper?" asked my father. + +"Yes," said Gordon. "She was telling me that my barque's masts are +too high." + +"Ay! but it's no' sae often that she'll speak wi' a man. She's a +blate lass wi' maist folk. But what kens she about a vessel's +masts, I wonder?" + +My father, with his hands deep in his trousers pockets, then +stepped down to the jetty and looked through the darkness towards +the Lydia. + +"Ay, but I'm no that sure about it either, Skipper. The masts are +higher than ordinary. But ye'll come ben the house and smoke a +pipe, maybe?" + +"Thank you, pilot, I don't mind--just for a half hour before I go +out to the ship." + +My father thereupon led the way within, and placed an easy chair +for Mr. Gordon under the large hurricane lamp that hung from the +low ceiling, and cast its yellow light about the room. The skipper +glanced rapidly at the dark, old-fashioned furniture, at the +high-backed chairs, cushioned with the skins of seals, the strong +teak-wood sideboard, and the heavy round table, upon which stood a +quaint Dutch spirit bottle and a couple of horn drinking cups. He +looked at the several pictures of ships battling with terrible +storms, and at the pensive porcupine in its dusty glass case, and +then at the array of firearms and harpoons above the door of the +press bed. My dog Selta lay sound asleep upon a large polar-bear +skin before the fire. Had he approached her and looked up the wide +chimney he might have seen there the remains of our winter stock of +smoked geese and hams hanging in the midst of the "reek." + +"I suppose you have been sailing foreign a good deal in your time, +pilot?" said Mr. Gordon, when he was seated. + +He had got this notion, no doubt, from having observed the many +foreign ornaments and weapons about the room. + +"No," said my father, "I hae never been abroad. All my life has +been spent in the Mainland." + +"You mean Scotland--the mainland of Scotland?" said the captain, +not seeming to understand the meaning of the "Mainland," which I +may here explain is our local name for Pomona island--the largest +of the Orkneys. + +"No, I didna mean Scotland, skipper--though, to be sure, I hae been +over there many a time. We call this the Mainland, where we are +just now. Many folks make the same mistake about that. I mind of a +skipper named Jock Abernethy. Jock had a brig o' his ain, though he +kent naething aboot navigation, whatever. Weel, a lang while past +it is noo, he was takin' his brig frae Portree, in Skye, across to +the West Indies. His crew was nae better nor himsel'. Weel, when +they had been at sea twa or three months, Jock cam on deck ae +mornin', and, 'Donald,' says he to his mate, 'd'ye not see land +yonder to starboard?' + +"'Ay, sir,' says Donald; 'I'm just thinkin' it will be the West +Indies.' + +"'You're right there, Donald, the West Indies it is,' says Jock. +'See, yonder's the black folk sittin' waitin' for us!' and he +pointed to the cormorants perched on the rocks. + +"So the brig was hauled round, and when she was near inshore a +pilot boat cam oot to them. Jock hailed the pilot: 'What land is +that?' he cried. + +"'It's the Mainland!' sings out the pilot. + +"'What! the mainland o' America?' asks Jock, thinkin' he had missed +the Indies. + +"'No, ye duffer, the Mainland o' Orkney, to be sure,' says the +pilot. 'What other Mainland is there?'" + +As I sat on my low stool by the fire, my mother and Jessie being in +the inner room, I took the viking's charm from my pocket and +examined it. Captain Gordon had lighted his pipe, and when my +father's anecdote was finished he said: + +"Now, Halcro, my lad, lay aft here and let us have another look at +that magic stone of yours." + +And then, as I handed it to him, he proceeded to tell my father of +our discovery of the treasure. + +The two men discussed the probable value of what we had found, and +I felt some disappointment in their estimate of what the dominie +might be able to sell the relics for. + +"It is very good to find these things," said my father, blowing a +mist of tobacco smoke from amidst his beard. "But what use are +they, whatever? Nae use ava! The dominie might send them to the +museum folk at Edinburgh, and he would get mebbe a pickle pounds +for them--hardly enough for the lads to buy an auld boat wi'. I +wouldna be bothered wi' the things." + +"What was it the old woman was saying about this stone, though, +Halcro?" asked the captain. + +I repeated what Grace Drever told me--how the stone might protect +me from accident and from the monsters of the sea; from the kraken +and the kelpie, the warlocks and the wirracows; and how, having the +charm at my neck, I need never fear climbing a cliff or entering +upon the most dangerous adventure. + +"And do you believe all this, my lad?" asked Captain Gordon, taking +his pipe from his lips and addressing me. + +"Well," I returned, with an earnestness that must have shown that I +had not the smallest doubt upon the matter, "auld Grace Drever said +it was 'as true as death,' and the dominie did not deny that it was +'just possible.' What for should I not believe it? and what for +would the stone be bound with the gold ring and buried with the +other gear if it were not of some value beyond ordinary?" + +"Och! but I dinna doot there will be something in the stone," said +my father, who, at the mention of the dominie's belief, cast away +all questioning. "And it will not be the first time I have heard of +such cantrips." + +And he told us of a man named Willie Reoch, a fisherman, who was +preserved from the great Bore of Papa Westray in some such way. +Willie Reoch and three other fishers were away at the saith +fishing, and when their boat was driven by the wind near to the +Bore, they were drawn under by the whirling current and swamped. +Reoch had round his neck a charm which Bessie Millie, the witch, +had given to him, and so was the only one saved. + +"Na, na," continued my father, "I dinna doot there will be +something wondersome in the stone; and if any person would have +such a thing, who would it be but the Norseman?" + +Thus did I become convinced in my mind that, by the possession of +that little gold-encircled stone, I bore a charmed life. + +That night I lay with my precious talisman under my pillow. I +thought of the events of the afternoon, and, remembering my fight +with Tom Kinlay, attributed my victory over him to the influence +which that talisman, then in my pocket, had already begun to work. +I tried to imagine what kind of adventures had befallen the old +viking whose bones we had disturbed, and wondered if I should ever +encounter any similar perils. My opportunities of adventure were +fewer than his could have been; but I determined to give my full +trust to the mysterious aid in which Jarl Haffling had trusted in +the ancient days. Then I heard my father unmooring the boat from +the pier to take Captain Gordon out to his ship, and as the sound +of the oars in the rowlocks died away in the night I fell asleep. + + + +Chapter XII. A Tragedy And A Transportation. + + +I was up and about on the following morning when the town was yet +asleep. A cool, dewy mist hung in the air, and the rising sun +spread a rosy bloom on the eastern sky. When I arrived at Andrew +Drever's house there was no one moving within, but the door was not +locked, and quietly lifting the latch I went inside to find the cat +Baudrons, that I might take him out to the Lydia according to my +promise. + +I made so little noise that even the jackdaw did not seem to notice +my entrance, and I looked to his cage on the side table. To my +surprise the cage door was standing wide open and Peter was not +there. But presently, from the school room, I heard him chattering +and croaking. Following the sound of his voice I discovered the +bird perched high upon the dominie's desk looking down at Baudrons, +who crouched below him on the floor in the very act of preparing to +spring, his checks swelled out and his great tail lashing the dusty +floor. The door creaked as I opened it, and before I could +interfere the cat was upon the desk with Peter struggling in his +claws. Peter left a few black feathers in Baudron's possession, and +escaping, flew over to the table by the window, where he hopped +about with the greatest coolness, muttering, "William the +Conqueror, ten sixty-six"--words which he had gathered from our +history lessons in the school. Baudrons was after him in a moment. + +And now followed a terrible encounter. Instead of flying away the +bird deliberately met the cat and stabbed at him valiantly with his +long, heavy beak. They fell over on the floor together, and as they +struggled, amid much noise of growling and chattering and flapping +of wings, I flung my cap at them, trying to effect a separation. +Alas! before I could help the dominie's pet, the cat had the +uppermost of him, and ran off into the schoolmaster's private room +with the jackdaw held firmly in his teeth. + +I followed, and tried to make the animal loosen his grip of poor +Peter. He growled and spat as I approached him, and, fearing for +the jackdaw's life, I hammered with my fist upon the door of the +schoolmaster's press bed and called out: "Mr. Drever! Mr. Drever!" + +The dominie opened the bed door and sprang out to the rescue, his +red woollen nightcap upon his head. But his help was of little use. +We managed to get the cat away from his prey; but the bird was +fatally injured, blood was dripping from his neck as the good man +took him up in his hands caressingly. + +"Poor Peter, poor Peter!" said he; "who has done this thing?" + +"William the Conqueror," faintly uttered the bird. + +Then giving a few feeble croaks, he died in the schoolmaster's +hands. + +Andrew Drever's tender emotion grew into anger as he thought of the +murderer of his pet jackdaw, and he paced the room vowing vengeance +against his mother's cat, which had now escaped into comparative +security on the top of the kitchen cupboard. + +"Come down here, ye wretch!" he exclaimed, taking up a knife from +the table and holding it up threateningly. "Come down here, ye foul +fiend. How dare ye touch a feather o' my Peter's wing?" + +"Dinna kill the cat, sir," I interposed, reminding him that I was +there to take the animal aboard the Lydia. + +"Man, Halcro," said Andrew, sobering down, "I wish you had taken +him away yestreen. But come, let us catch the brute and away with +him, for he shall not bide in this house another hour." + +While Mr. Drever got an empty meal bag and held it open, I took a +long broom handle, and, standing on a chair, forced the cat to come +down. We chased the animal about the room until we cornered him, +when, putting the meal bag over his head, we made him a secure +prisoner. Tying up the bag with a string, and cutting some +breathing holes, I carried the captive cat away, leaving Andrew +Drever to grieve over the death of Peter the jackdaw. + +When I rowed out to the Lydia in my little boat, the mist had +melted away in the warmth of the sun. The gray town, with its blue +film of peat smoke slowly rising into the clear air, was reflected +upon the smooth water that lapped and lisped against the stone +piers. The bubbling track of my boat as she plunged and curtsied in +obedience to the oar strokes alone disturbed the calm surface of +the bay; but beyond the shelter of the harbour a brisk breeze +fluttered the Blue Peter at the barque's foremast, and I did not +fail to notice that it came from a favourable quarter. + +Father was already aboard when my boat scraped gently along the +ship's side, and he threw a rope end down to me to climb up by. + +Captain Gordon shook hands with me when I reached the quarterdeck. + +"Well, my lad," said he, "how d'ye think the Lydia looks for sea?" + +"She looks well and trim," I said, untying the mouth of the meal +bag; "but I notice she has a slight list to the port side." + +"A list to port!" said he looking forward. "Ha! that's unlucky. I +wish it had been to starboard; but as it's not much, the men may +not notice it. I fancy they'll see more of ill luck in this cat." + +When I opened the bag, Baudrons escaped with a good dusting of +flour on his fur. The cat looked wildly uneasy; he showed no signs +of that gentle docility which Grace Drever admired in him; but with +his cheeks puffed out and the loose skin about his nose and head +drawn up in uncanny wrinkles, he dashed across the deck once or +twice, lashing his tail from side to side like a savage brute, and +then, approaching the main hatchway, he made a great spring down +the hold, there to enjoy himself amongst the mice. + + + +Chapter XIII. In Which I Receive A Present. + + +While all was busy on deck, Captain Gordon took my father and me +below to his cabin. It was a neatly fitted-up room with many books +and pictures and maritime instruments that interested me. What most +attracted my attention was the captain's private collection of +fishing tackle and his armoury. There were some fine landing nets +and rods with bright brass rings and reels, and the artificial +flies were quite confusing in their number and variety. In the +armoury were several six shooters of different patterns, and many +double-barrelled guns and ornamented rifles. Captain Gordon allowed +me to handle some of these, and he explained their mechanism to me. + +One little fowling piece that I examined was so light and so +beautifully made that I returned to it again and again while the +captain and my father were talking together. It had a long steel +barrel with delicate engraving upon it, and a carved stock. I was +admiring the spring of the trigger work when Captain Gordon asked +me if I was a good shot. + +"I have never fired a gun in my life," I said. + +To my surprise he said, "You may have that gun in your hand if +you'll accept it." + +"O, but I canna think of taking it from you, captain!" I replied. + +"No, no, he'll shoot himself," objected my father; "and that will +not be so good as if he fell ower the cliffs. What will the lad +want wi' a gun?" + +"But I'd like to give it him, pilot. He'll soon learn how to use it +properly. + +"Won't you, Halcro? + +"And as for shooting himself, why, remember the magic stone, +pilot." + +Father muttered something to the effect that it was very good of +the captain; and I, who was overwhelmed with gratitude for his +kindness, feebly added my thanks. So Captain Gordon gave me the +fowling piece, together with a canister of gunpowder, and +sufficient swan shot, I thought, to kill all the wild fowl in +Orkney. + +As I was leaving the ship, joyous in the possession of these ample +materials for a whole summer of sport, and was bidding farewell to +Captain Gordon, the mate came towards us at the rail and touched +his hat. + +"Well, Marshall, d'you want anything sent ashore?" asked the +skipper. + +"Yes, sir," said Marshall, "I want to tell you that the men are +grumbling about this cat being brought aboard. You know how +superstitious they are. They want the lad to take it away with him +again." + +"Their objections are silly and childish, Marshall," said Mr. +Gordon. "They know that the ship is overrun with mice." + +"Yes, yes, sir; that's all very well. But they won't have the cat +aboard; and I think you'd better have the beast sent off." + +"The men are a pack of fools. What harm can the poor cat do them, +I'd like to know? They think it's unlucky, I suppose. Well, if they +will have it so, send a couple of them down the hold to capture the +animal. We must just bear the mice if the cat cannot remain. Look +smart, now, the boy's in a hurry to get to his school." + +Two men were then sent below to search for Baudrons, and I waited +for their return. In about a quarter of an hour one of them came to +say that the cat could not be found. + +"Very well, then, I can't keep the lad here any longer. We must +send the cat ashore with the pilot." + +Then the captain turned to me. + +"Goodbye, Halcro, my lad!" he said; "perhaps we'll be back in +Orkney on our homeward voyage. Maybe you'll be a pilot yourself by +that time, and bring us into port. Goodbye!" + +"Goodbye, Captain Gordon!" I murmured; and at that I slipped over +the taffrail and was soon sitting in my boat again, rowing back to +the town. + + + +Chapter XIV. Thora. + + +On my way to the school that morning I chanced to meet Hercus and +Rosson coming down one of the side alleys. + +"I say, lads," I began, "d'ye ken what Dominie Drever says about +the siller things we found at Skaill?" + +"No! what is it, Hal?" asked Hercus. + +"Why, he says that it was an old sea king's grave that we +discovered--one of those viking lads that we read about in the +history book." + +"You don't say so!" exclaimed Rosson. + +"Yes, and he says that we must take all the siller to him at the +school. There's some law about it all, and we canna keep the +things. We maun give them up." + +"Will ye give your share up, Hal?" asked Hercus. + +"I hae done so already," I said. "I left it wi' the dominie +yestreen." + +The lads looked at each other, but neither offered any objection. + +"Oh, very well!" said Rosson, "I'll bring mine down i' the +mornin'." + +"And I mine," echoed Hercus. + +During the first lesson in school it was noticed that Tom Kinlay +was absent. + +"Where is your brother this morning, Thora?" asked Mr. Drever. + +"Please, sir," said Thora, "I was to tell you that he's not to come +to the school again. They're buildin' a new boat for father at +Kirkwall, an' Tom's to be aboard of her." + +I thought it curious that Carver Kinlay should have a boat built in +Kirkwall, and not by our own local builder, Tammy Lang, of +Stromness. And what could this new boat be intended for? + +"Ay, Thora, but that's somewhat sudden!" said the dominie. "Why did +he not wait till the end o' the week?" + +Thora raised her blue eyes in my direction as though she would +appeal to me for an explanation. I did not then know, however, that +the true and immediate cause of Tom's absence was that he was not +in a fit condition to appear among his companions that morning on +account of the blow I had given him during our fight on the +previous evening. + +After school time Thora came to me and told me of her brother's +return from the sealing expedition; of how he rushed into the house +with his nose bleeding. And she explained that, as they sat at +their porridge in the morning, she had noticed the purple patches +under his eyes and the swelling of the bridge of his nose. + +I own that I felt extremely sorry for having inflicted these +injuries upon Tom, nor could I wholly hide from Thora the actual +cause of them. But when Mr. Drever asked about him Thora knew as +little of that cause as I did of the effect of my blow upon Tom's +nose. + +Notwithstanding the many little quarrels between her brother and +herself, Thora was too generous to be glad at his misfortune; but I +fancied there was a glance of satisfaction in her eyes when I said +to her: + +"It was a fight that we had, Thora. Tom and I quarrelled over some +old siller things we found across at Skaill when we were at the +sealing." + +"And which of ye beat the other, Halcro?" she asked, with almost a +boy's interest in a stand-up fight. "But I needna ask that, surely; +for I can see fine that Tom had the worst of it. If it werena for +that wee scratch on your cheek I wouldn't hae kenned ye had been in +a fight; but as for Tom, why, he's just a perfect sight to look +upon!" + +I need hardly say that my quarrel with Kinlay did in no wise alter +the friendship that existed between Thora and me. I had for her a +fondness which Tom's bullying and tyranny had no power to diminish. +Thora, indeed, was a girl whom none except those who were +influenced by envy could help admiring. She was the favourite of +all the school, and amongst us, her only enemy was her brother. My +own sympathy with her was all the greater because I knew that she +was so much the subject of his rule. I knew how he had forced her +to obey him, and to bend before all his humours and his whims, and +I was sorry for, whilst I was still unable to help her. In this +servitude we had been companions, in common with Rosson and Hercus; +and many a time had she come to me, with tears in her eyes, to tell +me of some new act of tyranny that she had suffered at her +brother's hands. + +On one such occasion I found her down at the shore side with little +Hilda Paterson. She had been going out on the bay to paddle about +in a small boat that Tom was in the habit of using. He saw the two +girls taking the oars, and straightway he ordered them ashore, +striking Thora on the cheek, himself taking possession of the boat. + +The two girls were standing in their disappointment on the beach +when I came up and heard their story. + +"Never mind, Thora," I said. "Come along wi' me. I'll get my +father's dinghy, and we three will go for a fine sail." + +I rowed them out beyond the Holms, for it was a bright calm day; +and when we got out into the breezy bay the mast was stepped, the +little lug sail hoisted, and then we went speeding over to Graemsay +island like a sheer water skimming the waves. Graemsay was our +imagined El Dorado, and on the voyage we fancied ourselves +encountering many surprising adventures. Shipwrecks and sea fights +were by no means uncommon events. We threw spars of wood over the +stern, and at the cry of "Man overboard!" the ship was put about to +pick him up. But while we easily overcame these imagined disasters, +there were some real dangers to encounter, and in the midst of our +merry talk and laughter we had ever to keep a careful watch on the +conduct of the boat, and to look out for the safest channels and +the sunken rocks. Hilda, who regarded the approach of an imagined +iceberg with complacency, became really timid when she noticed a +heavy squall coming towards us from the outer sea; and until the +sail had been lowered, and our bow hove round to meet the breeze +and let it pass, I believe she was not quite confident that I was +able to manage the boat in safety. + +Thora had often referred to this pleasant sail, and the few +primroses I had gathered for her on the banks of a rivulet running +down one of the Graemsay glens she had worn at her neck for many +days. Many a time when, from our place in the class, she had seen +through the window the red-sailed fishing boats battling with the +sudden gusts of wind in the rapid currents of the Sound, she would +look as though she would remind me of the way we had managed the +dinghy in the same dangerous flow. Thus did she begin to trust me, +as mariners trusted my father. + +If it had not been that during the lessons, in common with his +pupils, Andrew Drever took a secret pleasure in looking through the +little window across Stromness harbour, and, from his position at +the desk, watching the movements of the shipping, it is probable he +would have erected some curtain there. The window offered a +distraction to us all, for it often took our attention from our +tasks, and caused many interruptions in the course of the day. But, +as I have indicated, Andrew was not a severe taskmaster, and that, +perhaps, was one reason of our affection for him. + +This morning his glances were divided between the empty bird cage +at the door and the barque now making ready for sea. His poor +jackdaw with its chattering--a sound once so monotonous and +wearying, now most earnestly wished for--was gone, but the murderer +of his pet, the brutal Baudrons, was now closely stowed away under +the main hatches of the Lydia, and the dominie had his revenge. + +There was at least one other pair of eyes watching the trim barque, +as her unfurled canvas caught the breeze and she sped away like a +graceful gull. To my sister Jessie, whom, after school, I found +sitting by the little pier at the Anchor Close, the vessel seemed +to be carrying away one who had suddenly awakened in her a new +interest in life. Captain Gordon had spoken but little with her, he +was still but a stranger, but so seldom did she have speech with +any man, that this meeting with one so brave and handsome as the +captain of the Lydia naturally made a deep impression upon her. + +I should not, however, have remarked anything unusual in +Jessie--except perhaps that she was less active with her +fingers--had not my mother, who came out to wash some dishes in the +sea, taken notice of my sister's vacant eyes. + +"One would fancy, Jessie," said my mother--"one would fancy that +there was no wind out yonder that you send so many sighs to fill +the captain's sails. What like a man is he?" + +"Dinna ask such questions, mother," said Jessie. "I saw him only in +the gloaming. His voice was like the sighing of the waves and his +eyes were like the seal's. Ah! he'll not come back again to +Stromness, never again;" and as Jessie gave another sigh the ship +disappeared behind the Ness. + +For long afterwards Jessie would speak of Captain Gordon, and I +noticed with what concern she heard each reference to him, made by +either myself or my father. Even the gun which the captain had +given me was some sort of a solace to her, for whenever I was +cleaning the weapon she would take it in her hands and admire the +elegant workmanship displayed in the ornamented stock and the +bright steel barrel, and then lay it down with a gentle sigh, and I +knew she was thinking of Mr. Gordon. + + + +Chapter XV. In Which The Viking's Amulet Is Proved. + + +I availed myself of an early opportunity of trying my new gun. One +afternoon I found Robbie Rosson down at the shore side. He was +standing near to my boat, which was moored to the jetty, and +looking as though he would give anything for a sail in her. + +"Are ye going for a sail today, Hal?" he asked meekly. + +"Ay, I'll go, if you'll come with me, Robbie," I agreed. "If ye +like we'll take a run o'er to Hoy Head. I'll bring my gun, and +we'll have a shot at the geese." + +Robbie's face brightened up at the prospect, and I went indoors to +fetch the gun and a supply of ammunition; also my climbing ropes, +in case we needed them. + +We were soon in the boat. Robbie took the oars and rowed out until +we could hoist the little sail, and then we rounded the Ness and +got out into Hoy Sound. The wind was westward, and the current in +our favour, so that we had a grand sail across the sound to the +Kame of Hoy--Robbie at the tiller, and I sitting near him on the +windward gunwale. How our boat danced along and curtsied on the +green curling waves! How her bows lifted and fell and sent a belt +of foam alongside and away behind us in a bubbling track! O, it was +glorious, that sail across to Hoy! Sitting there in the sunshine, +the fresh breeze blowing in our faces, we had nothing to do but +tend the helm and keep the boat well to the wind, and away we sped. + +Our enjoyment of the sail was so full that we spoke but little. We +talked of Tom Kinlay's work on his father's new boat, and made +surmises as to the nature of the trade or traffic it was to be +engaged in; but whether the boat was to be sent to the saith +fishing, or to be used as a tender to the ships, we could not tell. + +There was one thing that Robbie wanted to set his mind easy about, +and that was the viking's amulet. In common with all the lads in +the school, he had heard of the wonderful powers attributed to this +little stone; and, like them, he was thoroughly credulous of its +ability to preserve me from personal harm, vet anxious as I was +myself to put it to the proof. + +"I'd like fine if we could have a chance of adventure today," he +said, taking the stone in his hand as it hung by a cord from my +neck. "How can we be sure that the thing will be the saving of you, +if ye dinna put it to the trial?" + +"We'll see, we'll see," I said. "But there's no use seeking danger +for the sake of trying the effects of the charm. Maybe we'll find +the danger without seeking it, however, and then we'll have the +proof." + +As we sailed swiftly under the high cliffs of Hoy Head we watched +the mad plunging of the landward-rushing waves, and saw them hurl +themselves at the great rocks, leaping in clouds of spray. What a +rattle and a roar each wave made on the pebbles of the beach as it +drew back before returning to the charge! And in the midst of the +foam the sea birds circled and screamed in their flight. + +We had some difficulty in finding a safe landing place among the +surge; but at last we steered the boat into the quiet Bay of the +Stairs, and soon drove her nose into the stony beach and drew her +well up out of the water, fastening her painter round a large rock. + +Safely landed, Robbie shouldered the climbing ropes and I took the +gun, having a stock of dry powder and shot in my pockets. We +climbed over some large boulders into the next creek, where, as we +had expected, we found a multitude of noisy sea birds, some +floating on the clear pools on the shore; others running about +among the sea-worn stones or seeking food with busy beaks in the +bright green and crimson weeds that lay in patches among the +pebbles. The ledges of the cliffs were crowded with gulls, whose +plumage was as snowy as the very foam that the high waves scattered +over their ranks. In a little cove at the extremity of the bay were +scores of kittiwakes, chattering over some dead fish thrown up by +the sea. + +Here was a rare hunting ground for two eager young sportsmen! Close +to us a couple of turnstones, smart little birds in brown, with +bright-red legs and beaks, were busy on a heap of kelp. I levelled +my gun at them, and was about to fire, when Robbie stayed my hand +and pointed to a large cormorant sheltered in a deep niche of the +cliff and looking darker even than the dark rock over its head. I +altered the direction of my aim, keeping well out of the bird's +sight, with my back against a wall of granite. + +It was well for me that I did so, for without this support in the +rear I should surely have fallen. When I drew the trigger I +received a fearful blow in the chest from the butt of the gun and a +thump on the back from the rock. The report of the gun sounded loud +through the chasms, and the echo was repeated along the line of the +cliffs and far over among the glens, as though a whole volley of +musketry had been fired. Birds flew about in all directions, +uttering wild cries of warning to each other. The air was crowded +with flying gulls. + +When the smoke cleared away we looked for our cormorant, and there +he was, perched on the same bald point of rock, coolly preening his +black feathers. Then, as we ran up towards him, he stretched forth +his long neck, raised his wings, and sped away across the sea. +Either I had missed my shot, or the bird's tough skin had felt no +sensible touch. And where now were all our birds? Far out over the +gray sea they flew, secure from the range of our gun. + +We waited long for their return, but only an occasional kittiwake +soared high above us, and some, bolder than the rest, presently +returned to their brooding places on the cliffs. We could not think +of firing while the gulls were on the wing, they swept past us so +quickly. We therefore scrambled over some abutting rocks into a +further bay, and still onward along the rough beach as far as the +stack of Hellia--a great steep rock standing out in the sea under +the frowning height of St. John's Head--and here we found as large +a number of birds as we had formerly seen. + +We had arranged to take our shots turn about, and now it was +Robbie's turn. Having charged the gun, we stood quiet for a time, +patiently awaiting our chance. A carrion crow flew to a rock +between us and the water's edge. Robbie was ready. He took a +deliberate and steady aim and fired. A feather dropped from the +bird as it took flight. + +"Man, Hal, I think that hit him!" exclaimed Robbie, running up to +secure the feather. + +"Ay," said I. "But I'm thinking we both want some practice, Robbie. +We'll have no birds today, I reckon. Let's put up some cock-shy on +yon rock and fire at it. There's no use shooting at the birds. +We'll hit them, maybe; but we'll not kill anything, I'm feared." + +So we erected a tall stone on the top of a rock, and, standing some +paces from it, practised firing at the object until we could hit +it, perhaps, once out of half a dozen tries. But we soon got tired +of this play, and I proposed climbing up to the top of the cliffs, +for all the birds seemed to be flying high. + +Walking along to a broken cleft of the headland, where a burn came +down from the hills through a long gorge, we turned up the ravine +and mounted the heights. No sooner were we up there, however, than +we found that the birds were all below us on the beach. + +We were making our way up the ravine, Robbie carrying the climbing lines +and I the loaded gun, when a large sea bird with wide-sweeping wings +flew just over our heads. Without thinking of hitting him, but simply +wishing to empty the gun of its charge in case of accident, I took aim +and fired. The great bird faltered in its flight, one of its wings +seemed to lose all power, and then with a circling swoop he came down +with a thud upon a grassy knoll beside the stream. + +It was a fine solan goose. He was quite dead when we reached him, +for I had shot him under the right wing. + +My good fortune excited Robbie to such a degree that he would not +be satisfied without again trying a shot. So we loaded the gun once +more, and about half a mile further up the glen he had the luck to +knock over a small rabbit. This was the extent of our sport. + +To climb up this wild and desolate glen was no easy matter, for I +must tell you that St. John's Head, the summit of which we had to +cross before getting back to our boat (for the tide would not allow +of our return by the beach), stood above the sea to a height +considerably over a thousand feet. The goose and our climbing ropes +were also tiring burdens, and we had many times to take rest beside +the stream and quench our thirst in its cool water. Some distance +above the sea the ground became smoother, and broken rocks gave +place to short heather, which was softer for our bare feet. + +When at last we reached the top of the Head, and our trouble was +over, we sat down on the breezy front of the hill and looked far +away across the restless water, where the sea line melted into the +blue haze of the Scotch coast. Nearer to us the water itself was +blue, then pale green with bands of purple above beds of weed, and +over all the white waves curled into foaming crests, silent to us +as snow. Southward, along the cliffs, a high steeple rock--the Old +Man of Hoy--stood like a sentinel guarding the coast, his head on a +level with the cliff behind him; and rounding Rora Head were the +brown sails of a few fishing craft making for Stromness. + +"Come, Robbie," I said, when we had feasted our eyes on this scene. +"Come, we must be getting home. The tide has turned this long while +past, and we'll be hungry before we're back to Stromness." + +We were, indeed, already somewhat hungry, and regretted we had not +brought food with us instead of the climbing ropes, which had not +so far been required. To think of getting anything to eat where we +were was needless, for we were on the most desolate part of the Hoy +island, and not a house was there for miles away. + +The walk back along the ridge of the cliffs was easy, the ground +sloping downward in our favour. About a mile further on we came to +the cliffs below which our boat was moored. But, alas! we had been +sadly out in our reckoning. The boat was afloat, deep down there, +tugging desperately at her rope and grinding her sides against a +rock. To get down to her was now a problem. From our high position +we could see how the tide had risen well above the rocks by which +we had climbed from one bay to the other, and our only course was +to descend by the steep precipice surrounding the creek wherein the +boat was moored. There was no possible way down except by the use +of the ropes, and this was an extremely difficult and dangerous +undertaking, for the cliffs rose fully three hundred feet in +height, and our lines, of which we had two, would scarcely, when +joined together, measure more than half that length. For we used +them for the cliffs of Pomona, which are not in any place so high +as those of Hoy. + +We had a long consultation first, as to which of us should make the +descent. Robbie offered to go down, as he was the lighter weight +and I the stronger for holding the upper end of the rope. Yet I was +a little afraid of letting him undertake so difficult an adventure, +being conscious that he had had less practice at cliff climbing +than I. + +"Robbie," I said, "let me go down. You can hold the line--" and +then suddenly remembering my magic stone, I added, "and remember, +Robbie, that I have this little stone to keep me from harm." + +At once Robbie cast away all fear and became quite confident. + +"What fools we were not to think of that!" he exclaimed. "Come +away, let us tie the lines together, and you'll go down as safe as +a bird, Hal. Hooray! we have a chance of testing the worth of the +stone after all!" + +Robbie's confidence gave me courage--or was it the remembrance of +the viking's charm that made me bold? However it be, I now thought +no more of going down this unfamiliar precipice than if it had been +one of those that were so well known to me on the Mainland. + +Having tied the two ropes securely together, we looked for a +convenient point at which to make the descent. We went out to the +furthest part of the embayed cliff, and looking over to the +opposite precipice saw a suitable spot less steep than the rest, +and where also, some distance below the brink, there was a +projecting pinnacle of rock which might serve as a pillar round +which to secure the rope. + +We took the climbing line and cast one end of it over the cliff, +letting it fall as far down as the pinnacle I have mentioned. +Robbie then held the rope, with the help of a boulder of rock round +which he secured it, and I proceeded to lower myself down the +steep. It was easy work getting to the pinnacle; but this was only +the beginning. I whistled up to Robbie when I had gained a sure +footing, and he let down the rest of the rope. And now I had to +manage everything else unaided, for Robbie could not, with what +contrivances he had on the top of the cliff, have been of any +further help. Before I had cast the rope over the point of rock, he +was across at the far side of the embayment, where he could watch +my progress and give me directions. + +Having passed the line over the rock pillar and allowed the two +ends to hang down in equal lengths, I climbed over, and with +considerable difficulty caught hold of the double rope, by which I +let myself slowly and cautiously down, now holding to the face of +the rocks with hand and foot, now swarming down by the ropes alone, +until a cry from Robbie warned me that I was coming to the end of +the lines. Fortunately I was able to reach a ragged point where I +could once more get a firm foothold. + +Resting there, I reflected that I was not yet halfway down the +precipice; and now I had to think of how I should manage to haul +the rope down and secure it to another projecting rock. The only +suitable point I could see was some yards away from me to the right +side, and I had to climb upward again before I could find a shelf +by which to approach it. After a tedious attempt--during which my +magic stone came very near to proving its power--I at last reached +the desired place. A gull fluttered away with a wild cry as with +bleeding fingers I held on to the ledge of rock; and there I found, +nestling upon their bed of moss and weeds, a pair of woolly little +chicks which stared strangely at my intrusion. + +My safety, perhaps even my life, depended upon my getting astride +of that small rocky point where the young gulls sat. In my +extremity I took hold of one of the chicks, intending to throw it +down the cliffs; but the mother bird flew towards me with such +piteous cries that even in my danger I could not be so cruel, so I +removed the little ones to a crevice close at hand and seated +myself upon their nest, thankful of the refuge it afforded. And now +I heard a shrill whistle from Robbie Rosson, by which I understood +that, seeing my comparative safety, he was going to find some place +where he could get down to the beach, there to wait until I should +bring the boat round for him. + +But I must say that I thought my chances of ever getting round to +him were very small. I was not by any means so safe as he seemed to +think, for being once seated on that shelf of the cliff I found +that my next difficulty would be to turn round with my face to the +rock in order to continue the perilous descent. + +I had now to get my rope down from the height above me. First then +I tied one end of the line round my body so that the rope might not +fall, and, allowing the other end to hang slack, began to haul +away. Things went well for a few moments, and the rope answered to +every pull I gave. But, alas! there came a check. I had let loose +the wrong end, and the knot by which we had connected the two lines +had caught in some crevice. Try as I might I could not loosen it; +yet I was not certain that its hold was firm enough for me to +venture climbing up again by the portion of the rope that I held in +my grasp. + +My thoughts were fearful. Here was I, stranded on this ledge of +rock, midway up the face of a steep precipice, the sea roaring far +beneath me, and with no obvious means of escape either above or +below. + +My boat looked small away deep down there as she tugged at her +mooring line and tossed wildly about in the rising tide. O, how I +wished that I was seated at her helm, and in sight of my beloved +Stromness! + +Instinctively I felt for my magic stone. It hung safely under my +knitted shirt. I trusted in the security it gave me, and my courage +was renewed. The way out of my predicament was so hopeless, my +danger so great, that I solemnly resolved, should I ever reach home +again, to attribute my escape from this peril to the intervention +of the viking's talisman. + +Long and wearily I waited, contemplating the difficulties of my +situation, and in the end I almost determined to hazard the further +descent without the help of the rope, trusting merely to the skill +of my hands and feet. + +My first endeavour was to get back along the shelf of rock until +the rope should hang perpendicularly. Accordingly I restored the +young seagulls to their nest, turned myself round with my face to +the cliff, and, with much difficulty, retraced my way for some +distance. I was in a half-creeping position, holding by the right +hand to niches of the cliff, when, a sharp corner of stone digging +into my knee, I stumbled, and would surely have fallen far down +upon the rocks of the beach, had I not still held firmly to the +rope. + +The sudden jerking, however, did one good thing; it loosened the +knot from the place where it had been held in the rock above, and +the rope itself came down by its own weight until it hung from my +waist where I had tied it. + +The further descent was now performed with comparative ease, and in +the manner I had at first intended. I hung the rope at half its +length over a point of rock, seeing now that it had a free run, and +allowing the two ends to fall. Then I swarmed down the double line +until I found another suitable place for hanging the rope by. Thus +making the descent by repeated stages, I stepped at last upon the +level rocks of the beach, sincerely thankful for my escape from so +great peril. + +When I scrambled over the rocks towards the boat I found she was +floating in full three fathoms of water, so that my only course was +to swim out to her. This, however, was a small matter after what I +had gone through. I stripped myself on one of the outlying rocks, +and plunging into the water soon reached the boat and clambered +over the stern. I was obliged to "slip the anchor," for the painter +was tied deep below the water and had to be sacrificed. But I did +not take long to recover my clothes and dress myself, and then I +took to the oars with a will and rowed along the shore in search of +Robbie. + +Steep and frowning looked the great cliff that I had come down. I +regarded it with a new interest, and felt some sense of pride and +satisfaction in my narrow escape from so serious a danger. Again I +took my viking's stone in my fingers, and my faith in it was +complete. + +Robbie was patiently waiting for me seated on one of the outer +rocks in a further bay. His face brightened as he saw me rounding +the point. + +"Man, Ericson," he exclaimed joyfully, "I'm real glad to see ye +again! I e'en thought ye'd met wi' some mischance. I was terribly +feared!" + +"Feared, were you? Well, so was I; but I managed all right, you +see, thanks to the viking's charm." + +Robbie brought on board the gun, with his rabbit and the dead +gannet. And then we rowed back to Stromness. It was long past +sundown when we rounded the Ness point, and the beacon lights were +streaming over the bay, but we reached the little quay at the end +of the Anchor Close without any mishap. Both of us were very hungry +after our sport. + +On that evening, I remember, I spent a very happy time at the home +fireside. My uncle Mansie was there, with my father, and my mother, +and Jessie. It was almost the first occasion on which I was +permitted to join in the conversation with my elders. But the +evening has ever since had a pathetic interest in my memory; for, +as it turned out, it was the very last time that our family sat +together in an unbroken circle. + +"Ye're gettin' to be quite a good boatman, Hal, to gang all that +way under sail," said Mansie; and then he turned to my father, +saying, "When are we to hae the lad aboard the Curlew, Sandy?" + +"Weel," replied my father, putting his great brown hand with +affection upon my shoulder, "I hae been thinkin' it was about time +he joined us. The lad has been at the school lang enough, mebbe. + +"Are ye at the head o' the class yet, Halcro?" + +"Nay, father, he's no that yet," interposed Jessie, "for Thora is +aye before him." + +"Thora can read better than I can," I said, "and she kens mair +geography. She's better at the Latin, too; but the dominie says I'm +the best at history, and writin', and accounts." + +"Ye'll no need very muckle Latin to be a pilot, however," said my +father. "But it's a pity ye're not better at the geography. How +many islands have we in Orkney? Can you tell me that?" + +"Seventy-two--twenty-eight islands and forty-four holms." + +"And can ye name them all, the twenty-eight islands?" + +"Yes, the dominie taught us them last Martinmas;" and I proceeded +to name them, from the North Ronaldsay down to the Muckle Skerry of +Pentland. + +"Very good!" said my father; "and d'ye ken ony thing about the +sounds? Where's the Sound o' Rapness?" + +"There's a puzzle for ye, Hal," said my mother. + +"Ah! I warrant the laddie kens it," said Mansie. + +"Is it not between Westray and Fara?" I ventured doubtfully. + +"Right again!" exclaimed Mansie, slapping his knee. "Oh! we'll mak' +a pilot o' the lad yet." + +"Ay," said my father, "we maun hae him aboard the first fine day." + +"Dear me, father," objected my mother, "d'ye really think it wise +to tak' the laddie frae the school, an' him gettin' on sae weel wi' +the dominie?" + +"Tut, goodwife," said he, "the laddie maun begin to learn the +piloting some time; an' the sooner the better, say I. + +"Hand me over the tobacco jar, Jessie." + + + +Chapter XVI. Wherein I Go A-Fishing. + + +A few days after the sailing of the Lydia the weather broke. The +morning mist lay heavy on the islands, and the lofty Ward Hill of +Hoy hid his crown in the lowering clouds; the Bay of Stromness was +glassy calm. High above the rain goose shrieked its melancholy cry, +and the sea mews and sheldrakes, even the shear waters and bonxies, +flew landward to the shelter of the cliffs. On the upland meadows +the cows sniffed the moist air and refused to eat, and the young +lambs sought the protection of their parents' side. + +My sister Jessie, with evident thought of Captain Gordon, noticed +these signs of approaching storms. + +But if to her they portended ill, to me they meant good sport; for +what could be more favourable to a day's fishing than a sprinkle of +rain and a good westerly wind? + +Telling my mother one Saturday morning that I would stay over +Sunday at my uncle Mansie's farm at Lyndardy, I started off with my +fishing tackle and my dog, with the intention of catching a few +trout in the stream I had so strongly recommended to the +schoolmaster. + +The dog was certainly no necessary companion for a fishing +excursion; but Selta had learned to follow me on such occasions +without interfering with my sport, and I got into the way of +talking with her, and found comfort in her dumb companionship. + +Passing through the hamlet of Howe, I reached the Bush at a point +where that wide stream runs into Scapa Flow by the Bay of Ireland. +This, I had found, was a favourite resting place for sea trout +before running into the lochs, and here I enjoyed good sport for +the whole morning. + +I fished upstream--as I think a true angler should do--for though, +as Andrew Drever held, fishing downward was the easier method of +the two, especially with the wind at his back, yet I preferred my +own way, just as I preferred fishing with artificial fly to fishing +with bait, merely because it was more difficult and more surely +exercised my skill. + +The third cast I made filled me with an enthusiasm I long had +known. A sudden jerk at the line and a fish was hooked. I paid out +more line as the trout darted off, then drew in as it slackened +again. Once more, as the fish felt the strain, he plunged off. I +saw him jump, and his scales flashed in the gray light like a +bright blade of steel, a loop of line gathering round him. At +length the prize was taken, and a fine sea trout was brought +exhausted to the bank. + +Thus I fished, now wading to the knees in the rapid stream, now +sitting on a large stone readjusting my flies. Before noon the rain +fell heavily, but by the time that I reached the Bridge of Waithe +my basket was full, and I walked along the road as far as Clouston, +the dog following in the wet with drooping, draggling tail, and +ears dripping with the rain. + +My clothes were wet through and I was cold, and, wishing for +shelter and a bite of food, I turned across the heath to Jack +Paterson's croft. I opened the door of the little cottage without +knocking, and found Jack and his wife Jean at home, with their +family of six waiting for their midday meal. Hilda, the eldest +girl, was arranging some wooden dishes on the table ready for the +potatoes. + +Poor as the place was, I received a true and simple welcome, and I +was glad of the shelter and the warmth, for the wind was whistling +round the eaves and the heavy rain pelting against the little +window. + +Jack Paterson was a poor crofter, who added to his scanty means by +going to the deep-sea fishing, or, out of the fishing season, by +burning kelp. These occupations, combined with the produce of his +croft, made up, I am afraid, a very poor living. The cottage was +small, so small that I always wondered how so large a family could +live in its one little room with any comfort. In the middle of the +clay floor, on a stone slab, was a large peat fire, the smoke of +which escaped by a hole in the roof, where the rain came through. +By the side of the fire were two large high-backed chairs entirely +wisped round with straw, so that none of the framework could be +seen. In a great three-legged pot, which hung over the flaming +peats by a chain from the bare rafters, some potatoes were boiling, +and whilst they were cooking Jean Paterson cleaned and fried some +of my fish, which came, I think, as a welcome addition to the +family's meal. + +Jack Paterson was a very tall, muscular man, with a long red beard +and soft brown eyes. His hands were the largest I have ever seen; +but the right one wanted a finger. This, I believe, was the only +exception that one could make in saying that Jack was absolutely +perfect in his great manhood. He would have made a splendid +man-o'-war's man, and the press gang had more than once tried to +secure him. + +Not till long afterwards, when, as pilots, we were out at sea +together one clear starlight night, did he tell me how his finger +was lost. It happened at a time when the press gang were more than +usually busy in Orkney pressing men for a frigate that lay in +Stromness harbour. The blue jackets had had their eyes upon Jack +Paterson, but Jack, who was just about to be married to Jean Nicol, +did not intend being caught; and he said to Jean one day that +rather than enter the navy, he would cut one of his fingers off, +and so make himself unfit for service. + +One dark night he was walking along one of the country lanes with +his sweetheart when a body of tars fell upon him, and, after a +sharp fight, carried him off to an old stable in the town that +served as a temporary lockup. Very early the next morning Jean +Nicol knocked gently at the stable door. + +"Are ye there, Jack?" said she. + +"Yes," replied Jack; and his warders, who were two foretop men, +allowed him to speak with her through the keyhole. + +"I've brought your release," said Jean. "Put your hand under the +door and I'll give it to you." + +Jack put his right hand through under the door, and felt something +cold placed across his forefinger. Then there was a knock as of a +mallet upon a chisel, and with a cry of anguish he drew in his hand +streaming with blood. Jean had cut off his finger. Now, a man with +a lame hand is of small account in the service, and so when the +lieutenant came and saw Jack's condition he released him, with a +round curse at having lost so fine a man, and the frigate sailed +away. + +Jean got her punishment, however, and so did Paterson. Soon after +their marriage, and when Jack's hand was healed, he one day met a +man-o'-war's man who belonged to Stromness, and had been among the +pressed men. Jack heard from him of the cruise of the frigate, and +of a fight with the enemy, and a great store of prize money that +every man had shared. That prize money was a sore lump in Jack's +throat ever afterwards. + +While I was talking with Paterson in his cottage, my dog sat +comfortably before the warm fire, the steam rising from her wet +hair. She did not appear to like leaving the cosy place; but when +we had finished the meal, and I was once more dry and warm, I +started off again in the pouring rain and the rising wind. + +I did not wish to continue my fishing in such boisterous weather, +but contemplated a hasty walk over to my uncle's farm. Our way lay +westward in the face of the wind. The walk over the wet peat moss +was difficult and tiring, and when I reached the Ring of Brogar I +was glad to avail myself of the shelter afforded by the giant Druid +stones that stand and wait by the loch of Stenness. + +All was desolation around: not a house was to be seen, nor any +living thing but my dog and a few wild birds that flew quickly +past. The only sounds were the beating of the rain and the distant +roar of the Atlantic waves upon the coast. + +A slight lull in the tempest urged me on, and soon I had left far +behind me those mysterious old stones, that seemed through the +misty rain to waken into life. Like a procession of priests they +appeared to pass with bent heads and slow and stately pace along +the margin of the great stretch of water. + +Crossing the swollen burn which connects the lochs of Cluny and +Stenness, and thinking only of my destination, I was called back by +a sharp bark from my dog. I turned, and found her encountering a +large otter that had been slipping down to the stream. Now, I had +the angler's hatred of otters, which abounded in these waters. Many +a time had I seen a prime fish lying dead on the banks with a +single bite taken out of the shoulder, and I looked upon the otter +as the common poacher of the neighbourhood. I went to the help of +Selta, for the dog was crouched down ready to spring upon the otter +when it should run out from behind the large stone where it had +retreated. + +I cautiously removed the stone, and the animal slipped downward +towards the water. + +"Now, now, Selta!" I exclaimed; and the dog made a rush at its +prey. + +The otter, thus intercepted, showed fight. Selta made a snap at its +back, and raised her forepaw to hold her enemy down. The otter +caught the foot in its mouth, and I heard the bones crunch in the +vicious bite. Selta lost hold and fell over the otter's back; her +foot was released; but the otter, bringing up its head between the +dog's front legs, grasped Selta's throat with its sharp teeth. With +a piteous whine the dog tried to spring away, but her leg was too +much broken to support her, and the two animals rolled over on the +flat stone, the otter uppermost, still with its teeth in the dog's +throat. + +And now I saw my first chance of interfering. I grasped the otter +by the back, and tried to drag it away. I had no boots on my feet, +or I might have used them. All I could do was to plant my foot on +the animal's back, and stand with all my weight upon it. The otter +thereat turned savagely upon me, and, unfortunately for myself, not +even the possession of the viking's charm could save me from those +sharp teeth. + +With a fierce snarl the otter took hold of the back of my ankle, +its teeth penetrating the skin and tearing it over. I had sense to +bend down and grasp the animal with my hands and rapidly snap its +backbone, finishing my work by dashing a heavy stone upon its head. +Forgetting my own hurt, I then turned to look after my dog. + +Selta was lying upon the wet stone, the blood trickling from her +throbbing neck. I knelt down beside my faithful companion, and took +the injured foot in my hand. The dog had strength only to raise her +head in recognition, with a mournful look in her pleading eyes. + +"My poor doggie!" I moaned, utterly cast down; and my falling tears +were mingled with Selta's blood. The dog was dead. + + + +Chapter XVII. How The Golden Rule Was Kept. + + +My first thought on leaving the scene of this combat was to let the +dead otter lie where it had fallen; but I remembered that young +Thora Kinlay had once in my hearing expressed a wish to have an +otter's skin, of which to make a pair of gloves, and I determined +to make use of the animal I had killed. But I could not carry both +the otter and my poor Selta, whom I had already determined to lay +to rest in the sea, and my only course was to strip the otter of +its skin then and there. This I did with help of my pocketknife, +and in spite of the heavy rain that poured in streams down my back. + +You will imagine the physical discomforts of my further journey. +The ground was marshy and sodden, and I sank deep into it at every +step I took. My clothing was wet through and through, and my dog, +which I carried over my shoulder, was a burden so heavy and +inconvenient that only my love for my late companion and respect +for her lifeless body gave me sufficient strength to bear it for so +great a distance. And then the rain fell incessantly, and the wind +was full in my face. + +Carver Kinlay's farm of Crua Breck was on my way to my uncle's, and +I thought I would stay there a few moments as I passed, to leave +the otter skin for Thora, and maybe get shelter and a drink of warm +milk. But not till I was almost at the door did I remember about my +recent fight with Tom. + +In its exposed position on the bleak hillside the farmstead felt +the full force of the gale as it beat in fury against the front of +the house. The rain and the salt spray from the sea pelted upon the +windows, and laid low all Thora's flowers in the little garden. The +large fuchsia bush, which in summertime dangled its drooping +blossoms in rich profusion, seemed the only plant capable of +withstanding the rough blast; and the great gaunt jaws of the +Greenland whale, that formed an archway at the gate, trembled in +the tempest. + +I went up to the door, and opening it stood within the shelter of +the porch for a while, and heard someone reading aloud. Soon I +gathered courage enough to approach the inner door, and look +through its little window into the room. A rousing fire of peats +and dried heather was blazing on the hearth, around which the +family were gathered in a half circle. In an armchair, with a open +book on his knee, sat Carver himself. By his side sat his wife +knitting a stocking, the firelight glinting on her fair hair. Near +to her were a ploughman and a herd boy, also a young woman who did +the light field work on the farm and milked the cows, made butter, +and helped in the house. Tom sat by the fire opposite his father, +and I could see that he was polishing with a piece of leather one +of his silver coins. Thora, whose silken hair and beautiful face I +regarded with greater satisfaction than any other feature of this +group, sat apart from the others, as though she did not care, or +had not been invited, to draw her stool nearer to the warmth. + +Carver Kinlay, black bearded and hoarse of voice, was reading aloud +to his family, and seemed to be expecting from them an attention to +the Holy Word which he certainly did not sincerely give to it +himself. When he came to the end of a passage which he considered +required expounding, he would take off his reading spectacles and +wipe them with a corner of his wife's white apron. + +"Now, I have explained many times before about this, bairns," he +was saying as he looked towards Thora and Tom. "It is a rule, a +golden rule, that the merest child might understand. Nothing can be +more beautiful or more important, and it just contains these few +words: 'Do unto others as ye would that others should do unto you.' +Now keep this precept in mind, all of you, for ye canna +misunderstand it. But, just to make the thing clear-- + +"Never mind the cat, Thora; just pay attention to the lesson-- + +"Just to make the thing clear, let us suppose an example. Now, +then, supposin', for instance, that Thora here saw a basin full o' +milk with thick cream on the top o' it, and that her teeth were +watering for just one lick. She ought to say to herself: 'Now, +here's a basin full o' good cream; I'd like fine to take one lick +of it. But it's the cream for making the butter of. Now, supposin' +I was your mother, how would I like my daughter Thora to come +and--'" + +"Oh! Look, look!" cried Thora, "pussy's tail's burnin'!" + +"Confound you, Thora!" exclaimed her father, angered at this +interruption. "Can you not pay attention, and let pussy mind her +own tail? I say, if you were your mother, how would you like your +daughter Thora to lick the cream?" + +"Tut, goodman!" interposed Mrs. Kinlay, "what does the lass ken +about being a mother? Go on with the reading." + +"Odd, goodwife, I'm but supposin' the thing; and the plainer it is +the better, and the easier to understand. However, what verse was +it, Thora?" + +"It was the fourteenth you left off at," said Thora. + +"Aweel, then, the fifteenth: 'Now, when he'--Odd, but I think we +read that before." + +"Nay, you didna read it before, father, for it was the fourteenth +verse you left off at." + +"Nay, I'm sure it couldn't be that, for I remember readin' 'Now, +when he,' before." + +"But I'm sure, father, ye're wrong," persisted Thora. "Look you if +the fourteenth doesn't end with 'people,' and 'people' was the last +word you read." + +"'People, people!'" said Carver, searching for the place. "Odd, +lassie, I see no 'people.' There's one verse that ends with +'people,' but it's not the fourteenth. It had been that, ye silly +lass, instead o' the fourteenth." + +"Well, well, goodman, what dos't matter what verse you left off +at," said his wife. "A good tale's none the worse of being told +twice." + +"Nay, but," said Thora, "just look for fun and see what the +fourteenth verse ends with." + +"Fun, lassie! fun!" exclaimed Carver, as though he was seriously +shocked. "Would you speak o' fun and the Holy Scripture lying open +before you?" + +"O, but, father, I had no mind. A body canna aye be minding. Look +and see not for fun, then." + +"Tut, tut!" said the mother, becoming impatient, "can you not begin +at the fifteenth verse? What dos't matter if ye read it before?" + +"Aweel, then, the fifteenth verse, 'Now, when he'"-- + +"Listen, father!" cried Thora, again interrupting, "did you not +hear something?" + +"Well did I hear something, and I hear it yet--the rain pelting on +the window. I'm sure you've heard it this two hours and more." + +"Nay, but it was like something twirling at the handle of the +door." + +"You hear things nobody else hears, Thora. Who could be at the door +on a day like this? You just think you hear things. I was sure +'people' was not the last word." + +Carver listened, however, for a time. The rain beat harder than +ever on the windows, and from the neighbouring cliffs came the +sound of the waves like a rumbling of distant thunder. But as he +looked up from his book I knocked gently on the door. + +"Who's there?" he asked in a gruff tone that had in it no echo of +charity. + +Thora rose from her seat and came towards the door, where I stood +in a stream of water that ran from my wet clothes. + +"Oh, Halcro!" she exclaimed as she looked down at my cold, bare +feet and saw the blood issuing from the wound in my ankle. "Oh, +Halcro, what has happened?" and she opened wide the door to admit +me. + +"What does the lad want here?" asked Carver. + +I had never been asked such a question before. I had been +accustomed to go about the island all my boyhood, and to walk in at +any door I came to with the assurance that no person would question +me as to what I wanted. At length, without going further than the +threshold, I said: + +"I was thinking you would give me shelter for a short time on a day +like this." + +"On a day like this," replied he, "none but a fool would think of +travelling; and if it's shelter you're seeking here, young Ericson, +I say no!" and the unfeeling "No" was echoed by all the others in +the room, with one exception. That exception was Thora. + +I saw the girl's hands quickly clench when she heard this unkind +dismissal, and in her blue eyes the tears welled up and stole +gently down her fair cheeks. + +I felt that the "No" could be easily withstood, but the tears in +Thora's eyes overcame me. I gave her a look of thanks, closed the +door behind me, and again faced the storm, first going round to the +back of the house to take up in my arms the body of my poor dog. I +hung up the otter's skin on a hook in the byre, where I believed +Thora would discover it, and so make what use of it she might. + +I carried the dog still further, however. Taking it down to a small +creek that gave entrance to the seashore, I came to a rock that was +washed by the deep waters, and here I tied a large stone around +Selta's neck and silently lowered the body into the sea, where the +great waves of the Atlantic murmured a solemn requiem. + +Then, regaining the top of the cliff, I stood for a time looking +seaward, where the curling waves swept in from the west and dashed +with terrible strength against the hard rocks of granite. There was +no sail to be seen as far as my sight could penetrate through the +driving rain mists; but I knew that the storm would be fatal to +many a brave fisherman and sailor, and many a strong-built ship. + +My sad thoughts and the noise of the breakers so much absorbed me +that I felt conscious of nothing so much as my utter loneliness. +But as I stood there in my wretchedness, suddenly a hand was laid +gently on my shoulder, and I looked round, to see Thora at my side, +with a great cloak thrown about her, and her hair streaming in the +wind. + +"Halcro," she said, "it is not this way I can see you turned from +my father's door in the rain and the wind, and with that wound in +your foot. Pm sorry he spoke to you like that, for I'm sure you'll +be tired and weary. + +"I have brought you some oatcake--see. Eat it, while I mend your +foot." + +Then she knelt down before me on the wet, mossy rock, took a piece +of clean linen from under the cloak that covered her, and wiped +clean my wound. With her fingers she gently drew over the torn +skin, and taking another piece of white cloth bandaged it neatly +round my ankle. + +While she was so employed I informed her of my fight with the otter +and the loss of my dog, and her gentle sympathy was sweet to my +troubled spirit. And then I told her where she might find the +otter's skin, and how she should make use of it. + +"There, now," she said, putting a pin through the bandage and +rising to her feet, "that will serve till you get home." + +"It's real kind of you to do this for me, Thora," I said, touched +by the girl's tenderness, "and I will not forget this. No, not as +long as I live;" and I think there was a tremor in my voice--at +least I felt what I said. + +"But," I continued, "what will they say to you at Crua Breck, if +they hear you have done this thing?" + +"Halcro, I have done nothing but what I have been told to do. +Before you knocked at the door, my father was saying we should aye +'do as we'd be done by.' In that I have obeyed him. But I must run +back now, or they will miss me. See you give care to the foot. Fare +ye well!" + +And with that she hastened back to the farm, leaving me to ponder +over her manner of applying that golden rule which her father had, +while teaching it, so grievously failed to practise. + +I made my way onward to Lyndardy--sadly, it is true, but with a +strange new feeling in my heart for this blue-eyed maiden who, in +defiance of her family, had helped me in my weariness and distress. + +A short distance from the place where Thora left me, I came to the +ruined cottage of Inganess. As I approached I heard a click-clicking +noise, by which I surmised there was some person within the ruined +walls. A dog came out to meet me at the door, wagging its tail in +welcome. It was the very counterpart of my own dead Selta, and I +knew well whom to expect in the cottage even before I entered. + +Seated on the floor under shelter of a part of the roof that had +not fallen in, was an old man, with locks of silver hair appearing +under his blue bonnet, and hanging with a curl about his neck. The +clicking sound I had heard proceeded from a flint and the back of a +knife, with which the old man was endeavouring to strike a light to +kindle the little pile of faded heather that lay in a corner. When +I looked in he raised his eyes and said with surprise: + +"Ah! Halcro, lad. Travelling on a day like this? Why, ye're as wet +as myself. But come in, come in here. It's a poor house; but ye're +real welcome. And where's your dog?" + +I was downcast at this question, for it was this same old man +before me--this Colin Lothian, the wandering beggar--who had given +Selta to me, and the dog that was with him was Selta's brother. + +"Colin," I asked, when I had told him of my dog's death, "why is it +you come to this poor place for shelter when every house in the +Mainland is open to you? Why do you not go to my uncle's at +Lyndardy?" + +"Weel, ye see, lad, I dinna mind where I gang. One place is as good +as another, and this is very well in a shower of rain. I was west +at Crua Breck when the rain came on sae heavy; and I hae been here +these twa hours tryin' to strike a light, but ye see the tinder's +wet-- + +"Try you if ye can do it, lad;" and the old man handed me the +flint. + +"Aweel, then," he continued, "I opened the door at Crua Breck, just +as I would open any door in Orkney, be it rich or poor. But wad +they let me in, think ye? Na, na. Carver was sittin' yonder, as he +aye does on the rainy days, when there's nae gettin' aboot the +farm, preachin' away before a bonnie fire. But the auld hypocrite +wouldna let me in. What cares he for the Holy Word? If it werena +for his goodwife, he'd never open the Scriptures. Ay, but it's a +lang while he'll be preachin' any good into yon blackguard son o' +his. There's not a house of harder hearts in all the Mainland than +Crua Breck. They all take after Carver; ilka body o' them, except +peerie Thora." + +"Yes," I said feelingly, "Thora's kinder than all the rest." + +"Kinder! Ay is she. She's no' like ane o' the same family. I mind +ae stormy night in the last winter, when Carver had shut the door +in my face, Thora cam' after me and, 'Colin,' says she, 'come away +here, and I'll gie ye a bed in the byre;' and with that she took me +in among the kine and gied me some oaten bannocks and a flagon o' +warm milk. And then she made up a bed upon the hay, wi' a good warm +plaid to wrap mysel' in. 'See there, now, Colin,' says she. 'Rest +ye here, and I'll let ye out before my father rises i' the +mornin'.' Now wasna that kindness for ye, Halcro?" + +"Ay, Colin, that was just like wee Thora." + +Whilst Colin was telling me these things I was busy trying to +kindle the fire; but try as I would, it could not be done. + +"Oh, never mind the fire, Colin!" I said. "Just come along wi' me +to my uncle's farm at Lyndardy. Ye'll get good shelter and food +there. That's far better than staying in this ruined place." + +So the old man got up on his feet, and we walked together to the +farm. + +My sister Jessie, who frequently came up to Lyndardy to stay over +the Sabbath, was in the kitchen when we arrived, and while we were +drying our clothes before the fire she got some good warm broth +ready for us, and some new-made scones. + +Over our meal I told Jessie of my adventure with the otter, and the +death of my dog. She wanted to dress my ankle again, but Thora had +bound it up so skilfully that there was nothing more to be done. + +"I wonder that the otter should bite you like that, Halcro," Jessie +said. "Why, I thought the old viking's stone was to save ye frae +the like o' that!" + +I had myself wondered at the same circumstance. + +"Ah! but, Jessie," I said, suddenly comforting myself with an +excuse for the apparent failure of the charm, "Mr. Drever didna +tell me that the stone would be o' any use against such a beast as +an otter." + +"No, I ken that. But did he not say it would protect ye from all +harm? Surely an otter shouldna be left out o' the reckoning." + +But here Colin Lothian, to whom the virtues of the viking's +talisman had been explained, suggested that I perhaps needed to +have some secret communication with the stone in my own mind--that +I perhaps needed to think of the charm at the very moment of +danger, and to call upon it for aid. He had heard of such things, +he said. + +This explanation appeared to me very reasonable, and with the +suggestion in my mind I determined, should I ever have another +opportunity, to put it in practice. + +Such an opportunity presented itself sooner than I could have +expected. + + + +Chapter XVIII. The Wreck Of The "Undine." + + +Colin Lothian remained at Lyndardy until the following Monday +morning. He slept out in the byre, where such wayfarers as he were +always welcome to a supper and a bed, and in the evenings he would +come in to the kitchen to sit with my uncle and talk over the +affairs of the island, or to read us a chapter out of the well-worn +Testament that he carried with him on his wanderings. For Colin was +a religious man and loved his Bible. He knew most of the Psalms by +heart, and often gathered groups of islanders about him to hear him +repeat them. Idlers sometimes scoffed at his fondness for the +epistle on Charity; but no one who heard him repeat it could fail +to be impressed by its teaching or to recognize the poor wanderer's +sincerity. + +Colin was the recognized newsmonger of the Mainland, and it was his +habit to travel from parish to parish retailing the gossip of the +countryside. At farm towns which were situated in remote places he +was always a welcome guest. He was well acquainted with the +condition of the markets and the state of the fishing and the +crops. He knew the price of butter and of oatmeal, of cattle and of +sheep, and his information was often of great value to the farmers +in adjusting the values of farm produce. With the old men he would +laugh over the jokes of days that had been; tell them how laird had +gone to law with laird, or how poor crofters had been evicted from +their holdings for failing to pay their taxes or their rents. The +young women were always ready to hear from him who was to be +married at Martinmas, or how Nell So-and-so had been jilted; and he +often entertained the young people with strange tales of the +brownies, the trows, the kelpies, or other supernatural beings. In +this way he supplied the place of newspapers and books, which were +scarce commodities in those old days; and he further made himself +useful by doing odd work about the steadings and cottages--such as +building the peats into stacks for the winter, mending a thatch, or +even doctoring a cow. + +On the Sunday evening at Lyndardy, while the storm still beat upon +the land, Colin sat with us round the fireside and smoked with my +uncle Mansie. The talk drifted round to the subject of Carver +Kinlay, whose new boat was to be brought from Kirkwall that week. +My uncle did not know for what purpose that new boat was built. + +Kinlay was a man who had no settled occupation outside his farm. +Sometimes, it is true, he went out to the herring fishing when the +fish were plentiful, and he thought he could make some money by it, +and he often made secret passages over to Scotland for no one knew +what trade. But it was for none of these purposes that the new boat +was required, for it had been built with a deep keel and a lugger +rig, with a view to being a quick sailer. + +Now if anyone should know of Carver's purpose, it would be Colin +Lothian, and my uncle questioned him on the subject. + +"Colin," said he, "they tell me that Carver is gettin' a new boat +frae Kirkwall. D'ye ken what he means to do wi' it?" + +"That's piper's news," said Colin. "I heard that three or four +weeks syne; and I hae seen the boat mysel', on the stocks at Allan +Dewar's boatyard. Ay, and a bonnie boat she is! As to what Carver +means to do wi' it--Weel, I dinna ken if it be true; but I hae +heard that he intends to start as a Stromness pilot in opposition +to Sandy Ericson." + +"A pilot!" exclaimed Mansie. "Carver Kinlay a pilot! Man, Colin, ye +astonish me. Why, the man hasna gotten a certificate!" + +"Maybe ay and maybe no; but I assure ye, Mansie, that a pilot he +means to be." + +Mansie dismissed this notion incredulously; for though Kinlay knew +the coast very well, yet the idea of his starting with his limited +experience as an Orkney pilot was droll to one who, like my uncle, +had been all his life at the work, and knew every fathom of the +waters. + +But the character of Carver Kinlay--"Crafty Carver" he was called +by those who knew him well--was a problem which had not yet been +solved. I had myself gathered many incoherent hints relating to +him, and, bit by bit, I heard fragments of fact as to his first +appearance in Pomona; but on this Sunday evening, as I sat with +Lothian and Mansie, I added to these hints some certain knowledge +which enabled me afterwards to better understand this man. + +The noise of the storm raging outside--the wind and rain beating on +the windows, and the sound of the waves breaking against the +cliffs--brought the two men to talk about the ships that had from +time to time been wrecked on our neighbouring coast. Said Mansie: + +"'Twas on a night like this--d'ye mind, Colin?--that the Undine +went to pieces on the Gaulton Craigs." + +"Ay," said Colin, "weel do I mind it, and weel, I reckon, does +Carver Kinlay mind it." + +The conversation regarding the incident was disjointed. Let me, +therefore, tell the story in my own words. + +My father had with his gallant crew gone out to sea one stormy +night in the pilot boat. A stiff westerly wind was blowing, and the +headland of Hoy was hidden in mist and spray. The Curlew was +steered out into the open sea in the hope of falling in with any +ship that required piloting into the safe haven of Stromness. +Beaten about on the heavy sea, the boat was brought along the outer +coast of Pomona until she stood off abreast of the Head of Marwick. +Along the coastline of Sandwick, as she sailed back towards +Stromness, the waves rose in angry foam against the rugged cliffs. +None but men thoroughly accustomed to the terrors of the +storm-swept Orkneys could have taken that little craft through such +a surging sea, and it was only by the help of the light that was +always kept aglow in the windows of Lyndardy farmhouse that they +were able to guide the boat in safety. + +When the Curlew was abreast of Inganess, Willie Slater, the lookout +man at the bow, reported a ship in sight; and as my uncle Mansie +lighted a rude torch, made of old rope steeped in the oil of sea +birds, my father peered into the darkness and saw a large barque +heading towards the land. The blazing light of the torch was +presently waved as a warning signal to those on the ship. + +The meaning of this was understood too late, for before the vessel +could turn she was driven swiftly upon the North Gaulton rocks, and +there smashed like a bottle of glass. + +Then the sail of the Curlew was lowered, and the boat taken as +close as possible to the wrecked ship. The cries of the people on +board were heard in the tempest, but there was little hope of +saving life. Yet the pilot crew were undaunted by any risks. Four +of the men were at the oars; Mansie was at the bow with his flaming +torch, and my father at the tiller. They got within hail of the +ship, and after an infinite amount of trouble succeeded in saving +four precious lives. These four persons were a seaman, a gentleman +passenger--who was picked up suffering from a wound he had received +in the head when the vessel struck--Mrs. Kinlay, and my +schoolfellow, Tom Kinlay. + +When they were brought into the boat, Mrs. Kinlay entreated my +father not to leave the wreck until he had saved her husband and +her infant girl. But after much searching of the water the chance +of saving any more lives was so small, and the danger to the Curlew +so great, that the boat was brought to the beach at Inganess Geo, +where its suffering passengers were landed and carried up to the +neighbouring farm of Crua Breck. + +The Curlew was then taken back to the wrecked barque. One of the +ship's boats had been launched by the skipper and some of the crew, +who had endeavoured to save all they could; but the little craft +was too frail to stand against the heavy sea; it was dashed against +the sunken rocks and all were drowned. My father and his men +remained by the vessel until daylight. Among the jagged rocks, when +the tide went down, they found the body of a very beautiful woman +with the shattered body of a child still clasped in her arms. The +infant seemed to have been hurriedly taken from its bed. This fair +lady was afterwards recognised as the wife of the owner of the +ill-fated vessel--the gentleman my father had rescued--who had +been returning with her and their infant daughter to Denmark. The +lady's name was Thora Quendale, and it was her tomb that I had seen +in the old graveyard of Bigging on that evening when we shared the +viking's treasures. + +Her husband had remained in Orkney only until he had laid her and +the child to rest, when, gathering the few remnants of his property +that remained to him from the wreck of his ship, he took a passage +in a vessel that happened to touch at Kirkwall for repairs, and +with the sailor who had been saved with him he set sail for +Denmark. My uncle Mansie said that this Mr. Quendale had promised +to my father and others that he would be back again in Pomona in a +few months, but since that time he had never been heard of. + +Now it happened that on the fifth day after the wreck of the Undine +(for such was the vessel's name) my father was taking his small +boat round to Borwick, a little hamlet two miles south of Skaill +Bay. On passing the place where the vessel struck, now calm and +peaceful after the storm, he shortened sail and rowed inshore. A +little distance up the face of the red cliff, above the high-water +mark, and hidden by a projecting rock, there was a "scurro," or +fissure, which opened into a large cavern. He had discovered this +cavern when he was a boy, on some bird-nesting expedition; and now, +scarcely knowing why he did so--except, perhaps, for the passing +thought that some of the wreckage had been washed into it by the +high waves--he climbed up from his boat and entered the cave. To +his astonishment he found there a half-starved man, who had been on +board the Undine at the time of the disaster. Having found the cave +in his endeavours to scale the cliff, this unfortunate man had +contrived to live there during the five long days and nights since +the wreck by subsisting on shellfish, seaweed, and a few sea-birds' +eggs. + +What surprised my father more than all, however, was that the man +had as a companion a helpless little child. Someone on the ship had +placed the infant in an empty packing case, which had drifted into +the cave. The pilot conveyed the two waifs ashore and took them up +to Crua Breck. + +The man thus rescued by my father was Carver Kinlay; the little +child was Thora. + +All that I could learn from my uncle and old Colin concerning +Carver, further than this, was that he was a native of the north of +Scotland, and that he and his family were passengers on the Danish +ship, which was to have put in at the haven of Wick, in Caithness. +Careless where he settled down, however, when cast upon the shores +of Pomona, he had taken root here, like a weed in a flower garden. +He seemed to have had a store of money in the big chest which he +claimed from among the wreckage, and circumstances enabled him to +purchase the little farm of Crua Breck, together with a fishing +boat. The fishing, and a previous knowledge of the Orkney channels, +had given him some experience of local navigation; and it was upon +the strength of this experience that, having built his pilot boat, +he intended to start in opposition to my father. + +The greater part of what Mansie and Colin said, as they sat in the +comfortable kitchen of Lyndardy, was entirely new to me. I felt a +strange pleasure in hearing now, for the first time, that Thora +Kinlay owed her life, in some sort, to my own father. When he +carried the little girl up to the farm, with a seaman's jacket +covering her from the cold--for the women and children had all been +in their beds when the ship struck--she was at once claimed by Mrs. +Kinlay. They named her Thora, after Mrs. Quendale, who had shown +some kindness to her during the voyage, by reason of a resemblance +that existed between the two children--Mrs. Quendale's own child +and the child of Mrs. Kinlay--both of whom were of a like age. + +The story of the wreck of the Undine gave me many matters to ponder +over. But the one practical thing that I learnt was this existence +of a cave in the North Gaulton cliffs. I had not known that there +was such a cave at that spot, although, indeed, I prided myself +upon my knowledge of the whole coastline from Rora to Birsay. I +accordingly determined to explore the cliff at some future time. + + + +Chapter XIX. Tom Kinlay's Bargain. + + +I must not omit to mention that Willie Hercus and Robbie Rosson +duly delivered up to Mr. Drever their shares of Jarl Haffling's +treasure. The dominie was, I believed, already in communication +with the proper authorities concerning the claims that would be +imposed according to what he called the law of treasure trove. But +there were many delays in coming to an agreement, owing, as I +understood, to official indifference and to the difficulty of +determining the value of the relics, which Mr. Drever contended +were worth more than their mere weight in silver. Meanwhile, the +schoolmaster, anxious to keep the collection, as he said, intacto, +for preservation in some museum, still held possession of the +antiquities, and was nightly burning much oil in his absorbed study +of them. + +Since Tom Kinlay had left the school Mr. Drever had not seen him. +But, betimes, a message was sent by Thora to intimate to Tom that +we others had given our parts of the viking's treasure into his +charge, and advising that Tom should send in the remainder without +delay. But Tom, who now owed no direct duty to the dominie, +resolutely refused to give up his share of the treasure. + +On a windy Saturday morning--a week after the death of my poor +dog--I was loitering about the quays in the port, when I was +attracted towards a little crowd that had gathered round an old +capstan. The crowd consisted of several sailors and fishermen, with +a sprinkling of townsfolk, who were evidently much interested in +something that was going on in their midst. + +I walked towards them and elbowed my way in beside old Davie Flett, +the skipper of a coasting schooner, with whom I was slightly +acquainted. + +"What's all the stir, Mr. Flett?" I asked. + +"Och, it's just an auld Jew doing some business," he replied; and I +pressed my way further into the crowd. + +In the middle of the group there was a withered little man, bent +with age, with a long ragged beard and a nose like the beak of a +hawk. He wore a great black coat that was very shiny and reached +almost down to his ankles; and in his skinny fingers he held what I +soon recognized as the large red stone that Tom Kinlay had found at +Skaill. Tom himself was standing near the old Jew, and bargaining +with him for all the treasure that had fallen to his share. + +The Jew had made some offer for the gem when I came up, and Kinlay +was deliberating whilst listening to the advice of the fishermen. + +"Take his offer, lad," advised Jack Munroe. + +"Ay, take it, Tommy," added another. "Ye'll mebbe never hae anither +such chance again." + +"Nay, dinna be a fule," said Jim London. "The auld swindler kens +the thing's worth mair than he offers. Gar him gie ye anither ten +shillings." + +"No, no," protested the Jew, speaking in broken English. "I not +want ze ting. Wot use I make of it?" + +He was about to hand it back to Tom. + +"Well, well," he continued, again examining the gem. "If you not +satisfy, den I gif you six shilling more; wot you say, eh? Dat make +ten pound and six shilling, English. It not worth one penny more, I +tell you." + +"Mike it ten guineas," urged Kinlay. + +"What! ten guineas? Himmel, mine child, you make me ruined!" +exclaimed the Jew. + +"Give the lad the ten guineas and be done with it, Isaac," said a +young seaman who appeared to know him. "You'll get your own price +in Amsterdam." + +"Well, ten guineas I will gif--two hundred and ten shilling!" + +And the old Jew slowly counted out the money from a dirty canvas +bag that he took from his belt. I saw his little black eyes glitter +as he dropped the sparkling gem into the bag and buttoned up his +coat, before handing over the money. + +Kinlay pocketed the sovereigns, and then looked round the crowd of +faces about him with an air of extreme satisfaction. At the same +time old Isaac turned to a Dutch sailor who was addressing him in +their own language. By the fox-like look in the Jew's eyes I +understood that he, on his part, was not really discontented with +the bargain he had closed. + +But Tom had evidently not disposed of all his valuables, for, just +as Isaac was slipping away, he held him by the sleeve and showed +him a handful of the viking's coins and rings, whereupon the old +Hebrew renewed his bartering, with the result that Tom disposed of +all his remaining store for the sum of two additional pounds. + +The crowd was breaking up, and the Jew again slipping away, when I +called out to him, thinking I would tell him that there were some +more of these things in Stromness, and believing for the moment +that Mr. Drever might have some wish to deal with so generous a +purchaser. Isaac could at least tell him what the treasure was +worth, I reflected. + +"Will ye buy any more o' these things?" I asked, when he came to my +side. + +"Well, I want nossing more, mine young friend," he replied. "I haf +make a very bad bargain already. But what have you? Any more of +dose pretty tings?" and he indicated the gem that he had bought +from Kinlay. + +I thought at once of my magic stone that was suspended at my neck +under my guernsey. I produced it, though of course I did not mean +to let him have it at any price. + +"Is this worth anything?" I asked. + +But I had no sooner brought it forth than I felt a tugging at my +sleeve. I turned round and saw old Davie Flett frowning at me +meaningly. + +"Don't have anything to do wi' the auld thief!" he whispered, +dragging me aside. "Come away, lad, an' let me tell ye something." + +But the Jew was already examining my little black stone, and asking +me to take the cord that held it off my neck. He scratched its +smooth surface with his long finger nails, and then took out an old +knife from his pocket and was proceeding to insert the blade under +the gold ring that encircled the stone. I snatched my precious +talisman from him, and replaced it under the collar of my knitted +shirt. The Jew looked surprised; but without heeding him I turned +away with Captain Flett, who walked with me some distance from the +dispersing crowd. + +When we were alone beside one of the sheds he said: + +"It's all right now, Ericson, my lad. I wanted but to save ye frae +makin' a fule o' yersel, like Carver Kinlay's lad." + +"Why," I said, "Kinlay has made a very good bargain, has he not?" + +"Simpleton!" said the skipper. "Ye didna hear what yon Dutch sailor +said to the auld Jew, eh?" + +"I heard, captain, but of course I didna understand," I said. + +"Weel, my lad, I understood," said he. "The Dutchman asked him what +kind o' gem it was he had gotten frae the boy. + +"'It's a ruby,' said the Jew. + +"'Oho!'said the Dutchman. 'It's a rare big one, though. How muckle +might ye be expectin' to get for it across the water--a couple o' +hundred?' + +"Then the auld Jew gave the Dutchman a wink, and said, 'Maybe a +thousand dollars, mynheer.' + +"So ye see, Ericson, if the auld swindler could count upon gettin', +let us say, two hundred pounds English for the stone over in +Amsterdam, ye can hardly say that young Kinlay got a big price +for't, can ye?" + +I was astounded at this information. Such unfairness appeared to my +boyish mind as criminal in the extreme. But a wider knowledge of +the world has since taught me that in commercial transactions +things are not always bought and sold at their proper value. + +I thanked my skipper friend, while telling him that I had myself +had no intention of dealing with the merchant. + +Scarcely had I left Mr. Flett two minutes before I heard someone +walking hurriedly behind me. I was quickly overtaken by old Isaac +and Tom Kinlay. + +"Ericson," said Tom with a friendly tone in his voice, as though we +had never quarrelled. "Let the old man hae a sight o' that thing +ye've got round yer neck, will ye?" + +I put my hands in my trousers pockets, and made no reply. + +"I gif you tree shilling for it," said the Jew. + +"Keep your dirty money, sir," I said, turning on my heel. + +Then, as though he did not wish Kinlay to overhear his offer, he +followed me, taking me by the sleeve: + +"Ah! mine friend," he said coaxingly, "I see you know wot it is. +Very well, den, I gif you a sovereign." + +"A sovereign!" I exclaimed aloud. + +And Kinlay, who had now come up to us, opened his eyes in surprise. + +"Take the money, man," he urged. + +"Nay, nay," I said. "If you like to give the value of two hundred +pounds in exchange for ten guineas, I am certainly not so green. +Besides, ye ken weel enough that those things were not rightly +yours. Mr. Drever has told you that." + +He did not appear to notice the latter part of what I said. + +"Two hundred pounds!" he exclaimed, looking from me to the Jew. +"Two hundred pounds! What d'ye mean?" + +"I mean," I said calmly, "that you have been swindled. It's a ruby +stone ye hae sold him, a ruby worth two hundred pounds." + +I will not soon forget the expression that came into Tom's eyes +when he heard this. It was a look first of incredulity, as though +he supposed I was simply playing upon him. Then it changed to a +look of defeat as he realized how much he had been cheated by the +crafty old Jew. He turned round to vent his indignation upon Isaac, +swearing and uttering threats of vengeance. + +"Ye auld long-nosed deevil!" he exclaimed. "Ye heathen swindler! +Gie me back the stone!" + +But Isaac had already slipped away from the spot like a startled +trout. We saw his long coattails disappear round the corner of an +alley that led down to the harbour. Kinlay followed him, still +swearing and threatening, and got down to the quay just in time to +see the old Jew jump into a boat that had been waiting for him. The +boat belonged to a Dutch brig that was putting out to sea, and when +old Isaac got aboard, the anchor was already at the cat head and +the sails were bellying in the wind. + +Frustrated in his revenge upon the Jew, Kinlay now turned upon me +his indignation. He accused me of willingly allowing him to sell +the ruby below its value. I simply told him that it was no business +of mine, and quietly asked him where he had got the gem. + +"But I needna ask you that," I added, "for I well ken where you got +it." + +"Where did I get it?" he inquired, his face turning as red as the +ruby itself. + +"You got it from the old viking's helmet," I replied, "for I saw +you put the thing in your pocket, though you did deny that you had +it that day over at Skaill. But ye'll see what Mr. Drever will say +to your selling what didna rightly belong to you." + +"I carena that for Mr. Drever," he said, snapping his fingers. "Nor +for you neither, ye young sneak." + +At this he turned from me without further words. But I think there +was more malice against me in his heart than he allowed to appear +on the surface. This incident, and my advantage over him, had at +least the effect of increasing the enmity between us. + + + +Chapter XX. The Opposition Boat. + + +The little haven of Stromness was ever a quiet place, but never did +it seem so quiet as during the calm which succeeded the storm of +the past week, especially as that calm came on a Sunday, that +quietest of all days in the North. Even the twittering of the +sparrows on the quaint housetops seemed less noisy than usual, and +the women who stood in groups in the narrow street, with their +clean mutch caps, their crimson hubbie jackets and coarse blue +gowns, suppressed their voices almost into whispers as they talked +of the growing quarrel between my father and his new rival, Carver +Kinlay. The solemn stillness of the June Sabbath was everywhere +apparent. The healthy scent of the peat smoke, mingled with a +certain fishy odour, permeated the little town, while the cool, +fresh smell of the seaweed, and the sweet perfume of the Dutch +clover, came from the shores of the bay. The few men who were in +port lounged about in sight of the sea, looking lazily outward at +the anchored ships. + +On the little jetty at the Anchor Close my father sat on an +upturned herring creel, smoking his pipe, and watching a flock of +sea mews floating gracefully on the green water. Occasionally these +birds would rise in the sunny air with long outstretched wings, and +give utterance to cries not unlike the mewing of kittens. Some +wind-bound vessels lay at anchor in their own reflections, keel to +keel, with gay colours streaming from their mastheads. I had never +before seen the bay looking so still and beautiful. But from the +outer shores of the Ness came the prolonged murmur of the Atlantic +waves, falling upon the ear like an everlasting sigh. + +I was seated in the stern of the Curlew, as the boat lay against +the pier upon which my father sat smoking. Looking over her side +down into the clear water, I could see the small fish dart about +like flashes of silver light in the emerald depths, where the +many-coloured seaweeds swayed softly to and fro with the motion of +the tide; while far below, on their sandy bed, the bright shells, +the sea urchins, and the green mossy stones gleamed like brilliant +gems. And the low swish of the tide against the stone pier made a +pleasant, sleepy sound. + +Sometimes, as I sat there dreamily, my eyes would wander across the +smooth blue water to the distant hills, following the steady, +swooping flight of an eagle. Nearer at hand, the flight of a flock +of sea larks along the links of the shore would attract my +attention, while once I heard the splash of a solan goose diving in +the bay, and saw the spray rise in a glittering column high above +the water. + +Suddenly my dreamy meditations were interrupted. Hurried footsteps +sounded in the silent street, and looking up the passage of the +Anchor Close I saw a company of men quickly passing. Among them +were Carver Kinlay and his son Tom. + +I told my father who they were, at which he expressed much wonder, +and tried to assign a cause for their hurrying. But soon our +questioning was fully answered by the unexpected appearance of my +sister Jessie. + +"Father!" said she, very much out of breath, for she had walked +very quickly from Lyndardy, where she had been staying during the +whole of that past week. + +"Well, lass?" said my father, looking round at the girl's agitated +face. "What have you seen that you look so scared?" + +"I've seen from the cliffs," gasped Jessie. "I've seen the Lydia +makin' for Stromness. She has surely put back, for her masts are +away, and her bulwarks are wrecked." + +"The Lydia! What, Captain Gordon's ship? Ay, lass, but ye're +telling me a strange thing. You'd better gang and tell Mansie to +get the men out. There'll be a race wi' the new pilot, I'm +thinking." + +And he knocked the ashes from his pipe, and came down into the boat +to get her ready. + +Jessie, however, had no need to go and tell the crew to get ready, +for she had hardly turned away when my uncle Mansie and the men +hurried down the jetty and sprang into the Curlew. + +The day was so fine and bright that my heart yearned for a sail in +the boat, and I was about to ask my father if I might go out with +him, when he forestalled me by ordering me to be seated among the +ropes in the bow. + +The quietude of the Sabbath was now changed to bustle and +excitement. The oars and rowlocks were put in place, the sail made +ready for hoisting, and soon all was trim and ready to start. + +My father's pilot boat, the Curlew, was strongly built and of great +breadth of beam. It was of a pattern and rig peculiar to the +Orkneys, much after the fashion of a whaling boat, and called a +"sixter," from having a crew of six men. It was propelled by either +sail or oars, as either was most convenient, but the Orcadian +boatmen never employed the oars when the sail could be used. + +The boat's crew was a picked one, and seldom could six finer men be +seen together. The skipper, my father, was himself a picture of +manly strength, handsome and agile. His father and grandfather had +been pilots; the latter, indeed, had been the chief pilot of +Stromness in the year 1780, when Captain Cook's ships, the +Discovery and the Resolution, lay in the harbour on their return +from the South Seas. + +My father's shipmates, as he called them, were also fine stalwart +men, each of them competent to take the skipper's place, but each +willing to sacrifice anything for Sandy Ericson. My uncle Mansie +was mate, and sat forward in the bow. The stroke oar was usually +taken by Tom Hercus, a man of singular daring. Willie Slater was an +old whaler, who could stand any hardships with perfect indifference. +Then there was Jock Eunson, a good-humoured Orphir man, who, on many +a dark night, had kept his mates merry as they beat about in the +outer sea in search of ships; and Ringan Storlsen, of Finstown, who +had been at school with my father, and with whom he had had many an +adventure. + +"Hurry along, my lads; there's Kinlay started," said my father, +seating himself in the stern sheets. + +With that the ropes were cast off and the sail hoisted. Then the +boat was pushed off from the pier, and as she caught the light +breeze she glided slowly into the bay among the sailing shadows of +the summer clouds. + +When we were out in the deep water I looked along the line of the +shore for the opposition boat; but I found she was already further +out than ourselves, looking like a pleasure yacht, with her newly +painted hull and clean white canvas--a contrast to the dingy brown +sail and the scratched and worn hull of the Curlew. + +My uncle Mansie, who sat quite near to me, told me that the new +boat was called the St. Magnus--after the patron saint of +Orkney--and I noticed that he spoke very lightly of her as a +sailer. I asked him if he did not think she would beat us in this +race; but he assured me there was no fear of it, for that though +Kinlay had the start of us, yet he had not the advantage of a well +trained and disciplined crew, and his ropes were too new to run +free. + +There was little chance of a race, however, in the calm bay, and my +uncle, not wishing Kinlay to see that we were taking any interest +in his movements, drew my attention away from the St. Magnus by +asking me some questions about my viking's stone. He said that, now +I had made a start in coming out in the boat, I might stand a +better chance of proving the virtue of my talisman, more especially +if I should be bold enough to come out on some dark, stormy night, +when there would be some danger. Then some of the other men, +hearing us, asked me to show them the magic stone, and it went +round the whole company for inspection. + +By the time they had all had a good look at it, and I had hung it +round my neck again, we had got full into the breeze of the outer +bay. My father, who held the tiller, managed to get to the weather +side of the St. Magnus, and when we reached the Ness point, where a +number of people had already gathered from the town to watch the +expected race, the two boats were bow to bow. + +Beyond the point we brought up at the same moment as the St. +Magnus, and steered westward on the starboard tack, with a +southwesterly breeze swelling our sails. The Curlew now bent over +to leeward, our bow plunging into the waves, dashing them aside and +sending the foam surging in a long track far astern. With a strong +outrunning current in our favour we sped through the channel +between Stromness and Graemsay, the St. Magnus being now to +windward of us and several lengths behind. + +Tom Kinlay was sitting on the weather gunwale near his father, who +was steering. It was easy to see that they were all suppressing +their excitement in the race; yet their craft was brought bravely +along in our track, and there was still a chance of their reaching +the ship before us. The result depended upon good steering, and +upon the readiness of each crew to lower sail at the right moment. + +From watching the St. Magnus I turned my attention to the +approaching barque, which, by her green-painted hull, I soon enough +recognized as the Lydia. She was struggling slowly onward against +the rapids of Hoy Sound, with the wind on her starboard quarter, +and as we got nearer her I could see the extent of the damage she +had sustained in the late storm. She had lost her fore and main +topgallant masts, and her port bulwarks were stove in. The quarter +boat was missing and her jolly boat was gone. + +She came along at the rate of about two knots, under close-reefed +topsails, storm trysails, and spanker. We could hear Captain +Gordon's voice directing the working of the ship, and once I saw +him on the quarterdeck, leaning over the rail to watch us. His head +was bandaged as if from some accident. On the forecastle deck the +mate and some men stood watching our approach, with ropes ready to +throw out to us. + +I became inwardly excited when the moment came that was to +determine everything; and even my father was a little pale as he +steered us steadily towards the lee side of the Lydia. We came +within a hundred yards of her when he cried out, "Lower away!" and +I heard the same order given on the St. Magnus. + +Down came our sail in quick obedience, and at the same time oars +were put out to prevent the strong stream and the way we had on us +from sweeping us past the vessel. + +The Lydia was now in a most dangerous part of the channel, where +the rapid tide was met by the equally rapid stream of Burra Sound +from the south side of Graemsay island. They formed a wide, swift +current of broken water, which swirled and eddied about with a +rough irregular motion. As our boat passed the bowsprit of the +Lydia, my father turned her head towards the ship, and my uncle +Mansie was alert and ready to catch the coil of rope that was at +that moment thrown down to us from the barque's forecastle. + +I think the rope was awkwardly thrown, or the man throwing it had +miscalculated the rate at which we were driving past. Howbeit, the +rope fell across our stern, beyond Mansie's reach. Leaving the +tiller my father seized it with the intention of passing it forward +to my uncle, holding the coil in one hand and the line in the +other. As he rose from his seat, however, the rope was by some +stupid mistake suddenly made secure on board the ship instead of +being paid out, and my father was instantly jerked into the sea. + +"Let go the rope!" Tom Hercus shouted to my father. + +But the seaman in charge of the line on the ship's deck, taking the +order as meant for himself, cast off the rope, the end of which +dropped overboard before the error was discovered. Thus the rope my +father held was fastened neither to the ship nor to the boat. He +was a powerful swimmer, but he soon became entangled in the coil of +rope in such a manner that the more he struggled to free himself +the worse became the tangle, so that his very efforts to swim made +his position more difficult than if he had remained still. + +This could all be seen from the Lydia, and ropes and life buoys, +which he failed to catch, were thrown to him as he rose for a +moment to the surface and finally disappeared. + +Now this unhappy incident threw us all into such confusion and +consternation aboard the Curlew, dividing our men's attention +between attempting to reach the drowning skipper and endeavouring +to secure another rope thrown from the ship, that all control of +the boat was lost. The Curlew was capsized by the treacherous +current, and we were all engulfed without a moment's warning. + +An awful exclamation of "Oh, God!" was the last thing I heard as I +sank below the waves, and then the water rushed into my open mouth, +and I felt my cap torn from my head. Down, down I sank, struggling, +yet with my eyes open, while the water became dark around me and I +was drawn along by the whirling undercurrent. + +I raised my hands above my head and tried to regain the surface and +get breath; but it was many moments before my eyes were gladdened +at seeing the water grow greener and brighter. Then I could see the +sunlight above me glancing and dancing in the surrounding water; +then at last I felt that my hands had reached the surface, my head +rose up into the open air, where I gasped and got breath. I swam +about for a little, thinking only of keeping myself above water, +but when I got my full breath again and found that I could keep +afloat without great effort, I looked around me and remembered what +had happened. + +There was the ship, the Lydia, lying athwart the channel, ten +fathoms or so away from me, and I could see the St. Magnus beating +down towards me. I looked for my father and my uncle Mansie and the +other men, but could see none of them anywhere. Probably my own +lightness, and the fact that I was not, like them, encumbered with +heavy sea boots, had aided me in coming up to the surface before +them. But I could not have helped them, even had they stood in need +of such help as mine, and I knew that they were all good swimmers, +so I turned round on my breast with the current and continued +swimming towards the Curlew, which now floated, bottom up, to the +seaward side of me. + +The St. Magnus very soon came within hail, drifting with the rapid +stream. The men were at the oars, though they only used them to +steady the boat and hold her back. + +Just as they were abreast of me the man at the bow cried out, +"There's old Slater! Port your helm!" and the boat's head was +turned away from my direction, for they had not seen me. + +As she slewed round, however, Tom Kinlay. who sat at the stern, +caught sight of me swimming close under the boat's side. So near to +him was I, indeed, that by stretching out his arm he might have +caught my upraised hand. Our eyes met, and a smile of triumph +played about his lips. The boat was rowed away from me without his +uttering a word or once attempting to save me. + +I kept steadily on my way, swimming towards the Curlew, nor did I +once look round again for the St. Magnus. + +The upturned boat was floating outward with the stream, and it took +me a very long time and a strong swim, that tired my arms more than +I can say, before I could be sure that I was shortening the +distance that separated me from this one refuge. But at last the +boat got into a whirling eddy that turned her round and round, and +so kept her back until I was within a fathom of her. Yet even this +short distance seemed more than I could now swim, for, with my +clothes on and my jacket buttoned over me, my arms were not free +enough to let me swim with any ease, and I began to despair and to +flounder about in such eagerness to reach the boat, that I sank +twice under the waves and got my mouth filled with the briny water. + +In my growing fear, however, I thought of the viking's stone that +hung under my waistcoat. Surely now was a time to test its power, I +thought, and the thought gave me courage. Renewing my efforts, I at +length reached the boat and grasped the rudder. But the rudder came +away in my hand, having been displaced in the capsizing of the +boat. This, however, aided me in keeping afloat till I was enabled +to reach the boat again and cling to the keel. + +Now was I in comparative safety, for I did not doubt that Carver +Kinlay would see me and bear down to rescue me. + +When, after many failures, I managed to climb up the side of the +boat and get astride of her keel, I began to feel sick with the sea +water I had swallowed and weak after my long swim. Then my head +grew dizzy, a mist came over my eyes, and I fainted away. + + + +Chapter XXI. The Rescue. + + +When I returned to consciousness the warm sunlight was slanting +down upon me. I opened my eyes and saw the snowy clouds floating in +the blue sky. I thought I had but fallen asleep in the stern of the +Curlew as she lay against the jetty on that Sabbath afternoon. + +I felt the boat rising and falling gently on the tide. All was +quiet, except for the swishing of the water against the planks of +the boat. + +I tried to speak: + +"Father," I said, thinking he was there on the jetty smoking. + +Then I felt a hand laid gently on my breast and a shadow crossed +between me and the sun. + +"He is waking!" said a voice that sounded as sweet as the song of +the skylark to my ears: "Halcro! Halcro!" + +A soft hand raised my head, and then I saw, looking down into my +eyes, a beautiful face, framed in a mass of waving hair that the +sunlight had turned into brightest gold. It was the face of Thora +Kinlay. + +How Thora came to be there, leaning over me, I could not tell. My +mind was in a strange confusion, and I remembered nothing of what I +had gone through. But soon I heard another voice speaking to me. It +was the voice of my sister Jessie. + +"Halcro! Halcro!" it murmured. + +"Where am I?" I asked; for I could not understand how I came to be +lying in the bottom of a little sailing boat with my limbs all +aching and trembling. + +And Jessie and Thora were at my side--Jessie steering, and Thora +holding the rope of the little lug sail. How did it all come about? + +Then Jessie, bidding me lie still, told me in a few words how she +and Thora had watched the race between the Curlew and the St. +Magnus, standing on the high ground of the Ness point. They had +seen the accident, and had immediately put out together in a little +boat that was lying on the beach. They had rescued me from the +upturned Curlew, where I lay in a faint, and were now making for +the Lydia. + +"Have they saved father?" I asked. + +But the girls did not know. They had not seen anyone picked up by +the St. Magnus. + +"Where is Carver's boat now?" I inquired; and feeling my strength +return to me somewhat, I raised myself up and sat on the seat at +the stern beside my sister, while Thora went forward to the mast to +be in readiness to lower the sail. + +We were now, as I could see, only a few fathoms distant from the +Lydia, which was lying athwart the stream, thus breaking the force +of the current, and making it possible for us to draw up alongside. +The St. Magnus was already there, having, as I afterwards found, +given up the search for the unfortunate crew of the Curlew. Carver +Kinlay was aboard on the quarterdeck engaged in an altercation with +the skipper, who stood at the gangway. + +"Heave us a rope, captain!" cried out Jessie; and Thora caught the +line that was thrown down, while I helped her to draw our boat to +the ship's side. + +My clothes were still very wet in spite of the warm sun; but, with +some difficulty, I got up the barque's side and joined Captain +Gordon at the gangway. + +"Have any of our men been saved?" I asked. "My father, is he--?" + +But I saw by the skipper's downcast face that the worst had +happened. I turned to Kinlay: + +"Did you not pick up any of them?" I inquired. + +"It was no use," said he sullenly. "We could save none of them." + +"You might very well have done so if you'd been more prompt," said +Captain Gordon. "I saw two of the poor men above water when you +turned to come back." + +"Why did ye not send out a boat yerself, then?" said Kinlay. + +"Because I have none, except the lifeboat there. We lost the others +in the storm. But it was little use my thinking of launching a +heavy lifeboat when you were afloat there at hand." + +"Well, well, it couldn't be helped," said Kinlay. "It was their own +fault they were capsized, and there's no use talking. Put your helm +to starboard, skipper, and let's get you into port." + +"Is this man a pilot, Ericson?" asked Captain Gordon, turning to +me. + +"No," I said; "I believe he has not yet taken out his license. He +started piloting two days since in opposition to my father." + +Kinlay scowled almost savagely at me for saying this. But I knew +very well that he was not a fully qualified pilot, whatever he +might become, now that my father was drowned. He lost much of his +swaggering manner, however, and was very quiet when Captain Gordon +ordered him off the ship. + +"Since that is so, then," said the captain, "you may leave this +ship, and young Ericson will take us into the harbour. The lad may +have no more claim to pilot us than yourself, but I doubt not he is +quite as capable." + +Kinlay walked across the quarterdeck at this dismissal, but as he +put one leg over the gangway to get down to his boat, he said in a +hoarse voice, and with a sly leer in his dark eye: + +"I say, skipper, if ye're examined by the authorities, just say you +gave every assistance--that ye hove ropes over--d'ye see? It's a +very lamentable thing. But it was their own faults, their own +faults." + +"What d'ye mean?" said the captain. "I did heave ropes over, and I +need tell no lies about it. I gave more assistance than you did, ye +blackguard." + +"Oh, very well, very well! I thought I'd just put you on your +guard, d'ye see, in case you're examined." + +And so saying, Kinlay disappeared over the rail, and was soon +sailing away, taking Thora with him. + +My sister Jessie had come aboard while Carver and the captain were +altercating. She came up to the captain and in great distress asked +him if he was sure no more could be done to find our father and the +other men; at which he expressed his belief that it was impossible +to do anything further. I must add that this was also my own +impression, for I well knew that as the poor fellows had been +unable to keep afloat until Kinlay came up to them, nothing could +now save them from that terrible current. + +But already we could see that there were several boats out looking +for the men. They could do more than we, for in the meantime the +Lydia was herself running into some danger, drifting outward with +the current. + +I spent no time in expressions of regret or lamentation over the +calamity that had befallen the men of the Curlew; but, feeling that +it was in some measure my duty to undertake the work my father had +set out to perform, I told Captain Gordon the best course to take +to cheat the tide, and gave him such advice as only a person +acquainted with Hoy Sound could possibly give. Under these +directions the barque was guided through the easiest channels into +the smooth water inside the Holms, where the anchor was dropped and +the vessel secured. + +Captain Gordon, who had been very kind to me during all this time, +procured me a can of hot coffee to send away my chill. He then +threw a warm pea jacket over my trembling shoulders, and came +ashore with us in the small boat that Jessie and Thora had taken +the use of. He also accompanied us to our home to break the sad +news to our mother--a mission in which he showed a fine tenderness +and sympathy of heart. + + + +Chapter XXII. After The Accident. + + +The sad catastrophe in Hoy Sound cast a gloom over the little town +of Stromness, where the unfortunate men had been held in great +respect. By the fishers and sailors of the island Sandy Ericson had +been regarded as a sort of chief. When any ship touched at the port +it was his genial face that was first seen, and when they passed on +their long voyages to distant lands it was he who gave the last +word of farewell. Among the women he had been esteemed as an +oracle, to whom they went for comfort in stormy weather when in +doubt as to the fate of lovers or husbands at the fishing; and even +the young children had learned to know his heavy stride, and to run +into the street when he approached, that they might cling to his +great, gentle hand and hear his kind, cheery voice. + +The accident had been seen by a large number of women who had +gathered on the Lookout Hill, where they were wont to assemble in +rough weather when watching for the return of the fishing smacks. +When the Curlew was seen to capsize a loud shriek rent the air, for +all knew that to be cast into that dreadful tideway meant almost +certain death. The impulse of my sister Jessie and Thora to put out +in a small boat that lay at the water's edge, on the possible +chance of saving some of us, was, therefore, looked upon as a mad +freak. But when the two girls were seen to rescue me from the +upturned boat, they were praised for their promptitude. + +My own rescue, however, was much marvelled at. I had been known as +a good swimmer; but that was not extraordinary in a place where +swimming and cliff climbing were learnt before the alphabet. What +was wondered at was that I had managed to keep afloat and swim so +far when all the men had perished. When it was whispered about, +therefore, that I was in possession of a magic stone which had the +power of protecting me from the dangers of the deep, the credulous +people readily grasped at the explanation of supernatural +assistance, and thenceforth I was distinguished amongst them as one +over whom Providence had cast a miraculous garment to protect me, +as Earl Ewan was protected in the olden time. + +But if by the people of Stromness generally the calamity was +lamented over, how much keener was the grief of those who had been +bereft of husbands, fathers, brothers! All the men of the Curlew +were married and had families, with the exception of my uncle +Mansie. But in Mansie's death my mother had to mourn the loss of a +brother in addition to the loss of her husband. + +In our house in the Anchor Close, where the crew had so often sat +in readiness to put out the boat, all was now hushed, and the busy +life of my mother and Jessie was suddenly checked and deprived of +all hope, their domestic duties robbed of all meaning. My mother +wandered about the house in melancholy, or sat before the fire +expressing her woe in long-drawn sighs. Very often she walked down +the jetty and looked out across the breezy bay, as though she +expected to see the Curlew coming in, and then she would return +with tears filling her eyes, and take up her knitting to hide her +grief in work, forgetting for the moment that the stockings she was +making were for him who would never, never wear them. + +As for myself, my life seemed empty of ambition, now that the +Curlew was sunk and my father and the men had gone. I had learnt to +hope that I might be a pilot some day; but where were my prospects +now? That I must go out to some work was evident, but what was to +be the nature of that work was left to more mature consideration, +or to some happy chance or opportunity. In the meantime I was to +remain away from school. + +There was no lack of sympathy for us on the part of our neighbours +for many days after the accident. Mr. Moir, the minister, was among +the first who called, bringing much comfort to my poor widowed +mother; the schoolmaster also came, with great sorrow on his face, +and many a good word he spoke of my father; while Captain Gordon +visited us again and again so long as his ship lay in port. + + + +Chapter XXIII. Gray's Inn. + + +About midway along the crooked, narrow street of Stromness stood +the one house of entertainment of the port--Gray's Inn--where the +wind-bound sailors and idle fishermen usually regaled themselves +and spun yarns. The host, Oliver Gray, who was himself a retired +seaman, had sought to attract his customers by hanging out over his +front door a sign which was calculated to win the good opinion of +all seafaring folk. It was a representation of a clipper in full +sail on a raw green sea. Oliver took great pride in this picture, +and it was commonly believed that he had had a hand in the painting +of it. When it was praised he was profuse in his acknowledgments; +but if a critical captain asked him how it was that, though the +ship was sailing before the wind, yet her colours were all flying +aft, or inquired whether it was grass or cabbages she sailed upon, +Oliver was less eager to claim any artistic ability, and hurried +the critic into the house lest he should also discover that the +shrouds had been omitted by the painter. + +Gray's Inn was not an ordinary public house, and beyond the +signboard announcement that "Spiritis and aile is retailed here" +there was little to indicate its commercial character. The parlour +was a large room with a window at each end--one facing the street, +the other being so situated that the seamen sitting at the large +centre table could look out at their ships riding at anchor across +the bay. There was no counter or bar, and the liquor was brought +"ben" by Oliver or his sonsie wife. + +One Saturday morning I had to go there to see old David Flett about +a boat that Captain Gordon wanted to buy from him. I found him at +the inn before me, sitting there with a goodly company of Stromness +men and skippers, whose ships were, like the Lydia, undergoing +repairs or waiting for fair winds. + +When I went in he was talking with a skipper whom he was evidently +well acquainted with. This was Captain Wemyss of The Duncans, +outward bound for Bombay. Wemyss had been lying in the harbour for +over a week, and now that fair weather had come, and the wind was +veering round to a favourable quarter, he was contemplating +weighing anchor. His vessel was a full-rigged ship, the largest in +the bay; and all the other skippers seemed to pay him a degree of +respect equal to the size of his ship. They looked upon him with +such deference, indeed, that not one of them would think of heaving +anchor until he led the way. + +In the mornings, when they turned out, they never looked at the sky +or the direction of the wind; they instinctively turned to The +Duncans, and if the Blue Peter was not at her fore peak they made +arrangements for spending still another day among the Orkneys. + +What in Wemyss tended to call forth a good deal of respect was that +he seldom mixed with the other captains, but condescended to take +only a single glass with a select few. I noticed that he preferred +the company of Bailie Duke, or of Lloyd's agent, and other magnates +of the town. + +Flett received me with a friendly welcome when I went into the inn, +ordering a cup of coffee for me, and bidding me sit beside him +until Captain Gordon should join us. He spoke of me to Captain +Wemyss, and at that the whole company present fell to talking of +the accident in the Sound. They were in the midst of a discussion +as to the cause of the disaster when Captain Gordon entered, +accompanied by Bailie Duke. + +Gordon was somewhat of a stranger to them all, so Captain Wemyss +gave the names of the others, including Lloyd's agent, Captain +Miller of the Albatross, and Captain Abernethy of the brig +Enterprise, the last of whom, I may tell you, was the officer my +father had described to Gordon as knowing so little of navigation +that he had, after cruising out of sight of land for some months, +mistaken the Mainland of Orkney for one of the West Indian Islands. + +Bailie Duke, whose happy face wore a constant smile, and whose +bright eyes seemed ever to be asking questions, took his seat in +the armchair, and passing his snuffbox round the company, very soon +took the lead in the conversation. He was the chief magistrate of +the town, but he did not assume any undue dignity on that account. +Indeed, his long life among the simple fisher folk of Stromness, +and his business connection with ships--for the bailie was a +shipping agent--had given him a sympathy with all persons connected +with the sea which quite overrode his dignity as a magistrate. He +could talk of ships as learnedly as any of the captains, and of +every vessel that had been in the harbour for the last twenty years +he could tell the name and history whenever he saw her again. As +for his knowledge of freights, duty, stability, and the ordinary +affairs of shipping, he was the one man in Stromness whose word was +taken above all others. + +When Bailie Duke was comfortably settled in his easy chair, and +there was a lull in the noise of conversation, he turned to Captain +Gordon and asked him to tell the company how he had come by the +hurt in his head, and what sort of a time he had had in the recent +storm. + +"Well, ye see," said Gordon, taking a glance round his hearers' +faces, "it was a most unlucky affair from the first. I was warned +before I left Stromness that my masts were too high, and in +addition to the fear of losing them I was troubled by my men +declaring that the ship was bewitched. We were overrun with mice, +d'ye see. Well, I got a cat, a wild-like animal, from old Grace +Drever here. Young Ericson brought the beast aboard, but what +became of it I cannot exactly tell, for no man could find it, +though we could often hear its wild squealing at night. + +"From the moment Pilot Ericson left us outside the Sound we +encountered misfortune. We reached Cape Wrath after a struggle +against contrary winds, and off the Butt of Lewis we lay to for two +days. The men swore that the cat down the hold was possessed of +some evil demon, and that we would never make any progress on the +voyage unless we turned back and took the animal home. Well, we +beat about until we sighted St. Kilda, where wet weather came on, +and a gale from the west sprang up. We made no headway, and the +island lay like an impassable rock on our beam for three days. The +sea came rolling on from the west--great snow-topped mountains of +waves--and the spray and the cutting sleet were hard to stand +against. One night we shipped a heavy sea, which carried away our +port bulwarks and stanchions and sent me into the lee scuppers, +where I was stunned by a blow on the head. The same sea smashed the +jolly boat. + +"I was insensible for a couple of days, and when I crept on deck +again I found the other boat had been stove in. The fore and main +topgallant masts were gone. I was standing on the quarterdeck, +when, just at midnight, I was startled by a most unearthly +caterwauling, as though all the furies in the infernal regions had +broken loose. I looked in the direction it came from, and, behold! +there stood the cat like a frightful apparition. He seemed four +times his original size, and his eyes were like two gleaming fires. +Even now I am not sure if it was the flesh-and-blood Baudrons or +his ghost come to explain the mystery of his disappearance, and +vent his displeasure at me for having taken him from his +comfortable home. As I looked at the goblin cat my head reeled and +I fell on the deck. + +"Next morning all was calm and bright; but we were disabled, and it +was necessary to put back for repairs. You may think what you like, +mates, but as sure as we're here, it was nothing but the cat that +brought on the gale and gave me my ill luck; the worst calamity of +all being the loss of the pilot and his crew." + +"Ay," said Bailie Duke, "but the cat had nothing to do with the +loss of the pilots. Nobody can be blamed for that but Carver +Kinlay." + +"No," added Oliver Gray, "a greater rascal than Carver never set +foot in Orkney, nor a braver man than Ericson." + +"Well," said Captain Wemyss, "this Kinlay may do as he likes, but I +for one will have no business with him." + +"Nor I neither," said Captains Johnson and Miller at once. + +"He's no proper pilot," said Gray, "and has no right to run a +boat." + +"I'm afraid, gentlemen," put in Lloyd's agent with a tone of +authority, "you're a wee bit too late in bringing forward your +objections, for I'm informed that Kinlay has already taken out all +necessary papers, and is now a duly certified pilot." + +"What!" exclaimed Abernethy. "I'd sooner employ young Ericson here +than Kinlay; I'm sure the lad kens more about the coast." + +"I'd trust that lad to take my ship through any channel in Orkney," +added Captain Gordon. "He brought us through on Sunday, and I never +saw a pilot--except his father--handle a ship with greater skill." + +Mr. Gordon was speaking thus in my praise, when who should walk +into the inn but Carver Kinlay himself. + +Carver had on a new suit of clothes of blue cloth, and his high +boots, reaching above the knees, were newly polished with oil. At +his waist he wore a leather belt from which was suspended a long +sheath knife. He walked in with a jaunty air of self importance, +but with a slightly unsteady gait, which showed how he had been +celebrating his appointment. He approached Captain Wemyss, and +addressed him. + +"Ye'll be weighing anchor on Monday morning, captain, I suppose? +What time shall I come aboard?" + +"I never asked you to come aboard my ship, my man," said Captain +Wemyss. "What is it you want?" + +"Why, d'ye not know I'm the pilot?" + +Captain Abernethy interrupted him, and drew him round by the +shoulder to face the company, saying: + +"You'd not be the pilot if you hadna gotten the post by your +crafty, sneaking, murderous villainy, Carver Kinlay. What business +had you putting out to the Lydia on Sunday?" + +"What business is that of yours?" was the response. + +"Every one has business in a case like this," said Abernethy, "and +I'll wager a thousand pounds if you hadn't gone out the accident +wouldn't have happened. It was nothing else than the fear that +you'd get aboard before them that made the men think of boarding +the barque in such a hurry, and so far out. I knew the men well, +poor fellows, and they were all decent men and good pilots, every +one of them." + +While Abernethy was saying this, Kinlay was venting a torrent of +oaths and words in disparagement of my father and his men. + +"You villain! you rascal!" continued the skipper, "if you say +another word against Sandy Ericson I'll pitch you out at the +window!" + +At the same time Bailie Duke stepped forward and said: + +"Now just hold your filthy tongue, Kinlay. You've been trying for +years to do what you've done now. You've gotten your wish; what +more do you want?" + +The bailie succeeded in quieting him, and Carver slunk off to a +corner of the room. The company, after this interruption, +dispersed, leaving only Captain Gordon, Kinlay, Captain Miller, and +myself. + +No further words had been exchanged before a stalwart fisherman +entered. I immediately recognized Jack Paterson. Jack was, as I +have before said, a powerful man. He came in with a firm resolution +in his step, and looked around the room. We watched him closely, +for there was something strange in his look. + +On seeing Kinlay he walked straight up to him, laid a big hand on +his shoulder--the hand that wanted a finger--and, without a word, +dragged him to the middle of the room. Kinlay turned quickly round, +and putting his hand on his sheath knife drew the weapon. Without +hesitation Paterson stepped forward and dealt a tremendous blow +with his fist on Carver's nose. + +"Ye ken what that's for--I needna tell ye," said Paterson; and +Kinlay reeled over and fell upon the floor, while Jack Paterson +walked quietly into the street. + +The explanation of this swift chastisement was this. There had that +morning been a small indignation meeting of Stromness fishermen. +They were all determined that Kinlay should see they had no +sympathy with him, and the purpose of the meeting was to determine +what form of vengeance they should employ. + +Their method was simply that which Jack Paterson had carried out, +in boldly confronting Kinlay with closed fists; and when Jack's +fellow fishermen heard what he had done their revenge was +satisfied, and they returned to their daily duties with accustomed +quietude, only agreeing in this, that thereafter Carver Kinlay was +to be recognized as the common enemy of all true Orkney men; that +he was not to be molested, but that none was to give him help in +any way soever. + + + +Chapter XXIV. Carver Kinlay's Success. + + +The Lydia was laid up for about a fortnight. A slight delay in +completing her repairs was occasioned by the want of timber--a +scarce commodity in Orkney, where there are no trees--but suitable +material was procured from a homeward-bound ship. Captain Gordon +never, in my hearing, referred directly to my sister Jessie's +caution about the barque's masts; but I noticed that the new masts +were made shorter and stouter than those that had suffered in the +storm. There was also some difficulty in procuring new boats for +the ship; but Captain Flett at last found a jolly boat, and one +morning early I took it out to the Lydia. + +When I went below I found Mr. Gordon sitting over his breakfast +with Marshall, his first mate. I remained talking with them for +some time, when we were interrupted by one of the ship's boys, who +came down with a note to the skipper. + +Captain Gordon read it with some show of consternation. + +"What can be the meaning of that, Marshall?" he asked, handing the +piece of paper across the table to the mate. + +"Why, captain, I suppose you've been getting into some scrape +ashore," said Marshall. + +"Scrape! I've been in no scrape," said Gordon, "unless, indeed, it +be the accident last Sunday week." + +And he handed the note to me, asking if I could throw any light +upon it. + +The note was from Bailie Duke, and it ran as follows: + +"Be in readiness. An officer from Kirkwall will be on board of you +in a little with a summons.--Yours, &c., H. Duke." + +I had hardly finished reading it when a noise as of someone +boarding was heard on deck, and presently Captain Miller of the +Albatross came rushing down the cabin stairs. He was evidently +newly out of his bunk for his face was unwashed, his hair uncombed, +and his large overcoat was roughly thrown over his sleeping +clothes. + +"What the mischief does this mean?" he exclaimed throwing a note on +the table the facsimile of that which was puzzling Captain Gordon. + +The two skippers were forming surmises, and were at last consoling +themselves that it was some playful trick of the bailie's, when +Marshall whispered through the skylight that a boat with seven men +in it was pulling towards the ship. + +"Show them down if they come aboard, then," ordered Gordon. + +And Captain Miller rushed into the pantry to hide, dreading +something serious; for he had let it out to us that he had been "on +the spree" the night before, and was not the quietest of the +company of which he had been a member. He locked the pantry door as +he heard footsteps on the companion ladder. + +Two men entered the cabin. One was a big seafaring man with a +weatherbeaten face. The very appearance of his companion betrayed +the fact that he was the "officer from Kirkwall." + +"Beautiful morning this!" observed the big man, addressing Captain +Gordon. Then after a pause he added: "We have just come, captain, +to ask the favour of your company with us to Kirkwall. The officer +here has a summons for you, I believe, and also one for Captain +Miller of the Albatross, who is not at present on his ship." + +Here a deep groan came from the direction of the pantry. + +"A summons!" echoed Gordon. "What--why--what d'ye mean? What have I +been doing?" + +"Oh! my dear sir," returned the officer from Kirkwall, "you do not +seem to understand the nature of the thing. You have done nothing +at all, my dear sir. We only want you to come to Kirkwall as a +witness in the case of assault--'Kinlay versus Paterson'--to be +tried today at Kirkwall." + +"Oh! then, if that's all, I'm here," said Captain Miller, coming in +from the pantry and adjusting his coat. + +"That is," said the man with the weatherbeaten face, supplementing +the officer's explanation--"that is the case of the broken nose, +captain. Now, we--that is, Mr. Watt and myself--have nothing to do +with it, really and truly; but the matter is just this, we are +anxious to clear off Jack Paterson, who is in our boat alongside +with us--" + +Here the speaker was interrupted by the appearance of Captain +Abernethy. + +"Come on, Gordon, old boy!" said he; "come along. I'm going to pay +all expenses, every penny of them. I'm willing to sport a thousand +pounds to clear Jack Paterson. Only to think of that scurvy rascal +Kinlay bringing up Jack, and him with a wife and a whole crew of +young children. Shall we allow it? No; not if I can help it. Come +along!" + +Abernethy was generous, certainly. He had lately, as I heard, +fallen heir to the sum of five hundred pounds sterling, and his +willingness to "sport" his thousands on every important occasion +was one of his chief characteristics at this period. + +"But how far is this place Kirkwall?" asked Captain Gordon. "How +long will it take us to get there?" + +"How far! Oh! only a matter of a few hours' sail," said Abernethy. +"I've got my pinnace out, and we'll have a fine jaunt. Come along!" + +"No. I've to see old Flett this morning to pay him some money. +Besides, we're too many for the pinnace. Can we not go by road?" + +And Captain Gordon looked to me for an answer. + +"You can get Oliver Gray's pony and gig," I replied. "It's about +fourteen miles by road." + +"Will you come with me, then, Halcro?" he asked. + +"Certainly; I'll be very glad. I know the way well." + +The two other skippers, with Mr. Watt and the rest, then made +arrangements for their boating party, intending to sail round to +Scapa, and thence walk across the little peninsula to Kirkwall. + +When Mr. Gordon had brushed himself up a bit, we went ashore +together and found out Davie Flett, whose business occupied very +little of the captain's time, and soon we were at the door of +Oliver Gray's inn watching his Shetland pony being harnessed into +the gig. + +"Now, Halcro, are you going to drive? Up you get," said Mr. Gordon. + +"Surely you dinna expect me to drive, Captain Gordon!" I exclaimed. +"Why, I never held a pair of reins in my life!" + +"All right, my lad! get over to larboard there, and I'll see what +we can do. You can be pilot and give your orders, and I'll take the +helm. + +"Come along, Sheltie; off we go!" + +The weather was very fine, the roads in good condition, and the +pony fresh, so that we looked for a very pleasant drive to the +capital. We drove along the north road by Hamla Voe and past the +green cornfields of Cairston, and then over the hill until the +great loch of Stenness stretched before us, reflecting on its +surface the dappled, woolly clouds. + +When we reached the Bridge of Waithe and turned westward, I asked +my companion to slacken pace, for I had seen on the white road in +advance of us two figures that were familiar to me. + +"Who are they, Halcro?" Mr. Gordon inquired; "two of your school +friends, eh?" + +"Yes," I replied. "The lassie walking on the grass with the bare +feet and carrying a green bag is Hilda Paterson--Jack Paterson's +daughter." + +"Ay! Jack Paterson's girl, eh? Well, and the other one with the +pretty hair, walking along here like a stately young princess, who +is she?" + +We were already close to the two girls, however, and I hesitated to +reply. He drew the reins, and I saw him regarding the elder girl +with great interest. + +She raised her blue eyes as we stopped--eyes as blue and clear as +the sky itself. Her fair hair hung in waves about her shoulders, +and as her rosy lips were parted to say, "Good morning, Halcro!" +they revealed a row of white and regular teeth. + +"Good morning, Thora!" I said in reply to the greeting she had +given. + +"I hope your foot is mending," said she very gently. + +"Yes," said I; and Captain Gordon turned to me as though he +wondered at my sudden shyness. + +Thora looked down at a daisy growing at her feet in the green turf, +seeming to seek inspiration from its golden heart. Then she raised +her eyes to me again and said softly--oh, so softly: + +"I'm real glad, Halcro, that ye werena drowned when the Curlew was +wrecked." + +I was about to thank her for the part she had taken in my rescue +when Captain Gordon interrupted. Said he: + +"If that sinner, Carver Kinlay, had had his own way Halcro would +have been drowned like the rest." + +Thora's cheeks grew crimson. + +"It is my father you speak of, sir," she said very bravely; "and I +hope what ye say isna true." + +"Your father! Carver Kinlay your father!" exclaimed the skipper +incredulously. "Really, I beg your pardon, my girl." + +But already there was a tear in Thora's eye, and she turned to join +Hilda Paterson, who had gone on in advance. And the two girls +walked onward to school. + +"Well!" ejaculated the captain as he whipped up pony, "well, I +should never have believed it!" + +"Believed what, Mr. Gordon?" I asked. + +"Why, that such a sweet young girl as that was the daughter of that +villainous Carver Kinlay." + +"Ay! Thora's a bonnie lassie," I observed, with more feeling than I +meant the words to convey; "and she's as good as bonnie." + +"My lad, thank Heaven that your lucky stone and your splendid +swimming saved you from that dreadful Sound of Hoy." + +"I would rather they had saved my father, Mr. Gordon." + +"I've no doubt you would, Halcro; but I was thinking of something +else. I was thinking that when you grow older, and when little +Thora--as you name her--is a woman--" + +"Tuts! Mr. Gordon," said I, guessing what he would be at. "The +Kinlays and the Ericsons will never be friends." + +Thereafter Captain Gordon became very quiet and thoughtful, and +when again he spoke it was about my own sister Jessie. He asked me +many a question concerning her; and if I turned from the subject to +point out some object in the scenery that I thought would interest +him, he was sure to lead me back in some way to talk of Jessie. + +We had now passed by the standing stones of Stenness, which my +companion showed but little interest in, saying they were nothing +compared with the Druid circle of Stonehenge, in England; and our +way then lay along a straight uninteresting road past Finstown, and +by the southern shores of the Bay of Firth, where the green holms +of Damsay and Grimbister lay like floating gardens on the calm +water. Soon the great red cathedral of St. Magnus loomed in sight +above the antique houses of Kirkwall; and after our drive of +fourteen miles we entered the old town and pulled up at the +courthouse, where we met Abernethy and Miller and the rest who had +been of the boating party. + +I took the pony and gig to the Falcon Inn, and left them there +until the trial should be over. I was alone the rest of the +morning, for such an important trial as that of "Kinlay versus +Paterson" must be conducted in private, and only those who appeared +as witnesses or in other capacities connected with the case were +permitted to be present. + +But the time was not spent wearily, for I knew the town of Kirkwall +very well, and there were many folks anxious to hear from me the +full particulars of the fatality in Hoy Sound. Amongst these was +old Colin Lothian, whose wanderings had brought him to Kirkwall. +The old man sat with me on a stone seat in the shadow of the +cathedral, and talked long of the accident and of my own blighted +prospects, and at length of the trial that was now going on in the +courthouse. + +I mentioned Thora, and said we had met her on the road in company +with Hilda Paterson. Colin was fond of Thora, and talked of her +with affection, notwithstanding his hatred of her father. + +"Ay, there again, there again, you see," said he. "What cares the +lass though her father brings up Jack Paterson? It doesna make a +bawbee's difference in Thora's liking for Jack's lass. Ah there's +good in Thora. She's a right good girl, my lad, and I warrant she +would do anything for them that are good wi' her." + +As we sat there Captain Gordon joined us sooner than I expected, +and I asked him how they had settled the case. + +"Oh!" said he, "the trial hasn't begun yet; the humbug of a sheriff +clerk has sent us away till three o'clock." + +"What like a man is the sheriff's clerk, sir?" asked Lothian. + +"I can't tell you that, my man, for we never saw him," replied the +skipper. "He has a clerk, who has also a clerk, and this last one +is the only one we saw. Why, the Governor of Jamaica has not so +many functionaries." + +Until three o'clock Captain Gordon went about the town with me--to +the cathedral, where he examined the old Norman arches, the dim old +epitaphs, and other relics of antiquity contained within these +ancient temple walls. There were many other sights of curious +interest to the captain about Kirkwall; for here were the decayed +palaces of earls, the halls of old sea kings, and thick-walled +mansions of the lordly times--many of them degraded into hostelries +and shops, but all of them showing something of the glories of old +Orcadia. Thus we passed the time until three o'clock. + +In the evening, when I joined the Stromness party, I found Captain +Abernethy exclaiming in indignant terms against the result of the +trial. + +"I knew how it would go," he said; "but still I wanted just to show +them what was what, ye see. Of course, it was as well they went +through all the due forms. But only to think of Kinlay getting off +so cleanly! I don't mind paying the fine, Jack--it has got you off +going to jail--but, hang it, I don't like paying Kinlay's +expenses." + +Kinlay had gained the case. Jack Paterson was fined fifteen +shillings and costs, or a fortnight in Kirkwall jail. Abernethy had +paid the fine on the spot. Carver, therefore, was throughout +successful. + +Not only had he gained in the assault case, but in the matter of +the piloting he was equally fortunate. He was permitted to carry on +his business in the St. Magnus, and notices were posted up +forthwith on the quays at Stromness to inform the inhabitants that +Carver Kinlay of Crua Breck, in the parish of Sandwick, was a duly +certified pilot of Pomona. + + + +Chapter XXV. A Family Removal. + + +I was one evening walking over the heathery braes of Lyndardy, in +the direction of Stromness, with my sister Jessie. The soft breeze +from across the sea played with her brown hair, which was bound by +the silken snood usually worn by the Orkney girls. A scarlet bootie +shawl covered her shoulders. In her hand she carried a basket +filled with kitchen vegetables from the farm. + +As we walked our attention was directed to a number of fishing +boats putting out to sea, and to the slow and mournful song of the +fishermen as they set out, with the creaking of their long oars +keeping time to the music of their voices. Then the red mainsails +were hoisted to catch the light breeze blowing over from the region +of the setting sun, and we stood and watched the boats. + +But presently, as I looked further down the hillside where we were, +I saw the figure of a man leaning upon a low stone wall. He was +looking across to the wild headland of Hoy, where the red beetling +cliffs reflected the sunlight. + +"Jessie," I said, "is that Captain Gordon standing down there?" + +Jessie turned her eyes in the direction I pointed, and her cheeks +were flushed with the red light that fell upon them. + +"Oh, Halcro!" she exclaimed, "I've forgotten to bring the butter. +We must go back to the farm." + +"Never mind, Jessie; I'll run back for it," I said, though I would +have been glad to see the captain again. + +She, however, made no objection, but let me go back to Lyndardy, +while she continued her way towards Stromness. + +I had been gone something like a half hour, and as I was returning, +walking briskly over the heathery braes and skipping across the +rippling burns, down the hillside in front of me I saw Jessie +standing with Captain Gordon, and his arm was round her waist. I +stopped suddenly, wondering if I should proceed further and +interrupt them. And now I understood how it was that Jessie had +forgotten the butter, and how she had so calmly agreed to my going +back to the farm. I seemed also to understand how it was that +Captain Gordon had spoken so much about my sister during our drive +to Kirkwall. And with these explanations in my mind I took my way +homeward by a roundabout path along the cliffs, and so passed +unobserved, reaching Stromness just in time to see Jessie and the +captain parting at the end of the town. + +On the following day the Lydia set sail. It pained us to see the +vessel taken out of port by Carver Kinlay; but when she had rounded +the Ness, Jessie and I went up to the head of the cliffs and +watched the white sails over the sea, until they became a mere +speck on the far horizon. Then, as we were coming back, and I +remarked the tears in Jessie's eyes, I learned what I had already +partly guessed--that Captain Gordon had asked my sister to be his +wife. + +Hard was the struggle that we had at home, after the first weeks of +mourning and grief that followed the loss of my father and uncle. +We had now no regular source of income, beyond the few shillings +every week that my mother and sister earned by the straw-plaiting +industry. This was work that was common in Orkney at that time; but +the English hat manufacturers, for whom the straw was plaited, were +not always liberal in their payments, nor prompt; and it was only +by very hard work that these few shillings could be earned. + +My father had been thrifty, and had saved some little money; but +when we came to calculate the full measure of our resources, we +discovered that several alterations would have to be made in our +mode of living. Not the least important of these changes was the +necessity of an early removal to Lyndardy. + +Lyndardy farm had been leased conjointly by my father and my uncle +Mansie; and when there was no occasion for them to be out in the +boat, the two men were in the habit of working together in the +fields, as most of our neighbours worked. It was from Lyndardy that +we were supplied with all our oatmeal, our eggs, cheese, butter, +and vegetables. Fresh fish we could always procure in abundance +from the sea and the lochs, and I was able sometimes to add to the +general stock of provisions by the aid of my gun. The feathers and +oil from the wild sea fowl I shot were sold or bartered for other +commodities; and the wool of the few sheep we kept, and the flax we +grew, were helpful in supplying us with clothing and other +necessaries. + +It was not long after my father had "gone before" that we removed +from the old house in the Anchor Close. + +Much of our familiar furniture was sold. My boat, too, was disposed +of. Many a heart pang it cost us to leave the home at the +waterside, but we all took kindly to the new life at the farm and +its various duties. Jessie soon became skilled in the work of +attending to the cows; and as for myself, I readily learned how to +mend a gate, to dig potatoes, to look after the sheep, and even to +follow the plough. Thus I busied myself until, in after-time, I was +able to take to the sea. + +When the warm weather came round, the boys and girls of Andrew +Drever's school were dismissed for their holidays. Sometimes, when +I saw some of them passing along the cliffs with their climbing +ropes over their arms, I confess I felt some twinge of regret that +I was no longer a schoolboy, and that my duties on the farm no +longer permitted me to join in the pleasures of a bird-catching +expedition. My fowling piece was now hung up in the barn, and few +were my opportunities of taking it down. What sport it would have +afforded me had I been still a schoolboy! + +On a certain fine morning, soon after the holidays commenced, I was +very busily employed at the work of helping in our sheep +shearing--not that I myself ventured to handle the shears; my part +in the business was simply to carry the wool into the loft, and to +assist in bringing out the sheep from the pens as the shearers +required them. My mother, who had been born and brought up on +Lyndardy farm, was, however, an expert hand at sheep-shearing, and +I believe there was no other woman in the whole parish of Stromness +who could do the work with such speed and neatness. + +I was admiring the skill with which she stripped a sheep of its +fleece, and standing near her at the same time, with a black-faced +ewe between my knees, ready to pass the animal to her when she was +ready for it. Letting the shorn ewe escape, she stood up and looked +over the moorland in the direction of Stromness. + +"Hullo! here's some stranger coming up the brae," she said, shading +her eyes with her hand. "Who in the world can it be, Halcro? Surely +it's not the dominie?" + +But the dominie it was. He came up to where we were at work, and +sat upon a heathery knoll near my mother, with whom he engaged in +some ordinary gossip. + +"But," said he, after a while, "it was Halcro himself that I came +up to see." + +"Me!" I said. "What can ye want to see me about, Mr. Drever?" + +"To tell you that I'm to gang to Edinburgh," he replied. + +"To Edinburgh!" I exclaimed, wondering what his mission could be. + +"Ay, Halcro, I'm to be there for a few weeks, partly on pleasure +and partly on business, concerning our auld friend Jarl Haffling. +The museum folk there are anxious to have the viking's treasure, +and I hae gotten permission to deal wi' them in the matter. I dinna +ken what money they will gie me for the things; but, ye see, +whatever it be, Halcro, a third part of it will come to Hercus and +Rosson and yersel', to be divided among ye. Do ye agree to that? +Will ye trust me to transact the business for ye?" + +"Oh, certainly, sir. But surely it's ower muckle trouble to put you +to?" I said. + +"Trouble! Dinna think o' trouble, lad. Why, these auld coins and +things hae been mair pleasure to me than I can tell; for, look ye, +all the time I hae had the keeping o' them, I hae been studying +them; and--and, Halcro, I hae even written a little book about Jarl +Haffling's grave, and I shouldna be surprised though that book be +printed. Think o' that, lad! A book written by your ain dominie +printed! Nay, nay, Halcro, dinna speak o' trouble." + +"And what is being done about Tom Kinlay, sir?" I asked. + +"Weel, as to that, ye see, the lad has broken the law by +appropriating his part o' the treasure, and selling it. I can do +nothing mysel', beyond stating the nature o' his offence. The law +must tak' the matter into its own hands. Beyond a doubt it will do +so; and ye'll see, Halcro, that it was far better for you and the +other two lads to put the viking's treasure into my hands, instead +o' makin' fools o' yersels as Tom Kinlay has done." + +"I am sure, sir, I am perfectly satisfied," I said. "And now, Mr. +Drever, I suppose you will wish me to give up my magic stone? Must +it go to Edinburgh with the rest?" + +"The talisman? Weel, I hadna thought that. Ye see, it isna worth +muckle. No, I think ye needna send it now. But keep it wi' care, +dinna lose it, just in case it is wanted. Of course I hae written +about it in the book, and it may be claimed; but keep it for the +present, Halcro." + +The schoolmaster left me to continue my work, and three days +afterwards I heard that he had started for Edinburgh in a trading +sloop that plied between Kirkwall and Leith. + +He was absent in Scotland for nearly two months, and when he +returned I received a message from him asking me to bring Willie +Hercus and Robbie Rosson down to the schoolhouse on a particular +evening. He welcomed us with much affection, and during tea he +related to us many of his experiences in Edinburgh. + +But his chief reason for having us with him on that evening was, as +he said, to give us an account of his stewardship in regard to the +viking's treasure. He had had several interviews with the +authorities of the Antiquarian Museum, with whom he had finally +left the curiosities, receiving in return a due share of money to +be delivered in equal portions to the three of us. + +I believe that the Jarl Haffling's treasures may be seen to this +day in the Antiquarian Museum of Edinburgh; but I have seen only +the catalogue, in which the curiosities are enumerated and +described as having been found by some boys playing on the shore of +Skaill Bay, Orkney. Be that as it may, the money brought back by +Mr. Drever--which was greatly in excess of our expectations, and +allowed to each of us a share much larger than Tom Kinlay had +received from old Isaac--came as a great help not only to my +mother, but also to the widow of Tom Hercus, to say nothing of Mrs. +Rosson, whose rent had fallen so far in arrear that she had been +threatened with an eviction from her cottage, and was only saved by +this timely assistance. + + + +Chapter XXVI. A Subterranean Adventure. + + +It was little that I saw of my old school companions now that I had +become a farm worker and spent my days in the fields. Sometimes, +indeed, when I was tending my nibbling flock on the hillside, or +driving them over to the distant pasture land by the margin of the +loch of Harray, where the grass grew sweetest, I would chance to +see Thora Kinlay on her way from Crua Breck to Stromness, and +occasionally she would come to Lyndardy to see my sister Jessie. +These were the summer days; but when the harvest season came round, +and our crop of oats had to be gathered in, and, later still, our +turnips stored away for the winter, I was then always busy with my +work, and very seldom had opportunity of speaking with Thora, or of +even seeing her from a distance. + +And yet I had often a wish to be near her, and to show her what +kindness or sympathy a lad can show to a girl whom he believes to +have but little happiness in life. For the treatment that Thora +received at her home was becoming day by day more severe. + +With Tom she of course had no pursuits in common; he treated her +with harshness, and as much as possible she avoided him. Even Mrs. +Kinlay seemed to regard her with very scant affection, and as the +girl grew in years her position at the farm became that of a +servant rather than of a daughter. As for Carver Kinlay himself, he +seldom spoke a gentle word to body or beast, and Thora had no +exception from his severity. His continued ill treatment of her +was, however, the more difficult to endure, since from simple abuse +it often extended to actual brutality. She could never understand +why her father and mother were so unkind to her, and to hear a few +words of sympathy was always comforting. + +One day late in the autumn I was tending our sheep on the banks +above the cliffs of Gaulton, lying on the soft green turf with my +hands under my chin, looking dreamily across the sea towards the +blue outline of hills on the Scotch coast. I had just finished +reading the last pages of Robinson Crusoe, and the book had fallen +from my hand. Like my sheep, I was languid with the heat of the +noonday sun, and the sight of the ships and the whirling seagulls +was refreshing to me. The sound of the waves down below on the +rocks was soothing. + +Presently something dropped lightly on the grass before my eyes. It +was a sprig of sweetbrier. I turned lazily and saw Thora standing +by my side. Without speaking a word she sat down, and together we +looked out upon the blue sea. + +We remained silent for several moments without greeting each other. +But at last I said: + +"I was thinking maybe you'd be coming across to see me, Thora, one +o' these bonnie days, now that we never meet at the school. It was +good o' ye to come." + +She turned to me with a smile, but I saw that her eyes were +moistened with tears. + +"What has gone wrong, Thora?" I continued. "Has Carver been ill +using you again?" + +"Yes, he's aye using me ill," she said, sobbing and wiping her +eyes. "I was in the garden just now, nipping some dead leaves from +the briar bush, when he came in at the gate. He never likes to see +me among my flowers, and when he found me there he got into a +passion, and walked over the beds, and kicked the plants about with +his sea boots. Then he ordered me away into the house, and said +that if I wanted work to do, I might go and clean out the stable. I +told him that was a man's work, not a lassie's; and at that he took +up a stick, and struck me with it across the back." + +And here she sobbed again. + +I did not speak, but I felt my blood run hot in indignation against +Carver Kinlay. I would have liked to thrash him. + +"If I were a lad like you, Halcro," she continued, "it's not long I +would bide at Crua Breck. I would run away to sea. But what can a +helpless lassie do? Nobody has a good word to say for my father +since the Curlew was lost, and--I canna help it--I hae just as +great an ill will at him as anybody else has." + +"They say that it was all through Carver that my father was +drowned," I said. + +"Tell me, Halcro, what was the quarrel between your father and +mine? What way did it come about?" + +"Well, I canna tell ye the ins and outs o' it all, but my father +had some secret about Carver, and Carver was aye afraid o' him. You +see, Thora, folks say that when a man saves another from the sea, +there's sure to be a quarrel between them. And my father saved +Carver Kinlay--not, perhaps, from the sea, but he saved his life." + +"How was that, Halcro?" + +"It was when you were a bairn, Thora. A ship was wrecked here on +the Gaulton rocks, and all your family were aboard. Your mother and +Tom were picked up by the Curlew, but Carver and you werena found +for some days after the wreck. My father found you both in a cave, +down in the cliff, and if it hadna been for him, I suppose you +wouldna be here now, Thora, to say that Carver had beaten you." + +"That's a strange thing you're telling me, Halcro. I never heard of +it before. And what ship was it that was wrecked?" + +"The Undine." + +"The Undine! I've seen that name on a box at Crua Breck that father +keeps his money in. But tell me all about it. Did Captain Ericson +tell you about the wreck?" + +"No. I only heard of it a week before he was drowned. It was Colin +Lothian and my uncle Mansie that told it me. Auld Colin kens all +about it, and more than he told to me." + +"Colin is a good old man, Halcro. When next I see him I will ask +him to tell me what it was that he kept from you. Colin would keep +nothing from me, I believe." + +"Maybe not. But listen, and I will give you the story as I heard +it." + +Thora lay down on the grass, with her hands under her chin, and I +proceeded to tell her of the wreck of the Undine. + +"Thank you, Halcro!" she said when I finished. "That is all very +new to me. I remember nothing of being in that cave. How cold I +must have been! But Carver was good to me then. I can almost +forgive him for trampling over my flowers." + +Then, after a pause, she asked: "Have you ever been in that cave, +Halcro? Where is it?" + +"I've not been in it," I said; "but I ken whereabout it is. Come +and I will show you." + +And then I took her out to an abutting point of the headland, and +indicated the position of the cavern behind a great rock that hid +its entrance, a few feet above the high-tide mark. + +"Halcro, d'you think we could get down there and see the cave?" she +asked. "Where are your climbing ropes?" + +"We can manage it, I think, if you'll try it with me, Thora," I +said. + +"Ay will I try it. Do you think I'm afraid?" said she. + +Now, this adventure that Thora proposed was no small one, for the +North Gaulton cliffs are amongst the wildest and most rugged in all +Pomona, and they are very steep and dangerous to the climber. Yet +Thora was a cool-headed girl, strong of foot and wrist, and very +adventurous. I remember on one occasion, when several of us were +bird nesting together on the Black Craigs, she happened to get +stranded on a corner of rock, and could not either return or get +round the projecting point. I was watching her, and saw that she +had the wrong foot foremost. Her position was extremely dangerous, +for one false move would have sent her headlong to a frightful +death. But, holding on with one hand, she coolly took a piece of +oatcake from her pocket, and munched it. Then with a dexterous +movement she changed her position, got safely round the point, and +went onward. + +"Why, Thora, were you not feared for yoursel?" I asked, when I got +near her again. + +"If I'd been feared, Halcro, I wouldna be here now," she quietly +replied. + +"I daresay that; but what made ye think of eatin' the bannock when +ye were in such danger?" + +And, said she, "Weel, I just thought I was needing it." + +But with all Thora's daring I was too sensible of the dangers of +the Gaulton Craigs to allow her to make the descent of an +unfamiliar precipice without climbing ropes, and when we had +determined to explore the cave, I ran home for my lines and an old +piece of tar rope to use as a torch in case we should require a +light. + +Thora was anxious about my sheep possibly straying in my absence, +but I had a certain confidence in my flock, and assured her that as +I had never known them to stray, there was little danger of them +doing so now, especially as I had no dog to drive them over the +banks. We accordingly left the sheep grazing or sleeping +contentedly on the open braes, and proceeded on our adventure. + +One end of the rope was firmly secured round a jut of rock, so that +the other extremity, when it was thrown over the brink, would fall +as near as possible to the mouth of the cavern. I went down some +distance to see that all was right and easy, and then we made the +descent together. + +Neither of us made much use of the rope, but it was there for Thora +to take hold of if she should find that she could not get secure +hold on the jags of rock for her feet and hands; and I kept close +to her to aid her if need were. A stranger in Orkney might have +marvelled to see us, a lad and lass, climbing with such ease about +the face of a precipice of nearly two hundred feet in height above +the turbulent sea; but the thing was simple enough to our practised +hands and feet, and the regular layers and shelves of the old red +sandstone afforded for the most part secure resting places. + +As we got further down, the disturbed sea birds fluttered and +screamed around our heads, the boldest even offering to peck at our +hands, but fearing to do so for all the clatter they made about it. + +Once a great gray brent goose, with black head and staring eyes, +approached Thora with a loud, harsh cry, and flapped its wide, +outstretched wings against her. Thora took hold of the rope tightly +with both hands, and placing her feet on a narrow ledge of rock, +looked round and uttered a shrill, "Tr-r-r-r," frightening the bird +away. + +When we got safely down to within a couple of fathoms of the +surface of the clear water, we left the rope and made our way along +a strip of flaggy gneiss, until we reached an immense boulder which +had been detached from the main cliff. This great rock lay before +the cavern in a way that, as we found, not only hid the entrance from +view, but also--except, I suppose, in very stormy weather--prevented +the sea from flowing in. I crept behind this barrier, holding Thora's +hand, and we were soon at the mouth of the cave. + +A slanting ray of sunshine found its way within, illumining the +great vaulted roof and the dripping stalactites, that looked like +giant icicles hanging above us. We were able to walk or scramble +over the rocks and shingle for a considerable distance. + +When we passed into a part of the grotto where the darkness +deepened, however, Thora began to show signs of timidity. She spoke +of having heard about many an Orcadian who, in attempting to reach +the innermost recesses of such caverns, had been taken possession +of by the evil spirits that were commonly believed to inhabit these +places; and the strangely-echoing sounds we heard were exaggerated +in her imagination, and became to her as the weird voices of +kelpies and water nymphs. + +I endeavoured to allay her fears as I proceeded to strike a light, +and reminded her of the magic stone that I had hanging at my neck; +but still she was reluctant to go further. + +"Take you the stone yourself then, Thora, if you're afraid," I +said, as I took the cord from my neck. "It will keep you from +danger." And I looped the cord over her head. + +Now Thora had an implicit faith in the virtues of that little +stone, and when she felt it resting on her throat her fears were at +once conquered. + +It took some trouble to light our torch, but with the help of some +wool from my cap as tinder I set to work with flint and steel, and +at last we got the tar rope in a blaze. Thora took the torch in +hand and picked her way over the rocky floor, exploring every nook +and cranny of the cave. So rapidly did she skip from stone to stone +and climb over the intervening boulders, that I frequently found it +difficult to keep up with her. + +We tried to find some traces of the wreck of the Undine, or of +anyone having lived there, but we found nothing beyond a great heap +of oyster shells that had been thrown into one corner. But Carver +Kinlay might very well have existed comfortably in this immense +place, for, besides the dried fish that he was said to have found +among the wreckage, there was a fine bed of oysters within easy +reach of the entrance to the cave, and these shellfish are good +enough eating, I believe. How he managed to keep Thora alive for so +long without other food was, however, a thing I could with +difficulty understand, unless she fed upon the sea-birds' eggs. +Thora, herself, remembered nothing of having been in the cave +before, but she was very anxious to reach its furthest limits, and, +trusting to me to follow her, she went fearlessly onward. + +Sometimes she would stoop to lift a stone, and would throw it in +front of her to discover if there was a clear passage, for the +light burned but dimly. Once when she did so the stone fell upon +something that gave a peculiar hollow sound, as though some wooden +box or barrel had been struck. + +I took little notice of this, for I was at the moment groping my +way into a side chamber of the cave. I was feeling my way back +towards the torch, when Thora called me to her as though she had +made some new discovery. But as I hurried in the direction whence +her voice sounded, I was startled by a loud and piercing scream +which filled the cavern and re-echoed through the empty corridors. +For a moment I fancied it was the shrieking of some monster +inhabitant of the cave and was about to beat a retreat when I heard +my name called again. + +"Halcro! Halcro! Help! help!" + +And then the whole place was in utter darkness, and I heard nothing +but the dying echoes, and a strange purling of running water. + +I made my way as speedily as I could to where I had last seen the +lighted torch, and as I got further and further into the cave, the +sound of running water grew more distinct, until I heard it just at +my feet. It was not the singing ripple of a shallow rivulet, but +the sonorous sound of a deep stream that, so far as I could make +out, ran athwart the cavern. I went down on my knees and put my +hand in the water to feel which direction it took, for I did not +now doubt that my companion had fallen in, and was even now +struggling somewhere in the dark water that was rushing past me. + +My first impulse was to throw myself into the stream and swim about +until I found her, but this I considered would be vain, and I tried +to first find where she was by getting her if possible to answer +me. I called her several times by name, at the same time following, +as well as I could in the darkness, the direction taken by the +current. Oh, how I wished we had brought two torches instead of +only the one that was now lost! + +As I crawled about from rock to rock, guiding myself by the +indistinct sounds I heard, I blamed myself for not having listened +to Thora's words of expressed fear at the opening of the cave. That +she had the viking's stone in her possession was a matter of small +comfort to me when I seriously reflected upon the extreme danger of +the situation, and I feared that, in spite of the supernatural aid, +she might even now be drowned, and that I would never again see her +fair face in life. + +But I was determined not to leave the cave until I had found her, +and, accordingly, I continued the search with growing consternation. + +No response came to my constant cries of "Thora! Thora!" and I +wandered hither and thither in the difficult darkness for what +appeared to me fully an hour's time. I became hopeless, and even +thought of trying to find my own way out of the cavern, that I +might summon help from Crua Breck. But still I was urged by some +inward feeling to go onward yet a little further. + +Passing at length round an abutting angle of ragged wall, I entered +what appeared to be the extreme chamber of the cavern; and here my +eyes were for a moment dazzled by the appearance of a bright though +thin beam of golden sunlight, which shone from the west through a +narrow fissure in the rock, and glittered upon the unruffled +surface of a large and deep pool of water. With renewed hope I +again called Thora; but not far from where I was standing the water +curled in a cascade over its rocky bed, so to continue its +subterranean course into the sea, and the noise it made in falling +rendered my voice inaudible. The sight of that dark water gliding +smoothly to the edge of rock, and there tumbling over into greater +depths, seemed to tell me only too plainly what Thora's fate had +been. + +I now began to despair of being able to escape into the outer air +before the night came on; the changing hues of the stream of light +that entered the cave already indicated the setting of the sun. But +by the welcome help of such light as remained I carefully surveyed +the chamber in which I stood. + +Just as I was giving a last look round, I observed a slight +movement on the opposite edge of the stream. One hurried glance was +enough, for there, not a dozen yards from me, was Thora, clinging +with clasped hands to a large piece of rock, her long, fair hair +touched by the fading crimson light and dangling in the stream, +that rapidly passed her as though it would sweep her with it to +some unknown destiny. She seemed totally unconscious of all that +was going on around her, and I saw that her exhausted strength +could not long sustain her in her perilous position. Even as I was +thinking how best to reach her, I saw her hands suddenly relax +their hold upon the rock, and her helpless form floated slowly with +the current towards the dark abyss beyond. + +Without hesitation I plunged into the stream. A few strong strokes +brought me to her side, and with one hand I firmly grasped her by +the arm. Another second and we both would have been carried over +the cataract, but the sense of our imminent danger gave me courage, +and with a great effort of strength I swam with my burden to the +side of the stream from which I had plunged, and eagerly clung to +the rock until my strength was renewed. + +It was with considerable difficulty that I at last managed to raise +myself and the girl from the water, and place her unconscious form +upon a flat slab of rock. And now I endeavoured with such simple +skill as I could command to restore her exhausted animation. This +was a task I was little fitted for; but just as the last faint ray +of light died away and left the cavern in darkness, I had the +satisfaction of hearing her draw a deep breath and then utter my +name. + +I found it no easy thing to carry her in my arms to the mouth of +the cave, and many halts did I make by the way, trying to discover +the light that should tell me that our peril was over. Before we +had gone very far, however, she was conscious enough to help me in +some sort, and by our united efforts we at length got so far on our +right way as to come in sight of the light of day, and thereafter +our journey was easy. The evening breeze that met us revived my +companion considerably, and she was able to stand up and thank me +in her girlish way for delivering her from her dangerous plight. + +When she was sufficiently recovered to speak, she told me how it +was she had fallen into the water. + +She had found a large tarpaulin spread out as though it covered +some hidden boxes, and, calling to me, she had tried to raise the +tarpaulin to look beneath it. But in standing up to do so she +unfortunately missed her foothold on the slippery rock, and falling +backward was plunged into the stream; and this was all that she +knew, except that being swept along by the water and struggling to +keep afloat she happened to touch a rock at the side, and had there +held on until, as she had expected, I was able to help her. + +Having thus far got out of the cave, there remained yet the +difficulty of climbing up the cliff in the twilight. If I could get +Thora as far as the rope, I felt that the rest would be +comparatively easy. But she was very weak and cold, and I feared +for the result. + +Fortunately, the shelf of rock along which we had to pass was +sufficiently wide for us to walk along by clinging to the cliff. +This was done with great care, and when the rope was reached I +bound it several times round her waist and secured it firmly under +her arms. Being assured that she was then quite safe in her +position, I took hold of the higher part of the climbing line and +with its assistance scaled the crag. + +When I reached the top I gave Thora the signal, and by hauling the +rope up with all my strength I helped her to ascend. It was a long +time ere I felt sure that she was safe, but at last I heard her +call out that she was all right, and I stretched my hand down to +her. She took hold of it, and I assisted her until she stepped once +more upon the soft turf, and then, still holding her hand, I led +her home, deeply thankful that our adventure had ended without +fatality. + + + +Chapter XXVII. A Family Misfortune. + + +I must now tell you what happened on that afternoon while I was +away from my sheep, neglecting my work, and seeking useless +adventure in the North Gaulton cave. But I must go back to record a +conversation that took place at Lyndardy on that same morning, so +that you may understand the gravity of the misfortune which was the +result of my neglect. + +We were sitting over our early breakfast, my mother, Jessie, and I, +discussing the family resources for the coming winter--a subject +that had given us much anxiety since the death of my father and +uncle. Our concern was intensified by the fact that our harvest had +not turned out so fruitful as had been anticipated; for the oats +were light in the grain and the potatoes diseased; and the expenses +incurred for repairs and improvements on the farm, had well-nigh +exhausted the ready money that had been left by my father or +procured by the sale of the small boat and various articles of +furniture from the old home. To make matters worse--and this it was +that suggested the discussion--Jessie had been down in Stromness on +the previous evening, and there ascertained that the price paid for +straw-plaiting, which was never very high, was to be greatly +reduced. + +"I'm sure we're ill enough off already without them cutting us down +at such a rate," said my mother, as she took a sip of tea from her +saucer. "If it had not been for what the dominie brought from +Edinburgh for Hal's silver, we'd have been most hard pressed this +while back. But what we're to do when the winter comes round, I +dinna ken. It's certain we'll not have meal enough to serve us; and +there's the rent to pay, and clothes to get, and nothing coming in +at all." + +"Well, mother," said Jessie, "dinna take on so ill about it. We're +not more hard pressed than our neighbours. Look at Janet Ross with +all her bairns, and her rent owing for three terms; and auld Betty +Matthew, at the Croft, who hasna a penny forbye what she gets at +the kelp burning. We have our two bonnie cows, and a score of good +sheep, and all our hens." + +"We have all that," replied my mother. "But I'm thinking the sheep +must be sold at Martinmas, or we'll not have much of a living for +winter." + +"Then, if you sell the sheep, Halcro will need to go to the +fishing," said Jessie. + +"He'll need to get work somewhere. The lad canna aye be idle; and +there's nothing but the fishing for him, I doubt, if he doesna gang +to the piloting with Carver Kinlay." + +"No, not that," I said. "I'd rather burn kelp than have anything to +do with him." + +So it was agreed that our sheep were to be sold, and that I must +find work of some sort whereby to help the family. + +Now, in the afternoon, when they found I did not come back to tea, +they surmised that I had already gone to look for employment at +Kirkwall, and they waited impatiently for my return. After tea my +mother went to the byre to attend to the cows, and Jessie stood for +a long time at the door looking out for me. Seeing no sign of me, +nor of the sheep, she walked in the direction of the North Hill, +there to get a wider prospect. She looked towards every likely +quarter, but the last place she thought of looking at was Kinlay's +clover field. There were some sheep grazing there, but Jessie never +imagined that they were the sheep of Lyndardy; for what should take +them into that forbidden pasture? + +And yet their number was remarkable. Yes, there were our twenty +sheep, with our big cheviot in their midst, coolly enjoying +themselves in the fine clover grass that Carver was jealously +reserving for the benefit of his own ewes. Without waiting to +explain to herself the meaning of what she saw, or the reason of my +being away from the sheep, Jessie hastened towards the clover +field. As she approached, however, something occurred that made her +run with all speed. + +Suddenly there was a commotion among the sheep and a noisy barking, +for in their midst was Tom Kinlay with his great retriever dog. He +chased the sheep into a corner of the enclosure, and proceeded to +belabour them with a heavy stick. The cheviot, however, bolder than +Tom had supposed, turned at bay, made a heavy rush at him, and +butting him aside bounded over the low wall, followed by all the +flock. + +Tom was soon on his feet, and with his dog he gave chase. One of +the small Shetland ewes was overtaken, and disabled by a knock on +the head. The other animals, led by the cheviot, were running madly +towards the cliffs when Jessie, arriving on the scene, attempted to +intercept them. But the dog was fleet of foot, and, encouraged by +Tom's cries of "After them, good dog, after them!" continued the +pursuit with high enjoyment. + +The cheviot, with the stupidity of its kind, saw not the danger to +which it was hastening. Panic stricken, it rushed towards a part of +the cliffs known as the Lyre Geo, and no efforts of Jessie could +divert its onward career. + +When Kinlay became conscious of what he had done he called back his +dog. But as he watched the sheep bounding and leaping on in their +mad course his apprehensions gave place to merriment; and when the +cheviot, with a high spring into the air, went headlong over the +precipice, followed by the smaller sheep, he burst forth into a fit +of laughter loud and uncontrolled. + +"You great brute, Tom Kinlay!" exclaimed Jessie indignantly; "if +Halcro had been here you would not have done this cruel thing." + +"Well," said Tom, "what for did the sheep go into our field, eating +up all the clover? Halcro should have been minding them. It serves +you right that the sheep have gone over the bank." + +This, and more that I know not of, was said between them. But +Jessie wasted no time in dispute. Her concern for the poor sheep +was too great for idle discussion. + +"Come away," she demanded, "and help to get the poor beasts from +the water." + +"Get the sheep from the water yourself," returned Tom stubbornly; +and whistling to his dog he went homeward as though nothing unusual +had happened. + +On looking over the brink of the cliff Jessie found that it would +be useless to attempt without assistance to recover any of the +sheep. Two of them she saw floating out to sea, several of them lay +apparently dead far down on the rocks. One had fallen on a +projecting part of the cliff, and others, instead of jumping over +the edge, had run down a narrow pathway, and, though not injured, +stood in danger from the fact that they could neither proceed nor +turn back without falling. + +Near as she was to Crua Breck, however, Jessie would not go thither +to seek the help she needed. Hurrying towards the croft of +Mouseland she saw two men at work in one of the fields, and they +readily laid down their spades and, after procuring a long rope, +went back with her to the Lyre Geo. Before sunset they were able to +recover the bodies of the animals that had fallen among the rocks, +as well as to rescue the sheep that were still alive. + +This had all taken place before Thora and I had come up from the +Gaulton Cave; and as we turned from the head of the cliff to go +home a cart was passing along the moor conveying the dead and +injured sheep to Lyndardy--the sheep which only a few hours before +we had all so hopefully counted upon selling at Martinmas. + +Sadly did we contemplate the poor remnant of the flock, and guilty +did I feel for having left the sheep unattended. At first my mother +blamed me sorely for what I had done; but when we talked the matter +over it seemed not so much my own fault in leaving the sheep (for +that had been done many a time before), but Kinlay's neglect in +leaving open the gate of the clover field, and Tom's inhuman +conduct in driving the sheep over the cliff. + +I do not know how it fared with Thora when she reached Crua Breck, +but I was not long in doubt as to the result of her immersion in +the underground stream. The next morning I heard by accident that +she was ill in bed. For many long weeks she lay weary and helpless, +and it took all the skill of Dr. Linklater of Stromness to bring +her round to health again. During this time I heard nothing of her, +and much did I fear that her illness was very serious. One thing +that consoled me, however, was the thought that she had the +viking's talisman in her keeping, for in the excitement of seeing +the cart passing with the dead sheep, I had entirely forgotten to +ask her for the return of the stone, and she went into the house +with it still suspended from her neck. I was confident that she +would keep it in safety, and while she had it in her possession I +felt that her recovery to health was assured. + + + +Chapter XXVIII. Captain Flett Of The "Falcon." + + +The unfortunate occurrence which deprived us of our little flock of +sheep brought an increase of sorrow and hardship to our family, +whose resources had already been so greatly impoverished; and when +the gloomy winter days came on, with their biting frosts and keen +cold winds, the prospects at Lyndardy grew as dull as the leaden +clouds that hung in the sky. Our mother's woeful sighs were painful +to my ears, while I felt how helpless I was to soften her sorrows. +Sometimes, when I saw the tears in her eyes, I would silently wish +for her sake that I was older and could do more towards filling my +father's place. + +But work of the kind I was fitted for was scarce in Orkney. Had I +been able to choose for myself I should have been, like my father, +a pilot. But the chain of circumstances which had made this the +vocation of my family for three generations was now broken. Carver +Kinlay and his crew were having things all their own way, and in +the meantime I was doing that most trying of all work--waiting and +hoping for what seemed to become every day less probable. + +But I did not pass my hours in idleness. Whenever an outward-bound +ship came into the harbour I sought her captain, and asked for a +berth aboard. Sometimes I would even walk as far as Kirkwall to see +if in that port I could get what was so difficult to procure in +Stromness. + +One cold, wintry day, when the wind was blowing strong and cutting +from the north, I found myself in Kirkwall. Walking along the +wharf, looking down upon the decks of the vessels that lay against +the old stone quay--brigs, barques, and schooners, some of them +bound foreign, but most of them from Scotland--I came to a little +coasting schooner that I had often seen in the harbour of +Stromness. She was named the Falcon. I was looking down at the +green copper plating near her cutwater, when I heard a gruff but +cheery voice calling out: + +"Hullo! there, young Ericson! Are ye not coming aboard, lad?" + +"Hello, Davie!" I responded, jumping down upon the deck. "Here's a +cold day for ye, eh?" + +He was a little, thick-set man, with a rippled, weatherbeaten face. +He wore a dirty, red, knitted cap, from which escaped a few curls +of iron-gray hair. A short pea jacket was closely buttoned over his +chest, and a pair of immense sea boots reached high above his +knees. + +This was David Flett, the same jovial old mariner who, it will be +remembered, warned me against the Jew on Stromness quay. He removed +a short black pipe from his lips as I joined him near the +companionway. + +"Have ye walked from Stromness the day?" he asked. "Ay, lad, but +ye'll be tired, I doubt. Come away below to the fire and warm +yersel'." + +And he led the way down the ladder and into a close little cabin, +where a rousing wood fire was burning under a good pot of potatoes. + +Captain Flett had spent most of his early days at the Greenland +whale fishing, but he had now settled down upon his own quarterdeck +to make a comfortable living for himself by helping others; +providing for the Orkney islanders, what they much needed, a market +of exchange for their native commodities. + +The Falcon was called a cargo packet; but David Flett was a man of +singular enterprise, and styled himself a general merchant. He had, +indeed, become quite an important trader in his own way by +speculating in quantities of seemingly worthless goods, and +reserving them until time gave him a chance of disposing of them at +a profit. + +If a farmer in Ronaldsay told him he was badly in want of a plough +or a pony the skipper would speedily find a farmer in another +island who had a plough or a pony to sell, and by thus bringing +buyer and seller together he made himself a friend to both. Nothing +was out of Flett's way. He had a genius for commerce. He would buy +an old anchor or a piece of sailcloth from someone in want of ready +money, and keep them in the hold of his schooner till he could find +a customer in some skipper whose anchor had been slipped or whose +sails were in need of repair. I believe he made it his business to +find out exactly what every person in Orkney was most in need of, +and straightway to set about getting it. + +A Hoy crofter once said to his master (whether in jest or earnest I +know not): + +"Eh, sir, but Flett's a wonderfu' man. I thought I had met wi' a +sore misfortune, twa months syne, when I lost both my cow and my +wife over the cliffs; but I went to Davie, and he has gotten me a +far better cow and a far bonnier wife." + +David Flett's habits were well known to me, and on seeing the good +man's genial face I at once thought of a way in which he could be +of service to me. It is always well to have a friend in court. Why +should he not be asked to get me a berth on one of the outgoing +ships? + +"Tak' a seat, now," said he, as he placed a stool for me in a warm +corner of the cabin. "Tak' a seat and tell us a' that's passing in +Stromness this while back, and then we'll get something to eat." + +While he was asking questions and listening to my replies, I +quietly observed the miscellaneous contents of the cabin. A curious +place it was--half cabin and half shop. From the ceiling hung many +hams and pieces of bacon, smoked geese, pots and pans, bundles of +tallow candles, and strings of onions. On two shelves nailed +athwart the compartment were rows of canisters containing coffee, +tea, rice, and other luxuries and necessaries, besides bottles of +drugs, bars of soap, squares of salt, and other articles of +commerce, to be retailed to customers in the remote islands. + +Presently a seaman, who was addressed as Jerry, came below and took +the potatoes from the fire, while the skipper drew a small table to +the middle of the floor and set it ready for dinner. The potatoes +were placed in a large dish in the centre of the table where we +could all reach them, and a joint of corned beef was added, with +plenty of oatcakes, cheese, and salt butter. + +When all was ready for the meal the mate appeared, from I know not +where, and took his seat opposite the skipper, and I drew my stool +between them, while the man Jerry sat nearer the fire on an +upturned cask. + +The mate, whose name was Peter Brown, was a red-faced little man +with a nose that had a decided list to the starboard, very untidy +in his dress, and given a bit to swearing, but a real good sort of +fellow, as I afterwards found, and a capital seaman. He had served +in English ships in the Baltic trade, but getting knocked about in +a storm rounding Cape Wrath, breaking his arm and his nose, he had +been put ashore at Kirkwall, where he had met with Captain Flett +and joined the Falcon, thirteen years before this time. + +"And now, my lad," said Flett, blowing a hot potato that he held in +his horny hand, "what brings ye all the way to Kirkwall on a cold +day like this? Ye didna tell us that." + +"Well, captain," I said, looking down at my platter and wondering +how I could eat its plentiful contents, hungry though I was, "I +just sauntered along to see if I could get some work. My mother's +sorely needin' help now, ye ken, since father was drowned, and I +maun be doing something." + +"Ay, ye're right there, lad; ye're right there. But what kind o' +work were ye seekin'?" + +"I carena what it be, if it's just work," I replied. "But I was +thinkin' I'd go in one o' the Kirkwall ships if there was one +wantin' a lad." + +"Weel, that's just most amazing!" exclaimed Flett, dipping his hand +into the dish and bringing forth another steaming potato. "For our +lad, Jack, has taken a strange misliking to the Falcon, and run +away to a bigger ship. + +"Jerry," he asked, turning to the seaman, "did ye hear onything o' +young Jack this mornin'?" + +"Ay," said Jerry. "He sailed yestreen in the Foaming Wave, the lazy +rascal." + +"We'll need a lad in his place then," said Peter. "Could Ericson +come aboard when we're round in Stromness?" + +"Ye see, Ericson," said the skipper, looking kindly at me and +casting another slice of meat on my platter, "Ye see the Falcon's +but a wee slip o' a craft, considerin'. But maybe ye'd get along +wi' us weel enough till a better offers. So, if ye like, Jerry +here'll make up a bunk to ye, and I'll see that your mother, puir +soul, doesna want for onything. Sandy Ericson was a good man, as +everybody kens, and his widow maun be cared for." + +Now this unexpected offer of employment was a thing that I had +reason to be very grateful for, as I did not neglect to show. While +wishing, with true Orcadian love of the sea, to sail for foreign +countries in one of the large vessels I had so often seen in the +haven of Stromness, I yet believed that there was no place in all +the world like the Orkney Islands--no cliffs so high, no sea so +blue, no homes so dear--and this new possibility of sailing with +Davie Flett in the Falcon among our own islands was more agreeable +to me, since it would not necessitate any very long absence from my +home, three weeks or a month being the usual extent of the voyage. + +Before I left the schooner that afternoon, therefore, the matter +was fully arranged. The Falcon was to be round in Stromness Bay in +a few days' time, and I was then to join her. + +Passing through Finstown on my way home, I was overtaken by Oliver +Gray's man in the inn gig. He gave me a lift as far as Stenness, +and thence I hurried to Lyndardy to tell my mother the joyful news. + +For the next few days, whilst my mother and Jessie were occupied +with the business of providing some warm clothing for me, for use +on the cold nights at sea, and in other ways preparing for my +leaving, I sought to add to our stock of winter provisions by a +free use of my gun. The eider ducks, or dunter geese, as we call +them in Orkney, are always plentiful in the winter time, and +valuable not only for their flesh, but also for their rich downy +feathers, and I managed to procure a good number of these. Over at +the fresh-water loch of Harray, too, several teals and sheldrakes +were taken. And then, when my sport was over, I hung up my gun in +its place in the warm byre, believing that I was now a man. + +So passed the time pleasantly and profitably until, much to my +satisfaction, the good ship Falcon arrived in the bay and dropped +anchor off the jetty. + + + +Chapter XXIX. In Which The "Falcon" Sets Sail. + + +It was on a gray, wintry Saturday morning that we set sail on my +first Orcadian voyage. I had, you may be sure, been up at an early +hour, helping to load the little vessel with its miscellaneous +cargo, to be carried to the many indolent island ports at which our +skipper proposed calling. We were ready by about eight o'clock, +when I was sent ashore along with Jerry to get two or three letters +from the postmaster that had been waiting two weeks for the Falcon, +to be taken to some of the outlying islands; for the schooner, in +addition to her regular work, also carried the Queen's mails. Then, +aboard again, we weighed anchor, the harbour was cleared, and we +dropped below the Lookout Hill into the Sound. + +It was a bitter cold morning, but my excitement on being outward +bound on my first trip was enough to keep me warm, and I paced the +deck proudly as we passed slowly into the broken water. Over the +brown slopes of Graemsay the late-rising sun struggled sleepily to +penetrate a dreamy haze; but soon his warmth had strength to melt +the white hoar frost from our rigging, and with a brisk breeze and +an outflowing tide we slipped through the Sound, dipping and rising +as we met the swelling waves of the outer sea. Then the great +headland of Hoy loomed into sight, its yellow and red cliffs +gleaming across the water as if sunshine always bathed them. + +From the deck, as we sailed blithely along, I watched the billows +rolling landward and dashing upon the hard rocks, resounding with +thunderous noise among the hollow chasms. I was unwilling to go +below before we had passed beyond the sight of Stromness, but when +we were abreast of the Black Craigs I thought I would go down and +have a drop of hot coffee. I had no sooner got into the cabin, +however, when, what with the pitching of the schooner and the smell +of the cheese and bacon and other things, I began to feel a +sickening, so I went on deck again and busied myself as best I +could, though the skipper had told me he would not expect me to do +any work until I got my sea legs. + +I soon fell into my simple duties, which were the more easy to me +since my acquaintance with ships and sailors in Stromness had given +me some slight knowledge of the routine work of a small craft. +Whenever the schooner was brought round on a new tack I was ready +to lend a hand with the ropes. I helped to keep trim the deck, and +even had the proud task of taking my trick at the tiller. When I +was well enough to venture below I had the duty of preparing the +meals, with the help of Jerry, who was man-of-all-work. But this +was not until we had been out some days. + +On the first day I did little but hang about on deck, or sit on the +weather gunwale with Captain Flett. The old man was very kind to +me, and even put his pipe away lest the smell of the smoke should +make me feel sick. + +One time, when we were so sitting together, I noticed an eagle rise +from a ravine in St. John's Head, and we watched the bird sailing +backward and forward on steady outstretched wing and finally +disappear amid the shadows of the Red Glen. This suggested a long +talk about the eagles that inhabited the solitudes of Hoy Island, +and the skipper told many a thrilling story of his own adventures +in search of eagles' nests in the time when rich rewards were +offered for every eagle killed. + +At midday the Falcon was abreast of the Old Man of Hoy--a curious +isolated pinnacle of rock some five hundred feet in height standing +out in the sea--and before the time of sunset we rounded Rora Head +and entered a beautiful sheltered bay with a fine stretch of +sloping beach, beyond which, on the brown moor, about a dozen tiny +houses could be seen snugly nestling together beside a flowing +stream that had its source away up amongst the hills. + +This was Rackwick, one of the chief hamlets of Hoy; and when the +schooner was brought well inshore the anchor was dropped. The +captain then ordered Jerry to blow the horn to announce our arrival +to the inhabitants far and near. Jerry thereupon took the fog horn +and blew it till the noise resounded and echoed for miles around. +Then we all went below to a meal of good Orkney herrings and hot +tea. + +The meal was just finished, and the men were lighting their pipes, +when a boat from the shore was brought alongside--a heavy, clumsy +boat with great square oars pulled by two burly crofters. + +When I went on deck with the skipper I found that our arrival at +Rackwick had been expected for some time. + +"Man, Davie," interrogated one of the crofters in a broad Orkney +dialect, "where has thoo been wandering sae lang? They was +expecting thee mair than a twa week syne. Was thoo thinking o' +starving us all?" + +"Starving you, Tam," returned Flett. "Nay, nay, lad, we'll see ye +dinna starve. Come aboard, lad, and let's know what you're needing. +We have everything you can want, from a needle to an anchor. So +just name it and you'll get it." + +"We're needing none o' your anchors," said the crofter in a +matter-of-fact tone as he climbed up the schooner's side, "but I +just mind now, Mary Seater lost her last needle a week syne, and we +have but twa needles in all Rackwick, so thoo'd better gie us a +penny's worth." + +Captain Flett told me to get the slate and pencil from below, and +as the crofter gave his orders for the articles required I wrote +these down under the initial item, "Needles, 1d." + +When all the necessaries were brought together, they formed a +goodly pile of merchandise in the boat. Here were bags of potatoes +and of meal, a few loaves of bread, some tin cans and crockery, +pieces of cloth, and coils of rope and small parcels of groceries. +I went ashore in the boat to help the two men to unload her, and +when this was done there was the work of bringing back to the +Falcon what things were to be exported or given in exchange for +goods received. + +When the last load was brought on board some ingenuity was required +to strike a just balance in the accounts, for in this primitive +community actual money, though well appreciated, was of less +consequence than money's worth, and the system of barter which +Captain Flett necessarily adopted was very difficult of adjustment. +However, my schooling was of some service to him in striking a +balance, and at nightfall the business was agreeably settled. + +The next day was the Sabbath, and in the morning Captain Flett +appeared on deck dressed in his finest clothes of blue cloth, and +wearing a very respectable soft felt hat over his neatly-brushed +hair. The mate, Jerry, and I were also apparelled in our Sunday +best. After breakfast we went ashore in the dinghy, and the four of +us made our way in a body up to the Manse. + +The room in which service was held was barely large enough to admit +so great an addition to its weekly congregation, but we were +permitted to take front seats near the chair occupied by the +minister, who thus was able not only to exchange occasional +civilities with the captain, but also to help himself to a frequent +pinch from the old man's snuffbox. + +I remember I thought the service extremely wearisome, and I soon +grew tired of listening to the doctrinal discourse that was given +for our benefit. I found diversion in looking through a little +window behind the minister, and in observing the curious +contortions which were given to a cow browsing on the heath outside +whenever the animal passed a certain round knot in the glass. + +Captain Flett remained ashore with the minister for the rest of the +day; and in the afternoon, when Peter was asleep in his bunk, Jerry +and I left the schooner and went for a walk across the hills. The +weather was not very inviting, for the wind blew in cold, cutting +gusts from the northwest, and there was little of interest to be +seen on the bleak, treeless waste. The coastline of Scotland was +hidden in mist, and even the crown of the Ward hi?^ll was covered +by the low-lying clouds. There would be little, indeed, to tell of +this walk were it not for an adventure that we encountered. + +We had got round into the Red Glen, and were resting on a great +gray boulder. Everything was so quiet in the shelter of the hills +that even the birds seemed to recognize that it was Sunday. Not a +living thing was to be seen or a sound to be heard, except the +soughing of the wind and the trickling of a burn down the hillside. +Presently a loud screech rent the air, and a large eagle swooped +swiftly above us, carrying in its talons a rabbit or other small +animal. Flying in gradually narrowing circles, the bird at last +alighted among some rocks on the opposite side of the valley. + +We ran as speedily as we could to where the eagle had dropped. To +our disappointment, however, the bird took wing and hovered high in +the air, but without its victim. + +Continuing our way in search of the rabbit we saw a very curious +sight. In the midst of a number of loose stones someone had set a +trap, but had evidently neglected it. This neglect would have been +hard on any animals that might have been taken, as their probable +fate would be death by starvation. But what was probable did not +happen in this case. When we reached the trap we found in it a fine +golden eagle, alive and in splendid condition. Around him lay the +remains--the well-picked bones--of some twenty rabbits and as many +grouse which his mate had brought, and so saved him from a +lingering death. + +The captive eagle, with its great beak dripping with the rabbit's +blood, flashed its bright round eyes and ruffled its feathers as +Jerry picked up a large stone and prepared to dash it at the bird's +head. Quick as might be, I arrested his uplifted arm. + +"O, Jerry!" I pleaded; "dinna kill him, man. We have not so many +eagles as that. Give the bird his liberty." + +Jerry dropped the stone, and looked at me with a kindly smile. + +"Well, Ericson," he said, "you're maybe right. A dead eagle isna +much good after all. We'll let the bird fly." + +Whilst Jerry attracted the attention of the eagle forward I went +behind, and, taking my knife from my pocket, I was proceeding to +open the jaws of the trap, when Jerry exclaimed, "Look out! look +out aft!" and before I understood his warning, I was thrown bodily +forward by a tremendous blow on my back. + +The first eagle had watched our proceedings while on the wing, and +had flown to her mate's assistance, alighting on my back, at the +same time burying her talons in my woollen muffler. In my fall, +however, I liberated the captive eagle, which hopped about lamely +for a while, and then giving a kind of guttural chuckle, flapped +his wide wings, and rose gracefully into the air. + +Jerry rushed forward to rescue me from the pecking beak of my +assailant. Fortunately the female bird, in her eagerness to follow +her mate, did not show fight when Jerry belaboured her with his +stick, but disentangled her claws from my muffler; at the same +time, giving me some severe scratches. Then she took to flight in +pursuit of her companion, and soon the pair of birds were seen +sailing side by side far up among the leaden clouds. + +I was not seriously injured, and, so far from regretting that we +had not been victorious in the encounter, we were pleased at being +the means of restoring the captive bird to its noble mate. + + + +Chapter XXX. An Orcadian Voyage. + + +Shortly after midnight, when I lay comfortably in my bunk, I was +awakened by hearing the anchor scraping and thumping against the +schooner's bow; then there was a hauling of ropes on deck and a +creaking of timbers as the sails were run up, and I fell to sleep +again before we had got out beyond the shelter of the coast. + +When I got up in the morning and went on deck, the island of Hoy +lay far to windward like a bank of mist upon the sea. We were far +out on the broad Pentland Firth, plunging about on the rough water, +with our mainsail double-reefed, and the flying jib pulling away +like to split itself in the wind. I enjoyed it all for a time; but +when I went below to help Jerry to get ready some breakfast for the +skipper, the smell of the coffee and the frying bacon overcame me, +and I was forced to go back to my bunk, where I remained for the +rest of the day helplessly seasick. + +The next morning, feeling better, I went up to get a breath of +fresh air, and found that we were hemmed in by a thick white mist +that crept round us, and rendered it difficult for Jerry, who was +on the lookout at the bow, to determine our course. We were making +for South Ronaldsay, and had been beating about all night, making +very little headway; and when the mist lifted before noon, it was +discovered that we had been driven down by the current, and had +come nigh to running into the black rocks of Stroma Island. + +Here, where two strong streams met with terrific force, the +turbulent water whirled about with wild irregular motion, and we +were swept now one way, now another, until it seemed useless to +fight against the current that controlled us. We were, in fact, in +the midst of that dangerous vortex locally known as the Swelkie. +Those who know the secrets of the ocean currents of the northern +seas have their own scientific explanations to give; but our native +boatmen and sailors, who were not so well acquainted with the +eccentricities of the Gulf stream as with the popular legends of +Orkney, accounted for the Swelkie in this way: + +A certain King Frodi had a magical quern, or hand mill, called +Grotti; the largest quern ever known in Denmark. Now Grotti, which +ground either gold or peace for King Frodi as he willed, was stolen +by a sea king named Mysing, who set the mill to grind white salt +for his ships. But it happened that Mysing had only learned the +spell to set the mill going, and knew not how to stop it. His +ships, therefore, became so full of salt that they sank, and Grotti +with them, before they could reach the islands of Orkney; hence the +Swelkie. This took place to the northwest of Stroma Island, and +ever since the sea there has not rested, for as the water falls +through the eye of the quern, it roars and rushes about, and the +quern goes on grinding and grinding salt, and giving its saltness +to the whole ocean. + +The mist having lifted, Captain Flett had a reef or two let out, +and himself took the helm until he got us into calmer water, when +we luffed to the windward and headed for South Ronaldsay, with a +stiff breeze springing up that gave us a clear seaway to get past +the Lother Reef, when we sailed steadily through a lesser rush of +tide across a quiet, landlocked sea, into the little haven of +Burwick, where in the gathering darkness the chain went rattling +down, and we came to a restful anchorage. + +But our stay at Burwick was not for long, as we had lost much time +in the outer sea, and the skipper wanted to get round to St. +Margaret's Hope. No sooner had we put a boatload of goods ashore +than we set sail again. And now that we were in smoother water, I +was not allowed to shirk my watch, but had to spend the better part +of the night on deck. + +A little after midnight we were sailing under easy sail through the +dark Sound of Hoxa. I was at the helm, the mate walking the deck in +front of me. The night was extremely cold, and some light flakes of +snow were falling. I had difficulty in making out the points of +land as we passed, but Jerry was at the bow, and I depended upon +him and Peter for my steering. Just as we were abreast of Stanger +Head, on the little island of Flotta, I thought I saw a small +vessel creeping along, well inshore. I drew the mate's attention to +it, and he was denying me, when a bright flash of light was seen, +followed by a loud report, as of a small piece of ordnance. Peering +through the darkness, we could distinguish the sails of a large +cutter, which was now bearing down upon us. + +"It's the Clasper," said Jerry, coming aft. + +"Confound him!" said the mate. "Does she take us for a smuggler?" + +From these words I at once understood the meaning of the shot that +had been fired; the revenue cutter had evidently mistaken the +Falcon for one of the famous smuggling craft of Scapa Flow. + +We were at once hauled round, and a boat from the Clasper came +alongside. A sprightly young lieutenant climbed over our starboard +bulwarks, followed by a sailor who carried a large lantern. This +the officer took from him, and coming aft to where we all three +stood, he held the light aloft peering into our faces. + +By this time our skipper came up from the cabin, rubbing his sleepy +eyes. + +"What's all the row, Peter?" said he. + +"Ah! Flett, it's you, eh?" said the lieutenant politely. "I'm sorry +to trouble you on such a cold night; I did not recognize your +schooner in the dark. But we have strict orders, you know. There's +a lot of it going on, and we must search you. A mere matter of +form, of course. You won't object?" + +"Nay, I don't object, Mr. Fox. Search away," said David, turning to +go below. + +A hurried search was made accordingly, but nothing suggesting +contraband traffic being discovered, the revenue men went away +perfectly satisfied, the lieutenant wishing us a goodnight, and +requesting us to keep the affair a secret when we arrived in +Stromness. + +Early on the next day we touched at St. Margaret's Hope--one of the +chief fishing stations of Orkney--and our course thereafter lay +along the eastern shores of the Mainland. + +Long and dreary was the passage northward from Ronaldsay to +Stronsay. The cold, frosty winds and weary, dark nights, made the +long watches on deck difficult to endure; but when my turn was +over, and I could get below to the fire, I generally forgot about +the hardships, and began to think that life at sea was really not +unpleasant. + +Captain Flett tried to make my position comfortable and my work +agreeable, and sometimes when I was on deck with him at night, he +would remain by me smoking, and make the time pass lightly by +telling me of his early experiences in the Dundee whaling ships; or +more often he would instruct me in seamanship, and teach me +regarding the tides and channels of Orkney. + +Thus during this voyage among the islands was the weariness of many +a night watch relieved. There was something to be told of almost +every place at which the Falcon touched. Often the talk would turn +upon the subject of wrecks, and of the wreckers who inhabited the +storm-swept islands, and were not above welcoming a shipwreck for +the sake of the valuable spoil they might procure. + +Anchored off a little port in Sanday, David told me of a minister +who, while professing to deplore the frequency of shipwrecks on the +coast, ended a prayer by saying: + +"Nevertheless, if it please Thee to cause helpless ships to be cast +on the shore, oh, dinna forget the poor island of Sanday." + +We pursued our tortuous course as far north as a place called +Pierowall, in the island of Westray; when we found that there was +need to continue the voyage still further to Fair Isle, a little +island that lies about midway between Orkney and Shetland, for the +people in that place, we heard, had got short of winter provisions, +and our skipper would not hear of returning until he had supplied +the deficiency. + +The weather became boisterous as we entered the open sea again, and +I had my first experience of really rough sailing. For two days the +schooner tossed upon the great white-crested waves which dashed +against her bows, broke in snowy foam upon the deck, and glistened +on oilskin and sou'wester. The wind whistled with piteous noise +among the ropes, and frequent showers of hail and sleet added to +our discomfort. + +On the third day after leaving the Orkneys we sighted Fair Isle, +looming faintly through a mist of snow, far to starboard. With +difficulty we tacked to windward, for the northeast wind had driven +us considerably out of our course. Darkness came on at about three +o'clock in the afternoon in these latitudes, and we wanted to make +the harbour in daylight. But though the wind fell, the snow and +mist came on so thickly that we quite lost sight of the island, and +in our difficulty a terrible thing happened. + +We were all hands on deck, and sailing close-hauled with a good +stretch of canvas set. I was at the helm, and the skipper standing +near me. Jerry and the mate were nailing some boards on the +companion hatch to keep out the snow from the cabin. Suddenly the +schooner gave a great lurch and fell off the wind. The mainsail +flapped wildly for a moment, and as we luffed again we went over +with a list that swung the boom back with such force that the ropes +that held it were slipped, and the spar struck the skipper a blow +upon the shoulder that sent him headlong overboard into the sea. + +Jerry and the mate saw the accident, and while I still held the +tiller hard a-port, they at once got out the boat. Jerry and Peter +each took an oar and rowed quickly astern to where Captain Flett +was swimming. + +It will be easily understood that, left to myself, I could not +manage the schooner with much skill; for, in the first place, I +could not without help bring the sails over on the other tack, and +in the second I could not well leave the helm. Indeed, I had the +greatest difficulty in hauling the vessel round, and before I +succeeded in doing anything beyond simply putting the helm a-port, +the driving snow had surrounded me in its mist, and I lost sight of +the boat. + +I could see it nowhere. I called aloud, but the wind whistling in +the ropes overpowered my voice. I left the tiller and got the fog +horn. But, alas! I had never practised blowing that instrument, and +try as I would, I could get no more than a feeble grunt out of it. + +Thicker and thicker grew the mist, and the snow fell in numerous +and heavy flakes. Darkness came on, and still never a boat could I +see, never a sound could I hear but the ceaseless swish of the snow +and the soughing of the wind. The schooner pitched and rolled +helplessly on the waves, and I was in terror lest the sails should +split in their mad flapping. + +I tried to secure the heavy boom that had been the cause of this +mischief, and after a long struggle with it I succeeded. Then I +went below and lighted the lamps, and having fixed them in their +places so that they might be seen from the boat I made another +attempt to bring the vessel round on the starboard tack and keep +her to the windward. + +All through that long dark night I beat about on the rough sea with +the snow driving cold and sharp upon me, and the waves breaking on +the deck. I was tired and sleepy after a hard day's work, yet I +could not think of this, nor of my hunger and my cold hands and +feet. My only object now was to recover my messmates, and as the +night wore on without my seeing any sign of them, I grew utterly +hopeless, for they were without food and far from land, and God +alone knew what had become of them. + +From my despair at the probable fate of the boat, however, I +gradually realized the fact that my own condition was not without +peril. Here was I, a slip of a lad, alone and helpless, out in the +open sea, in a schooner that three men could only with difficulty +manage. I had but small skill in seamanship. I knew almost nothing +of my whereabouts, and, added to these disadvantages, I had the +physical discomforts to endure of fatigue, hunger, and cold. + +At about nine o'clock I went below to get something to eat. The +fire was out, so I could not make any coffee; but there was a +bottle of spirits in the locker, and fancying this might do me good +I, for the first time in my life, drank some. I at once felt much +warmer, and I took half a glassful with some water and drank it +with the oatcake and cold bacon that I ate. + +Going on deck again, I felt much more comfortable; but the spirits +that had warmed my vitals soon had an effect upon me that I had not +counted upon. My eyesight became hazy, and I felt terribly +sleepy--so sleepy that I could not remain at the helm for fear of +falling into a slumber at my post. So I tied up the tiller, and, +for the rest of the night, walked the deck, only altering the +schooner's course when I thought that she was being driven too far +from the spot where the boat had put off. + +All the night through I peered over the dark sea, and at intervals +raised my voice, in the faint hope of coming across the boat. But +for all the lookout that I kept, never a boat could I see; and for +all my shouting, never a response to my cries could I hear. +Whatever had become of the skipper--whether he had been picked up +or was drowned--the mate and Jerry were gone, and I, the youngest +of the crew, was left alone on the Falcon to bring her back to +port, if haply I was not taken by her across the dreary waste of +ocean to some terrible and unknown destiny. + + + +Chapter XXXI. An Arctic Waif. + + +When the dim light of dawn fell upon the sea I looked over the gray +waters through the telescope. The mist had faded away, and the snow +had ceased to fall. A fresh breeze from the low east brought a +faint glimmer of sunshine with it. But though I searched the +horizon, and the wide intervening space of sea, yet could I +discover nothing of the boat, and Fair Isle was nowhere to be seen. + +Looking for that island--which I knew to be the nearest land--I +remembered the islanders and thought how little chance there now +remained of the Falcon rendering them assistance in their need of +provisions. I saw no possibility of reaching Fair Isle; for, as I +had seen it on the previous day, it appeared but a small rock; and +being out of all my reckoning, and, as I supposed, a considerable +distance to leeward, I did not think it wise to waste much time in +the vain effort to reach the island, the exact position of which I +was ignorant of. I might have beat about for two or three days, +perhaps, without sighting it, and yet I knew not what other land to +make for. + +The wind, which was now blowing east-southeast, was unfavourable in +an attempt to make for the Orkneys. The only alternative that I +could see, therefore, was to head the schooner round on the port +tack and bear northward to the Shetlands. + +I went below to look at the chart to determine my position and the +course I should take; and, to prepare myself for difficulties I +foresaw, I lighted a fire and made myself some coffee and cooked +some bacon for breakfast. When I had eaten a good meal and warmed +myself, a drowsiness came over me again, and I threw myself on the +skipper's bed to rest for a little while. + +I must have slept very soundly; for when I awoke the fire was out, +and I saw by the chronometer that it was nearly eleven o'clock. But +my sleep had done me great good, and I hurried on deck and looked +round. + +The schooner was labouring aimlessly for the want of the helm to +guide her and keep her on her course; but soon I brought her to +again and she went scudding along bravely. I made no doubt that at +the rate she was sailing I should sight Sumburgh Head early the +next morning. + +What troubled me most was that she appeared to be making a good +deal of leeway. This was my one danger, for if I should be taken so +much to leeward as to miss the southern point of the Shetland +Mainland, then I should lose my chance of making Lerwick. Thus I +might possibly be driven northward beyond the islands, and so find +myself in a worse plight than if I had tried to regain the Orkneys. + +The sight of a few fishing smacks on the far east inspired me with +renewed hope. They were making north, but they were too far away +for me to signal them. As a precaution, however, I hoisted a signal +of distress in case any passing ship should see the Falcon whilst I +was below or asleep at any time. But this was of no avail as it +happened, for all the rest of that day I saw not another sail. + +The next night was spent in weariness on deck, with a cold rain +falling. I managed to keep awake without much difficulty, for I did +not take any more spirits, but had a can of hot coffee beside me at +the tiller, and went below several times to keep the fire alight +and the kettle on the boil. At about midnight I saw a ship's light +to windward, but it soon dropped below the horizon. It showed me +that I was still on the sea track between Orkney and Shetland, and +I kept a sharp lookout towards morning for the Sumburgh light. + +Day broke with a haze over the water and a cloudy sky. The wind +shifted to the northeast, bringing snow. At midday the wind was due +north, and several inches of snow lay on the schooner's deck. I +boiled some potatoes for my dinner, and thought that I had +something to be thankful for in having a good store of provisions +on board. I was beginning to think that I should need them, for I +had not yet sighted the land. + +Again the night came, and still I had seen no more sails. I had +seen no land. The rays of the Sumburgh light never reached the poor +Falcon. I felt that I was drifting to westward, being carried away +in the grip of one of those mysterious ocean currents that are the +terror of the northern latitudes. + +On the fourth day of my lonely voyage I was oppressed by a deep +sense of the danger of my situation. I realized that I had missed +the Shetlands; that I could now do no more than abandon myself to +the will of the wind, and trust to falling in with some vessel that +might be making for the Faroe Islands or for Iceland. If I had had +a companion to take watch about with me I might have got along +fairly well; but with my hard work of trimming the sails, and +battling with the fitful winds, I could not do without sleep, and +during my hours of sleep the schooner always fell off her course, +and I could make no reckoning. + +Day followed day, and my situation underwent no visible change, +excepting only that the temperature became ever colder and colder, +that the snow fell more constantly, and that the mist hemmed me in +more closely. Sometimes at midday the mist would lift and I saw +around me the great wide stretch of desolate sea, with an ice floe +floating here and there. On one such occasion I fancied I saw land +on the windward bow, a white mountainous peak rose high in air, +and, not knowing where I might be, I took it to be one of the +joekulls of Iceland. But, alas! it proved to be but an immense +iceberg. + +In my solitude I naturally thought much of my home, now so far +away, and of my dear mother and sister, and their prayers for my +safety. For their sakes I dreaded to think that I might never +return to them again. + +I thought, too, of Thora, and wondered many times if she was +better, or if her illness had taken her away. + +I had before found comfort in the thought that she was protected by +the viking's stone. But, probably, I now needed its mystic help +even more than she. + +One afternoon--I think it must have been about the twentieth day of +my loneliness--I had been asleep for some three hours, and in a +kind of waking dream I saw a strange vague vision. A number of +persons, whose faces I could not rightly discern, were in a large +room. Amongst them was Thora, looking more beautiful than I had +ever seen her in my life, and she stood pointing with an accusing +finger at her brother Tom, at whose feet there crouched a lean dog, +snarling at him. + +I was awakened from my half sleep by the noise of a crackling and +scraping of ice upon the schooner's sides. I had seen many floating +pieces of ice during the past few days, but this, from the noise it +made, seemed to be an unusually large piece. I feared it might even +be an iceberg, and I hastened up on deck. + +I shall never forget the sight that greeted me. + +The whole sky was aglow with the light of the aurora borealis--or +the Merry Dancers, as we call the phenomenon in Orkney. A beautiful +crimson curtain, fringed with flickering streamers, spanned the +northern sky. From east to west there passed a succession of +trembling waves of light, many coloured, from faint rose to palest +yellow and delicate green. A heavy cloud of inky blackness hung +high above, and from its upper margin rays of fiery light flashed +far across the sky, casting their reflections upon the sea. + +Two ghostly icebergs, floating about a mile apart, reared their +snowy peaks on high, and in the channel between them--most welcome +sight of all--there sailed a ship. + +The vessel's sails were hanging stiff about the spars and her +timbers were coated with ice and snow. I steered the schooner +towards her, and we slowly approached. When I was near enough I +hailed her and waited, listening for an answer to my call. No +answer came. + +A feeling of awe crept over me. There was something strangely +desolate about her. No hand seemed to be guiding her helm. Not a +man was to be seen on her snow-covered decks. She sailed aimlessly +along, as though all on board had ceased to care when or how she +reached her destination. + +I brought the schooner close in to the stranger's side until we +touched, and then I got the large boat hook out and fixed it in her +chains. None of the ship's crew appeared to have remarked my +approach. What could they be doing? Perhaps, I thought, they were +all below decks. + +I climbed upon the Falcon's gunwale and looked through an open +porthole into the vessel's after cabin. I saw there a man seated at +a table, with his back towards me, apparently writing. + +"Hello in there! D'ye keep no watch aboard?" I cried. + +He appeared not to hear me, but held the pen in his hand as though +in deep meditation. + +I clambered up the vessel's side and got over the quarter rail, +taking with me the end of a stout rope with which to secure the two +ships together. The snow was deep on the stranger's decks, and bore +no trace of footsteps. All was quiet. . + +I crossed over to the companion ladder, and found my way down to +the door of the cabin. I knocked with my knuckles, but no voice +answered, and I went within. The man still sat at the table, +without turning at my entrance. The atmosphere was cold and musty; +there was no fire in the stove, although yet another man sat +crouched before it. I went behind the man at the table and touched +him on the shoulder. + +"D'ye not hear me, sir?" I said. "Are ye deaf? or what has gone +wrong?" + +He did not move. + +I looked down into his face. + +"Heavens!" I exclaimed, drawing back in horror at the grim sight. + +What did it mean? I made bold to look again, though I felt myself +trembling. A green damp mould covered his cheek and forehead, and +hung in a ghastly fringe over his open eyes. The man was a frozen +corpse! + +Terrified at the sight, I fled up the stairs with my heart wildly +beating. Regaining the deck I looked about me, but there was no +sign of life anywhere on the ship. Afraid to make any further +search, I clambered down into the Falcon and rushed below. I cast +myself before the fire, trembling and unable to realize anything +for the mortal fear that was upon me. I tried to forget the sight +of that face of death, with its horribly grim and mouldy features, +but it haunted me with terrible clearness. + +I roused up my fire and made some strong tea, and, drinking it, I +wondered why I had not thought of pushing off the schooner from +this death ship. It was now growing dark, and the thought of +spending a whole night alone in the near presence of dead men, +whose ghosts, for all I knew, might visit me, filled my mind with +strange and awful fancies. Even the sound of the wind whispering in +the ropes struck me with nervous fear. But the drink of tea and +what little I ate helped to revive my spirits, and gradually my +sense of awe was overcome by a curiosity that came upon me--a +curiosity to go aboard the vessel again and discover something more +of her singular condition. + +It was now wearing on towards night and I trimmed my lamps. +Lighting a small lantern, I carried it with me on deck. I made the +two vessels still more secure by means of a hawser rope, and then +went aboard the barque. As I began to climb up her side I was +conscious that she seemed to be deeper in the water than she had +been when I came alongside of her, but the discovery did not at the +moment trouble me. + +I carried my lantern across her quarterdeck, and with timid steps +again descended into the after cabin. The lantern shed a ghostly +light upon the figure of the man at the table. I walked round to +the opposite side from that at which he sat and turned the light +upon his face. His long beard was overgrown with the same green +mould that hung over his glassy blue eyes, and yet there was a look +of life about his features. + +I chanced to look at the ink pot in front of him. A little black +dust was all that it contained. Then I had a wish to see what he +had been writing in his log book. I drew the volume towards me and +turned it that I might read. The words were in English; they seemed +to have been written by a cold and trembling hand. The last lines +on the open page were in themselves a revelation. They were as +follows: + +"It is now seventeen days since we were shut up in the ice. The +fire went out yesterday, and our captain has since tried to light +it again. His wife died this morning. There is no more hope." + +I pondered over these words for some time, trying to realize their +sad meaning. + +"There is no more hope!" + +How long since had that sentence been written? How long had the ice +imprisoned this vessel in its cold, hard grip? + +I turned back a few pages in search of some recorded date, and +found this entry: + +"New Year's Day, 1831:--The ice still closing in on us. Opened last +bag of biscuits. Murray died this morning." + +So long ago! the year 1831! and now it was the year 1844! The ship, +then, had been lost for thirteen years! + +I turned the light upon the man crouching over the stove. His +features, like those of his companion, were covered with green +mould, and his beard was fringed with the same grim mildew. + +Taking my lantern I went through into the stateroom, and there I +found the body of a woman laid upon a bed. Her features were still +fresh and lifelike, but her black hair was powdered with the damp +green growth. Before her a young man was seated on the floor, +holding a flint in one hand and a steel in the other. A few sticks +of hard wood were piled up in front of him. I could but surmise +that these were the captain and his wife. + +From the stateroom I turned into the pantry. Not a sign of +provisions of any sort could I discover, either here or in any +other part of the ship. The galley fireplace was empty of fuel, a +few pieces of charred wood were the only remains of a fire. + +Before leaving the ship I went forward into the fore cabin. A dog +was stretched out as though asleep at the foot of the ladder, and +several sailors lay in their hammocks. They also were reposing in +the sleep of death. They all appeared to have died very peacefully; +but whether from the want of food alone or, as I have since thought +possible, from want of air, being shut up in the heart of an +iceberg, I had no means of knowing. + +I did not further continue my search of the vessel that night, but +went on board the Falcon, feeling sick and nervous. I could eat +nothing; but having taken a drink of hot coffee, I sat before a +good fire, thinking over what I had just seen, and planning what I +should do. + +If any one of those poor men could, in his dire need, have had a +drink of my coffee, or a spoonful of the good porridge I had made +but could not myself eat, heavens! how he would have relished it! +Here was I, with a schooner well loaded with provisions. Some +strange fate had brought me to this ship. But all that I could have +supplied was useless to the sufferers now. They had perished of +starvation and cold, and my food and fire were of no avail, for I +had come thirteen years too late! + + + +Chapter XXXII. The Last Of The "Pilgrim." + + +I could sleep but little during that long and wearying night. +Terrible thoughts haunted me--thoughts of my own peril and +loneliness, thoughts of the dead men that I had seen. Before +daybreak I was on deck, and in the dim light I noticed that the ice +which had been so scattered over the sea for the past few days had +almost disappeared. + +At daylight, looking overboard at the hull of the dread ship +alongside, I observed two things. The first was that we were +drifting perceptibly southward; this was satisfactory. The second +was that the larger vessel had sunk at least a couple of inches +deeper in the water; this was alarming. + +Now that it was daylight I was able to read the ship's name at her +stern, though I had first to knock away a quantity of ice and snow +from above the letters. I found that she was the Pilgrim of +Bristol. I had before perceived that she was not a whaler, nor did +she appear to have been fitted out for an Arctic voyage. I +marvelled much what had brought her to these seas, and whither she +had been bound, and what her cargo was. + +More than all did I wonder what I was to do with her. Here was I, +placed by strange circumstances in command of two vessels, a +schooner and a barque, and without the power or skill to take +either of them into port--not knowing, indeed, where a port could +be found. Had Davie Flett, Peter, and Jerry still been with me on +the Falcon, we might have taken the Pilgrim to Stromness; we might +also have given to her crew, or what remained of them, the decent +burial for which they had waited so long. But, as things stood, I +should have been thankful if I could have simply foreseen the +possibility of getting out of my position of difficulty, regardless +of either vessel. The sight of those dead bodies on the Pilgrim had +made me utterly downcast. Their terrible fate had suggested to me +the uncertainty of my own. + +When I had taken some breakfast, I again went aboard the Pilgrim. I +discovered that her cargo consisted for the most part of sulphur. +Now, sulphur I knew to be a product of Iceland, and I judged from +this that the ship had touched at that northern island. + +I went into the chart room. A couple of charts were spread out on a +couch. One of them was a chart of the north of Scotland, including +the Orkney and Shetland Islands; the second was a continuation of +the first, and gave the whole coast of Iceland and the sea beyond +as high as the seventy-seventh degree of north latitude. The ship's +course was clearly traced upon the charts in lines of red ink, and, +following it, I could see that the Pilgrim (sailing, I suppose, +from Bristol or some other English port) had rounded Cape Wrath and +gone in at Kirkwall, in the Orkneys; thence the course was +continued in a regular zigzag northward to a port on the north of +Iceland, and then due east, as though she had been making for +Scandinavia. But here the line became broken and irregular, and +swept round suddenly to the far northwest, as though the vessel had +been carried away by some adverse current or contrary wind away +into the Arctic seas. + +Here, then, I had a rough sort of explanation of the Pilgrim's +voyage. + +I was leaving the captain's room, taking the charts with me, when, +on giving a last look round, I noticed a sleeping berth curtained +off by a plaid shawl. I drew the curtain aside, and saw something +sparkling. It was a beautiful diamond ring that encircled one of +the fingers of a man's thin white hand. The hand was clasped over +some small object that I did not see. Turning down a heavy fur rug +that covered the man's dead body I noticed that his clothing, his +appearance generally, were not those of a seaman. He had a long, +silky, brown beard, and a very handsome face, which, however, was +marred by an ugly scar on the brow. I judged him to be about +thirty-five years old. Lying on his breast was a thick notebook, +which, on opening the pages, I found to be filled with writing in a +foreign language. + +Turning from the bed place I was again attracted by the man's +sparkling ring. I gently opened the hand and drew the ring from the +thin finger, and as I did so a small gold locket dropped from the +hand. It contained the painted portrait of a very beautiful girl +with fair hair and fine blue eyes. I looked in strange admiration +at the face. It had probably been the last object the dead man had +seen. With a feeling of reverence I put the locket back into his +hand. But with feelings that were less reverent I placed the +diamond ring on my own finger, and took possession of the notebook. +These, with the charts and the log book of the man in the after +cabin, I carried on board the Falcon. + +That afternoon I chanced to look overboard at the Pilgrim's +waterline. She had sunk at least three more inches. I felt that, +whatever happened to myself and the schooner, the Pilgrim at least +would never again reach port, and I determined to save from the +vessel what articles might be of use to me in case I should be able +to return to land. I therefore went on board again and took +possession of the ship's papers, some firearms and cabin furniture, +a number of English books, and a small chest that I found in the +captain's room. + +The wind had fallen almost to a dead calm very soon after I had +come alongside the Pilgrim, and I had thus been able to keep the +two vessels together without any difficulty. But that afternoon as +I sat before my fire reading a book on navigation--that part of it +relating to the art of taking an observation on the sun, moon, and +stars--the schooner listed over to larboard, as though the wind had +caught her sails. I rushed up on deck and found that a strong +breeze was blowing from the northwest, and was filling the sails of +both vessels. The Pilgrim, indeed, was sailing with considerable +speed, dragging the schooner along with her. + +I ran forward and cast off the rope that held us together. Not too +soon, for the barque was leaning over on her port side and visibly +settling down. + +As speedily as I could I trimmed the schooner's sails and got her +free. She took the wind bravely, and I left the Pilgrim to leeward. +I watched her struggling on the gradually rising waves as she +tossed about aimlessly for the space of about half an hour. Then I +saw her bows dip deep into the water and her stern rise high, +while, with a heavy plunge and a surging sound that came to me like +a melancholy groan, she disappeared, carrying her lifeless crew +with her to that tomb for which they had waited so long. + + + +Chapter XXXIII. The Light In The Gaulton Cave. + + +The favourable breeze from the northwest continued with little +variation for several days after the foundering of the Pilgrim, and +I kept the schooner on the one tack, sailing before the wind, with +the tiller often tied up for many hours together without my needing +to touch it. I contrived, after many failures, to take an +observation on the second day, for the sky was then clear, and I +had all the necessary appliances excepting only the skill to use +the quadrant with a seaman's confidence. I made out that I was to +the northwest of the Faroe Islands, and I made no doubt that I +should sight one of that group in the course of that same day or +the day after. + +But such was not to be my good luck. For eight full days and nights +I kept on the same course, with a dull, leaden sky above and a mist +creeping over the sea, and never a bit of land could I discover, +nor any light, whether of beacon or of ship. + +On the twelfth day after the sinking of the Pilgrim, however, I +saw, to my great joy, a strip of land on the southeastern horizon. +I had not the slightest notion whether it belonged to the Faroe or +to the Shetland islands, but I fancied it might be the latter. It +was a small island with a high rocky coast, and a vast number of +sea fowl flying about and above it. + +I was some six miles from the island when I noticed a brown-sailed +fishing smack bearing out towards me. As the boat came near enough +I hailed it. Two men were aboard, and they answered me in good +Orkney dialect. They dropped alongside of the Falcon, and I threw +them a rope's end. + +My first question was to ask them the name of this island. What joy +it was to me to hear once more a human voice, to see a fresh and +rosy face! + +"It's the Fair Isle," said one of them. "We thought you was lost. +Where have you been, my lad, all this while past since Davie Flett +fell owerboard?" + +"What!" I asked, "did Davie come ashore?" + +"Ay, did he," said the fisherman; "he was picked up by his own +boat, and they brought him ashore here the next morning. We sent +three luggers out to seek you yourself, when we heard that you were +aboard the Falcon alone, but they could find you nowhere." + +The men brought their boat astern and came aboard. I asked them +further about Captain Flett, and learned that he, with the mate and +Jerry, had only the evening before gone back to Orkney in a +Kirkwall fishing sloop. + +The two Fair Islanders then helped me to take the Falcon into their +small landlocked haven, where, having supplied the good people with +an abundance of provisions, I engaged the services of three +fishermen to help me with the schooner back to Stromness, and on +the morning following we set sail. + +It was well that I got this timely assistance, and that I was not +suffered to remain any longer alone on the Falcon, for on leaving +Fair Isle we encountered boisterous weather. For two days we were +tossed about on the great, white-crested waves of the open sea, and +frequent showers of hail and sleet added to our discomfort. The +storm abated somewhat as the rocky shores of Pomona hove in sight, +and soon the familiar bay of Skaill and the cliffs of my native +parish seaboard showed me that the voyage was approaching a welcome +end. + +It was evening when the schooner passed abreast of the rocks of +Yeskenaby, and now I watched eagerly for the light in the windows +of Lyndardy farm. As I looked landward, however, I observed +something through the growing darkness that excited considerable +wonder in my mind. Low down in the North Gaulton cliffs I noticed a +peculiar hazy light. Presently it grew brighter and developed into +a flickering flame and then disappeared. The light was not seen by +any of my crew; but from its position I judged that it proceeded +from a torch which someone was using in that cave in the cliff +wherein Thora and I had met with our adventure some weeks before. + + + +Chapter XXXIV. Colin Lothian Makes An Accusation. + + +When I went ashore at Stromness I found that Captain Flett, who had +landed in Orkney three or four days before me, had not yet come +over from Kirkwall; so next morning I paid off my three Fair +Islanders, who went over by land to Kirkwall, intending to return +to their home by the sloop that had brought my skipper and +shipmates. + +I saw the schooner safely moored in the bay, with her cabin door +locked and her hatchway closed, and then went up home to Lyndardy. +My mother and Jessie had already heard that the Falcon had come +into the harbour; they gave me a very warm welcome from this my +first voyage, and listened with interest and surprise to the things +I had to tell them. + +On my way through the town the following morning I chanced to meet +my old schoolmaster, who walked along with me as far as the quay. +He had two things that he wished to tell me: the one being that his +written account of Jarl Haffling's remains had been read before the +Society of Antiquaries in Edinburgh, and was to be printed in the +Society's Transactions; the other matter being that proceedings +were, he believed, very soon to be taken against Tom Kinlay for +having appropriated a part of the viking's treasure. + +When we had spoken of these matters, there was much for me to tell +the dominie; but as it was too cold for us to stand on the quay, I +took him with me aboard the schooner, where I had some advice to +ask him regarding my course in reporting the loss of the Pilgrim to +the underwriters. Seated in the cabin I told him my adventure, and +showed him all the books and papers I had taken from the barque +before she went down. He gave me what simple instruction I +required, and offered to help me in preparing my report for Lloyd's +agent. With this purpose in view I permitted Mr. Drever to take the +log book ashore with him, as well as the little chest that I had +taken from the captain's room on board the Pilgrim. + +I was pushing off from the pier, having put the dominie ashore, +when I heard myself called, and there, at the head of the piers +stood my skipper, Davie Flett, newly arrived from Kirkwall. How +thankful I was to see his familiar stumpy figure again I need not +say. + +He was coming down towards me when Carver Kinlay accosted him, and +kept him in conversation. But I approached the two men, taking +Flett by the hand. + +He gave little notice to me beyond a very ordinary greeting; but I +saw by his eyes that he was glad enough to see me, only that he +probably had some business to talk over with the pilot. I stood by +them, wishing they would be done. + +"And how's business in the islands, Davie?" said Kinlay in an +offhand tone. + +"Fairly weel! fairly weel!" said the captain. "Nothing to complain +o', ye ken." + +"Ay, I see!" said Carver; "no sae weel but ye might do better, eh? +I'm thinkin', Davie, ye need to open up a new line o' business +among the crofters." + +"Ah! and what business is that, pilot?" asked Flett. + +"Oh, I dinna just ken that, but ye canna aye sail on the same tack. +Now, supposin', for instance, ye were to start something in the +liquor line. Ye have grand facilities for that, have ye not?" + +"I'll not deny that I have the facilities," observed Flett, with a +curious twinkle in his eye. "But ye see, pilot, there's no demand +for liquor in the islands. What for would I tak' spirits to the +crofters when the poor folk canna more than pay for their +bannocks?" + +"Why, man alive, ye can surely make a demand? Just carry a good +supply of spirits in yer schooner, and I warrant ye'll do a grand +trade." + +"Ye're maybe no far wrang there," said Davie thoughtfully. "But +then, there's another difficulty, pilot; where will the spirits +come from?" + +"Why, man," said Kinlay, lowering his voice, "that's just the +simplest part o' the whole business. Think ye that no whisky comes +into Stromness forbye what gangs to Oliver Gray's? Why, man, if it +came to that, I could undertake to supply ye mysel' on the most +easy terms." + +"Ay, like enough," returned Flett, with a look in his face that +Carver did not observe. "Like enough--excise paid, of course?" + +"Oh! we needna say anything about the excise, Davie," said the +pilot, looking uneasy. "What does't matter about the excise?" + +Davie Flett quietly stroked his bristly chin, saying: + +"Weel, Carver Kinlay, it's the first time I have heard of a pilot +having a hand in that business. But, no doubt, a pilot has grand +facilities. However that may be, I'm not sure that the Orkney +crofters would welcome such a new line of business. Anyway, I have +more respect for the crofters and for their poor families than to +think of starting such a damnable traffic; nor am I in the least +disposed to turn a schooner of mine into a floating grog shop. Good +morning, pilot!" + +Kinlay winced visibly under this taunting speech of the trading +captain. Evidently he had mistaken his man in supposing that Flett +would descend to his own level, and aid in promoting the nefarious +traffic he suggested. Davie Flett's intimate knowledge of the +Orcadians, and the nature of his commerce with them, would +certainly have made it easy for him to do a considerable retail +trade. But, as I well knew, the skipper of the Falcon had +systematically avoided including spirits in his stock of marketable +commodities. Though himself no enemy to an occasional dram on a +cold night, he knew too well the evil effects that would probably +follow the introduction of strong drink among the innocent +islanders, who, for the most part, had the greatest difficulty in +gaining a simple livelihood. Even apart from his moral scruples, +Davie Flett had excellent reasons for rejecting Kinlay's singular +proposal. + +One thing that I gathered from this conversation was the suspicion +that Carver, who had often posed as a very innocent man, was, +either directly or indirectly, in league with the smugglers of +Scapa Flow. That could be the only way in which he could obtain +spirits or other illicit goods at a lower rate than through the +ordinary channels of commerce; and the pilot's evasion of the +question regarding excise almost confirmed my suspicions. + +Kinlay walked slowly away, and when he had disappeared, Davie Flett +turned round to me with open arms as though he would embrace me. + +"Halcro, my lad," said he, "I am real glad to see you. Thank the +Lord ye're safe!" + +"I might say the same to you, captain," said I. "How were ye +rescued, and where are Peter and Jerry?" + +"Peter and Jerry are at Oliver Gray's," he answered. "Come, let us +join them. As for mysel', why, there's nothing much to tell. I was +picked up by the boat ten minutes after I dropped owerboard. We +searched about for you all night. But ye mind what a mist was ower +the sea. It was no wonder we lost sight of the schooner. But ye're +safe, and that's a blessing." + +The skipper then began to ask me a multitude of questions +concerning the behaviour of the schooner. But we were now passing +through the narrow street and I was interrupted; for we overtook +old Colin Lothian, the wandering beggar, who was trudging along +over the frost-covered stones with his dog at his heels. + +"Weel, Colin, auld crony," exclaimed the skipper as we came +alongside the old man, "you're aye travelling. Think you we're to +have some more snow?" + +"Nay, captain, I dinna think it; the wind's ower high for that," +the wanderer replied, looking up at the dull sky above Gray's +signboard. + +"Then if it isna snow it'll be a night o' hard frost," said the +skipper. "Will ye come in and take something to warm ye, Colin?" + +And Colin silently complied. + +Entering the inn we found a goodly number of men gathered round the +cosy stove with steaming glasses before them. Most of them were men +of Pomona; but I noticed also a young man who sat somewhat apart +from the rest, and in him, despite the absence of naval uniform, I +had little difficulty in recognizing Lieutenant Fox of the Clasper, +who had boarded the Falcon some weeks before in the Sound of Hoxa. + +Then, too, there were Peter and Jerry, both of whom welcomed me +with many words of kindness, and made room for me beside them. + +Captain Flett ordered Oliver to bring in a glass of hot rum for +himself, and two mugs of coffee for Lothian and me; and we had not +been seated long before Peter Brown inquired of me the particulars +of my solitary voyage in the Falcon. At first very few of the men +paid much attention to my narrative, but when I came to the +discovery of the ship that had been imprisoned in the ice, and told +about the man I saw through the porthole, they all drew their +chairs nearer to me and listened with rapt attention. When I spoke +about the dead captain's wife, and said that her features were +still lifelike, there was a murmur of incredulity; none of the men +would believe that I was not romancing. But the young lieutenant +here interposed. + +"Let the lad go on with his yarn," he said. "Believe me it's quite +possible that the woman's face should show no signs of death. I +have known frost and ice preserve a dead body for many months." + +With that they were quieted. But again, when I spoke of the log +book and said that the ship had been enclosed in the ice for +thirteen years, even the lieutenant seemed to disbelieve me. + +"Thirteen years!" he exclaimed. "Come now, come, draw it mild, my +lad, that won't do at all, you've mistaken the writing somehow. +Show us the log book and then we'll believe it." + +"I'm sure I did not mistake, sir," I protested, "for the writing +was as plain as plain could be, + +"'New Year's Day, 1831. The ice still closing in on us. Opened last +bag of biscuits. Murray died this morning.' + +"These were the very words, and I'll show you them if--" + +Here I felt a trembling hand clasped on my knee, and Peter asked +excitedly, "What name did you say? Was it Murray?" + +"Murray! yes, that was the man who died on New Year's Day." + +"Good heavens!" exclaimed Peter. "Tell me, what was the name of the +ship? Did you not find that out?" + +"Why, yes, Peter, I saw her name. She was called the Pilgrim--of +Bristol." + +Peter became excited, and a strange pallor came over his face. + +"Why, what's come ower you, Peter?" asked Captain Flett. "D'ye know +the craft?" + +"Know her!" said Peter; "I should think I did. She was my own ship. +I sailed in the Pilgrim as second mate for three years, and I +started with her on that same last voyage." + +It was now my turn to show surprise. + +"Your ship, Peter!" I said. + +"Yes," he continued. "We sailed out of Bristol in the month of +February, 1830, bound for Copenhagen, calling at Iceland. But off +the Lewis--or was it Cape Wrath?--I had some o' my bones broken, +and they put me ashore at Kirkwall." + +"Yes, she called at Kirkwall," I said. "I saw that on the chart." + +"That was just before I joined the Falcon, captain," continued +Peter, turning to Flett. "I mind them all, those dead folk, even to +the dog that Ericson has told us about--a retriever named Bounce. +Our skipper was a Dane named Thomassen, and his wife sailed with us +that voyage. She was as fine a woman as ever I see in Denmark. +Murray was the first mate, and the man Ericson saw through the +porthole can have been none other than Jenkins, the supercargo; he +belonged to Bristol. The only thing that puzzles me is the man that +Ericson saw lying in the captain's room." + +"Maybe he went aboard in Iceland, Peter--a passenger," suggested +Flett. "Ye canna tell." + +"Ay, that'll just be it," mused Peter, "a passenger, no doubt. Ay, +I well believe that will just be what he was." + +Lieutenant Fox at this point moved away from the circle to get a +light for his pipe at the stove. He stood behind us listening to a +conversation between Colin Lothian and Jack Paterson; and as Peter +Brown lapsed into silent meditation I diverted my own attention to +what Colin and Jack were saying. + +"Ay, Colin, but that's news," said Paterson. "And so Harry Ewan has +fallen into their hands at last, eh!" + +"Ay, just that," said Lothian. "I was over at Clestron yestreen, +and they were telling me that just as Harry was slipping round into +the Bay of Houton, thinking, no doubt, that everything was clear +for the landin' o' his cargo, the revenue boat came out from behind +the Holm, like a hawk on a ferret. Ye may be sure, Jack, that Harry +and his crew didna give in without a fight for it; but the navy +lads had the upper hand at last, and, what was more to their +purpose, they found in Ewan's lugger five gallant casks o' whisky, +not to speak o' half a dozen rolls o' tobacco, and I dinna ken how +muckle salt and candles." + +Lothian had raised his voice, and several of the men had moved +closer to him to hear the particulars of this raid upon one of the +known smugglers of Scapa Flow. So much, indeed, was the general +attention occupied that none of the men seemed to regard the +entrance of yet another person into the inn parlour. This was none +other than Tom Kinlay, who, with his great boots and pea jacket on +and his sou'wester hat, looked as big a man as any of them. + +For a moment he hesitated, on seeing the young naval officer, but, +emboldened by Mr. Fox's disguised appearance, he took up a position +where he could hear all that was being said. + +"I canna think what had put the revenue men on the track o' the +smugglers," a fisherman was saying. "Surely if any man carried the +game on secretly it was Harry Ewan." + +"What's to hinder them finding out?" said Jack Paterson. "Why, I +ken'd it lang syne, though it isna ony business o' mine to ken." + +"Ah!" put in Lothian, with the air of one who was well acquainted +with the subject, "it's not the most cautious that are least +suspected o' breakin' the law. Now, I ken a man that not one here +would suspect, an' he has been carryin' on the business underhand +this many a day. But tak' my word for it, the fox has his eye on +him for all that, and it isna long before he'll be dropped on the +same as Harry Ewan." + +Lieutenant Fox stepped a little nearer to the speakers. + +"Oho!" exclaimed Jack Paterson; "and who may that be now, Colin?" + +"Weel," replied the wanderer, "it isna for me just to say, though I +wouldna lift a hand to save ony smuggling rogue. But I ken o' a +fine hole in the face o' the clifts o' Gaulton, that would suit a +smuggler grandly for stowing away a few casks o' whisky in. Sandy +Ericson was another that ken'd it. But Sandy was an honest man." + +"What!" said Paterson; "d'ye mean the cave that Sandy found Carver +Kinlay in, after the wreck o' the Undine?" + +"Ay," said Colin. + +"Then Kinlay kens o' the cave?" continued Jack. + +"Doubtless," said Colin. + +David Flett raised his eyebrows at this, and I thought of his +conversation with the pilot. + +"It's no' possible that Carver has ony hand in the smuggling, is +it, Colin?" he observed. + +"Weel, captain, I wonldna like to assert publicly that Carver is a +smuggler himself," said Colin; "but I shouldna be surprised though +it turn out as I suspect." + +"It's a lie ye tell!" furiously exclaimed Tom Kinlay, suddenly +revealing himself, and shaking his fist in Lothian's face. "It's a +lie ye tell, ye drivelling auld idiot! And if ye canna prove what +ye say, maybe ye'll deny it?" + +Colin Lothian stood up and said coolly: + +"Now just hold yer tongue, Kinlay. I ken mair then I hae said. And +as to denyin' it, that I willna do. Nay, threaten as ye will, I +carena. What I say is perfectly true. Carver Kinlay's a smuggler!" + +Tom Kinlay bit the stem of his clay pipe so hard that it broke in +his mouth, so great was his rage. Then, as though words of denial +were of no use, he took to the more cowardly argument of violence, +and, hissing the words, "Ye auld liar, take that," raised his hand, +and struck a blow at Colin Lothian's face. + +But Jack Paterson knocked up the lad's arm, and caught Tom round +the waist, dragging him forcibly away. + +"What! ye young scamp, would ye strike an auld man?" he said. + +And he raised Tom Kinlay in his strong arms high in air, and almost +threw him out at the open door. + +"That was smartly done, my man," said Lieutenant Fox. "I wish we +had a few such fellows as you aboard the Clasper." + +And thus revealing himself, the officer finished his drink and +leisurely left us. + +"Who's that chap just gone out?" asked Paterson. + +"It's Lieutenant Fox of the Clasper," I said. + +"If that be so, then," said Colin, "it seems to me he has gone away +wiser than he came." + +"Ay," said Paterson; "it's no use wonderin' how the revenue lads +get to ken about the smugglers, if that be the way they set about +it." + +Shortly afterwards we went aboard the Falcon, and the rest of the +day was spent in cleaning up after the voyage, and in balancing our +accounts. In this latter occupation I think my assistance was not +without value to Davie Flett, whose system of bookkeeping was +original and peculiar, involving a large use of hieroglyphics, +which were not always clear even to the skipper himself. + +That evening when I tramped over the moor to Lyndardy the snow fell +heavily--a driving, drifting snow that penetrated into every cranny +it had access to, and collected in deep wreaths on meadow and moor. +The cold wind blew hard from the north, carrying the fine snow past +me in great clouds that curled and swept along the hard ground, +forming in some places high barriers that were almost impassable, +in other places leaving the ground perfectly bare. + + + +Chapter XXXV. A Search And A Discovery. + + +All through that night the snow fell unceasingly, and the drifts +grew deeper and deeper in the hollows. + +At bedtime, after our chapter from the Bible had been read, my +mother barred the door, and said: + +"Let us be thankful, bairns, that we are all at home this night. I +couldna sleep in my bed if I thought there was kith or kin o' mine +outside on such a night o' blind drift. It's just terrible." + +And I think we all slept the more comfortably, feeling that we knew +of no one who was suffering in the storm. + +Some hours before daylight, while I lay dreaming in my cosy box +bed, I was awakened by hearing a rapping noise. I listened, +fancying it was but the noise of some rat behind the wainscot that +had come for shelter into the warm house; but the loud knocking +came again. I hurriedly drew on some clothes and opened the outer +door. A wild gust of wind and snow swished in upon me, and in the +deep snow outside there stood a woman holding a lighted lantern. + +"Please d'ye ken anything about Thora Kinlay?" said she; and I +recognized Ann, the servant woman of Crua Breck. + +"Anything about Thora?" I asked, surprised at the inquiry. "Why, +Ann, what's gone wrong wi' her?" + +"We're feared she's lost," said the woman. "She went outby in the +forenoon, and she hasna come back yet." + +"Did she not say where she was going to?" I asked. + +"No; and we've heard nothing o' her. We canna think what can hae +come ower her." + +"But where are Carver and Tom, and the boat's crew?" I asked. "Have +they not been out seeking for the lass?" + +"No; they're all away in the St. Magnus; and the mistress is ill in +her bed. The shepherd and me has been seekin' Thora all the night, +and I've come to Lyndardy, thinkin' ye might hae seen her +yestreen." + +"No; I havena seen Thora these nine or ten weeks past," I said. +"But if she be out in this storm she must be looked for; so bide +here a wee, Ann, and I'll come out and help ye." + +I thereupon hastened within for my sea boots and oilskins. I had +next to procure a lantern from the byre; and this was somewhat +difficult, for the snow had drifted in a high bank against the +door, and I had to remove it before I could effect an entrance. +Lighting the lantern, and taking down my long staff, I noticed that +my climbing lines had been taken from the peg where they usually +hung. My gun, too, was amissing. No one but myself had any use for +either the ropes or the gun, and I thought it curious that they +were removed; but at the moment I did not concern myself about so +apparently trivial a circumstance. + +I soon rejoined the woman, and with her I made diligent search for +Thora. Backward and forward we tramped for many weary miles in the +wind and snow. We went by every road and footpath that we knew, yet +not even a footmark but our own could we find. + +I questioned Ann and the shepherd, who had joined us, as to where +they had searched before I came out. The shepherd had been to a +cottage where lived an old woman named Mary Firth, but Mary was not +at home, and there was no one in the cottage--no trace of Thora. + +"Has either o' ye been across at Jack Paterson's croft?" I then +asked. + +"No," said the shepherd. + +"Weel, then, that's the only place she can have been to, that I can +think of. So you two had better get back to Crua Breck and wait +till daylight. I'll gang to Jack Paterson's, and if they ken +nothing of Thora there, we can only wait till the morning." + +The two returned to the farm, therefore, and I tramped through the +storm to the croft of Clouston, past the ghostly standing stones of +the Druids, and along the dreary, snow-covered road. + +The cottage was in darkness, with a great drift of snow against the +door. I knocked with my stick several times, and presently I heard +Jack Paterson's gruff voice demanding who was there. + +"It's me, Halcro Ericson. Open the door, Jack." + +"Save us all!" he exclaimed, raising the bolt. "What brings ye out +on a night like this, lad? Come inside." + +"No; I'm seeking for Thora Kinlay; d'ye ken anything about her; +she's lost!" + +"Lost! No; I ken nothing o' her. But wait and I'll see the bairns." + +He returned to the door in a few minutes. + +"Hilda says that Thora was here yestreen," he said. "But she went +away to Crua Breck when the snow came on so bad." + +I was dismayed at his answer, for it seemed to prove to me that +Thora was really lost in the snow. + +Paterson offered to continue the search with me, but I advised him +to dress and go to Stromness, and make inquiries in the town, while +I left him and returned to Lyndardy, always searching for +footprints on the snow. + +At dawn I resumed the search with my sister Jessie. We first went +to Crua Breck to make sure that Thora had not yet returned. We +heard that Mrs. Kinlay was very ill now, and that Ann could not +leave her. + +We returned by the top of the cliffs, where the snow was shallow, +but nothing rewarded our search until we got as far as North +Gaulton, where we observed what appeared to be footprints crossing +our path. They were indistinct, for the wind had disturbed the +snow; but they were indeed footprints, and we followed them. They +led us to the brink of the cliff, to the very spot where Thora and +I had, many weeks before, gone over to descend to the cave. + +"Somebody has gone over here, Hal," said Jessie. "Look down on that +jag of rock, there is the mark of a rope!" + +And at once I remembered about the disappearance of my climbing +lines. I looked to where Jessie pointed, and sure enough there were +the marks of a rope, where it had disturbed the snow and grazed +against the frosted stone. There was no rope hanging there, but I +well knew that it could have been removed from below by means of a +few dexterous jerks and twitches. + +I reasoned with myself upon what I saw, and I considered that the +person who had gone down the cliff could be none other than Thora, +for I believed that none but she knew of that way down to the cave. +Only she and Tom Kinlay knew that I kept my climbing ropes in the +byre; but Tom had, as Ann told me, gone out in the St. Magnus. Only +Thora could have taken them, then. + +What her possible reason for going down to the cave might be, I did +not pause to reflect, further than surmising the probability of her +having had some quarrel with her father, and of her having run away +from Crua Breck as she had once threatened to do. But why do this +on such a night of storm? + +The first thing to be done was to ascertain beyond doubt if Thora +was now in the cave. Had it been expedient, I would at once have +gone over the cliff, notwithstanding its frozen condition. +Unfortunately, however, I had no other good rope than the one that +had been taken away. An old one I had which was neither long enough +nor strong enough for the purpose; but even this might be of +service, I thought. We went back to the farm, and Jessie helped me +to lengthen the rope by joining to it several shorter pieces. Then, +judging that Thora, if she were in the cavern, would be suffering +from want of food, we got a small basket and stored it with +tempting eatables--some newly-made scones, two hard-boiled eggs, +and a closed flagon filled with hot tea. Thus prepared we went +together through the snow to the cliff. + +Whilst I was tying the rope to the handle of our basket, Jessie +gathered some stones and threw them down the precipice to attract +Thora's attention to the mouth of the cave. I stood out on the +brink of the cliff above the cavern and allowed the line to slip +through my fingers as though I were "heaving the lead," until the +basket touched upon the rock at the entrance to the cave. + +For several minutes we waited for some sign that the food was +accepted. Twice the line was drawn up a little, and the weight of +the basket was still felt. I called for more stones to throw down, +at the same time kicking a loose piece of rock well out, so that it +fell with a loud splash into the deep water. Jessie went about +picking up stones from among the snow, when suddenly an exclamation +escaped her. + +"Eh, Hal!" said she; "why here's your magic stone!" + +"Impossible!" I exclaimed, unable to believe her. + +"I tell you it is, indeed!" she protested; and she brought the +stone to me, holding it in the palm of her hand. + +I at once recognized the viking's talisman. And now I felt sure +that Thora was in the cave, and that she had probably dropped the +stone by some accident before going over the brink of the cliff, +for it was at the very edge that Jessie found it. + +When I tried the rope again, I felt that the basket was being held. +Then the line was drawn further down, and again set loose, and I +drew it up. The basket had been emptied. + +In the afternoon, as the snow had abated, I went out, though +without stating my intention, and returned to the top of the cliff, +determined upon making the descent to the cave and hearing from +Thora her reason for this strange freak of hers, before venturing +to inform them at Crua Breck that I had discovered the girl's +hiding place. The danger of a descent was very great, for the face +of the rocks was in parts coated with frozen snow, and I knew that +besides the difficulty of climbing with cold hands there was the +possibility of slipping upon the icy surface of the ledges. But now +I had my viking stone to protect me, and with less hesitation than +the occasion warranted I proceeded to climb down the precipice, and +was fortunate enough to reach the bottom without accident. + +Lighting a small lantern I had brought, I walked into the cavern, +thinking it strange that I saw no trace of Thora at the entrance, +for I had made noise enough to attract her. Yet I noticed the +flagon that had held the warm tea we had sent down in the morning +lying empty on a flat stone. I continued my way further into the +cavern, watching the play of light upon the huge stalactites that +hung from the roof. At last I came to the stream in which Thora had +so nearly lost her life. It was swollen, and rushed past with great +force. At one point a kind of bridge had been formed by a couple of +wooden planks that had been thrown across. Over this bridge I +crossed, turning my lantern to right and left, anxiously looking +for Thora, whom I also called by name. Beyond the little bridge I +was sensible of a strong spirituous smell, and this became still +stronger as I advanced, until, when I held my light towards a side +chamber of the cave I discerned a large number of small kegs. + +At once I thought of what Colin Lothian had said the day before in +Gray's Inn about smuggled whisky. Here, then, I had discovered the +secret store of some unlawful trader. But my surprise at this soon +abated in my anxiety to find Thora. I was continuing my way yet +further when my foot touched something strange. I turned my light +upon it, and there, lying before me, was the sleeping form, not of +Thora, but of Tom Kinlay. + + + +Chapter XXXVI. Trapped In The Cave. + + +I stood for some moments transfixed with surprise at seeing Tom +Kinlay in this situation. He was lying with his head and shoulders +upon a square box and snoring loudly. Behind him were piled up many +kegs, which I doubted not were filled with contraband spirits. As I +reasoned on all this I surmised that Tom was there probably by the +directions of his father, whom, after what I had heard and seen, I +could not but associate with the smugglers. + +I now, for the first time, saw also some shade of reason for the +enmity that had existed between Carver and my father. At the time +of the wreck of the Undine, years before, when he was stranded in +the cavern, Carver had no doubt seen the convenience of the place +for smuggling purposes. The cave was commodious, and the fact that +its situation was little known among the natives gave it the +additional advantage of secrecy. + +I could not tell whether Kinlay had carried on his illicit traffic +whilst my father was alive, but I guessed that this was so; and +believing that my father was the only man who knew his secret, I +saw reason sufficient for enmity. My father's death had removed the +one great obstacle in the way of Carver's carrying on the smuggling +unsuspected. It had also enabled him to become a pilot--a position +which gave unusual opportunity to a man so unscrupulous. As pilot +he was able to board any vessel that entered the Orcadian waters, +and in the case of ships which came over from the Continent or from +the north of Scotland with contraband goods, a transfer of cargo +could be boldly effected without exciting suspicion. And here in +the cave I saw before me a part of the smuggler's store. + +Having explored the cavern by the light of my lantern, I was forced +to believe that Thora was not there. I returned once more to the +kegs of spirits before departing. + +Tom was still sound asleep. Approaching him, I turned the light +upon him and knelt down, shielding the light from his closed eyes. + +Suddenly I was alarmed by hearing the noise of voices at the outer +part of the cave--the voices of many men. I blew out the light of +my lantern, rose to my feet, and slipped into the shadow to watch, +for I did not doubt that these were the smugglers. + +I had not stood there very long before I observed a flickering of +lights, and the sound of men's feet and voices came nearer and +nearer. Then I saw the lights of two lanterns, and distinguished +the figures of five men. Their sea jackets were powdered with snow. + +"Now, lads," said a hoarse voice that I recognized as Carver +Kinlay's, "look smart. Get as many as ye can into the boat, then +roll the others into the water." + +His eyes rested upon the sleeping form of his son. + +"Hullo!" he cried, "why, here is the young devil after all!" + +Then, crossing the plank bridge, he gave Tom a heavy kick in the +ribs, and placed his lantern on the top of one of the casks. + +Tom awoke with a start, and I saw him tremble as in fear. His face +was ghastly white. + +"Where have ye been all night?" growled his father, without waiting +for an answer; "hurry along here and help to get these kegs into +the boat." + +Young Kinlay rose and staggered after the men. Evidently he had +broached one of the whisky kegs. + +I drew closer within the shadow of the rock and watched the +proceedings. The smugglers carried away one by one as many of the +spirit kegs as I believed might lie in the bottom of the St. +Magnus. This was done in a great hurry as though much depended upon +getting the things cleared away, and Carver was for ever urging his +men to "hurry up!" + +Then they all set to work, and rolled what remained of the casks +into the stream, until, after about an hour's time, there was left +no trace of the smuggler's store, excepting only the square box +that Tom had slept upon. + +Carver Kinlay knelt down beside this chest and unlocked it. He +turned over many bundles of papers, and I saw him take out what +appeared to be a roll of bank notes and thrust them into his breast +pocket. He paused suddenly in his work at the hurried return of his +men, and grasped at the box like a miser suddenly surprised. + +"The hounds are on us!" exclaimed one excitedly. "They have taken +the boat!" And almost immediately there was a tramp of feet coming +up the cavern, and a blaze of light from several torches shining on +drawn cutlasses. + +Kinlay turned with the fury of a wild animal that finds itself +trapped, and stood at bay before a company of blue jackets, who +were headed by the young officer I had twice before met, Lieutenant +Fox of the revenue cutter Clasper. + +"In the Queen's name, I arrest you, Carver Kinlay!" said the +officer in a firm, loud voice. + +"Not so easily," said Kinlay, who was evidently determined not to +surrender himself without resistance; and planting one foot firmly +on the little bridge which spanned the stream, he drew a large +revolver and pointed it full at the lieutenant's head. + +Standing very near to him, in a dark crevice at his right hand, I +saw the movement. I saw Carver's eyes flash in the torchlight, and +just as the click of the trigger sounded I sprang quickly forward +and knocked the man's hand upward. The shot rattled among the +stalactites of the roof, and the report filled the cavern with +deafening noise. + +Kinlay was utterly taken aback by what happened, and as the weapon +fell from his hand and dropped into the deep water, he turned +instinctively to see who had attacked him. Two of the cutter's men +thereupon crossed the planks and encountered him on the large flat +rock whence the casks had been taken, while I made my way past +them. + +I was walking coolly over the little bridge, with my extinguished +lantern in my hand, when the lieutenant stepped forward and took me +by the collar. + +"Aha, youngster!" he exclaimed, "I've seen you before. You've done +me a good turn, but I must take you nevertheless." + +And he retained his hold of my jacket, giving directions to his men +the while. + +I made a gentle protest, showing no resistance, and stood by the +officer, looking excitedly at the scuffle that ensued between the +smugglers and the revenue men. Tom Kinlay had already been seized +and dragged off to the cutter's boat. One of the smugglers had +retreated to the inner recesses of the cave, taking refuge in the +darkness, and the three others were having a severe fight with the +sailors, using large knives in their defence. + +Two of them were speedily overpowered, one of them receiving a +serious wound in his side, the other a great cut across his cheek. +They were both taken to the boat, and there kept under strict +guard. The third man managed to get over to Kinlay. + +Carver, on losing his pistol, had taken out his sheath knife, and +armed with this he fought with furious determination, standing with +his back against a wall of rock. One of his antagonists, in trying +to lay hold of his hand, was badly cut, and the other disabled by a +blow in the face. But when Carver was joined by his comrade there +was a rush of the cutter's men across the bridge, and the smugglers +were finally conquered. + +They had yet to be brought over to the outer side of the stream, +however, and this was a work of no small difficulty. A couple of +the sailors walked over the narrow planks, one before and one +behind their prisoner, who made an unsuccessful attempt to break +loose. + +Then Carver was brought to the bridge in a similar manner; and he +also attempted to escape by making a spring forward when he reached +the middle of the planks. His captors, however, were ready for him. +The man behind him had held his two hands, and when by main force +he got his right hand free, the sailor held with such a tight grip +to the other that Carver was pulled round and he overbalanced +himself. + +A stiff struggle for mastery then took place. Kinlay was the +stronger man, and with his free hand he dealt the sailor a hard +blow on the chest. The sailor staggered and fell across the narrow +planks, but still holding Kinlay's left hand he pulled the pilot +smuggler down with him. The sailor let his hand go free. Then +Kinlay tripped, and, uttering a wild yell, fell headlong into the +rushing stream. + +The lieutenant, seeing what had happened, loosened his grasp of my +collar and hurried over to his men to try to save Carver from the +dreadful current. One of the wooden planks was thrown into the +water for him to take hold of, but Carver must have failed in his +attempt to reach it. One of the cutter's men ran to the mouth of +the cave and brought back with him a long rope--my own climbing +rope--which he had seen lying on the rocks: this also was too late, +for Carver was already carried off by the swift stream, no doubt to +be taken over into that gulf where Thora had so nearly lost her +life. + +There now remained only one other of the smugglers to be captured, +and he was ultimately discovered crouching like a terrified dog in +a dark corner. Before the revenue men left, however, they made a +careful search of the cavern; but they brought nothing down to the +boat excepting the wooden box that Kinlay had been searching in +when he was surprised by the arrival of the blue jackets. + +When this excitement was over, and the lieutenant had ordered his +men to return to their boat, I was wondering what their movements +would be in regard to myself. Would they leave me to climb the +cliff and go home, or would they take me round to Stromness? + +I was not left long in doubt. Two of the sailors, still with drawn +cutlasses, took me into the bow of the longboat and placed me there +beside Tom Kinlay and the other prisoners, and bound me to them +with my own rope. Then the lieutenant took his seat in the stern +sheets, his men plied their oars, and we were taken out to the +cutter, which lay anchored a few fathoms out from the rocks. + +We were all taken aboard of her. Her white canvas was hoisted and +her anchor weighed, and soon we were speeding blithely along in the +direction of Stromness, with the St. Magnus towed astern. + + + +Chapter XXXVII. In Which I Am Put Under Arrest. + + +When we were well under weigh, and I had done admiring the cutter's +trim fittings and the smartness of her men, I turned to consider +the condition of my unfortunate companions. Two of them were badly +wounded, and they were ordered to be taken below to have their +wounds dressed, whilst the others were now being placed in irons. +They were bound hand and foot to a gun carriage. + +Tom Kinlay, who was beside me under the starboard bulwarks, watched +the men with consternation in his face. He was evidently very much +afraid. I saw him put his hand to his breast as though he felt +there for something. I thought he was searching for some weapon; +but whatever it was he did not find it. He opened his coat and +still searched. + +"Hang it!" he exclaimed, "I must have lost it;" and then he looked +at me accusingly. + +Somehow I thought just then of my viking's stone that I had +recovered so strangely, and as I took it from my pocket and assured +myself that it was all safe, I began to wonder how it had come to +be left there at the top of the cliff. How had Thora allowed it to +go out of her keeping? And Thora, where now was she? + +Suddenly I felt a warm breath on my face. I turned and saw Tom +Kinlay glaring at me. + +"Ah! it is you," he exclaimed; "you've stolen it from me!" + +And he made a grab at the stone, which fell from my hand upon the +deck, for the string had been taken from it, and I had consequently +not been able to hang it round my neck. We both scrambled upon the +deck, each eager to secure the talisman. But I managed to push +Kinlay away, and picking up the stone I put it safely in my breast +pocket just as two of the cutter's men came towards us. + +"Now, then, youngster," said one of them, taking Tom by the +shoulder, "it's your turn now, my lad;" and he proceeded to adjust +a pair of handcuffs upon Tom's wrists. + +At the same time the other sailor came to me and was in the act of +binding me in a similar manner when Lieutenant Fox came forward +from the after deck. + +"Hold hard, Gillions!" he said. "This youngster needn't be treated +like the others, I think. Leave him to me;" and addressing me he +asked, "What is your name, my lad?" + +"Halcro Ericson, sir," I replied. + +"Well, Ericson, tell me, how came you to be mixed up in this +affair? I thought I saw you on board that coasting schooner, the +Falcon, the other night. Have you turned smuggler since then?" + +"No, sir; I was in the cave for something else. I was down seeking +for Thora." + +"For Thora? What's that--some sort of birds?" + +"Birds! No; for the lass that was lost in the snow yestreen." + +"Queer place to look for a lass, that, I must say! But how did you +get there if you did not go round with Kinlay?" + +"I climbed down the cliff, sir." + +"Come, come, none of your nonsense!" said the officer. "Don't tell +me you climbed down that cliff. I know it's impossible." + +"It's not impossible," I rejoined, "for I have climbed it many a +time before." + +"Well, it's to be hoped the girl was worth risking your neck for. +However, as you did not find her after all, you deserve to get off, +to look for her in a more likely place." + +Then turning to the seaman he said: + +"Off with the irons, Gillions, and put the youngster ashore when +the anchor's down." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" said Gillions. + +Accordingly I was set free; and seeing my rope lying on the deck I +coiled it up ready to take ashore with me, taking it aft to the +gangway. + +We were by this time abreast of the Ness and entering Stromness +Bay. Notwithstanding the continued falling of snow, several boats +put out from the jetties of the harbour when the Clasper was seen +sailing in with her prize; and as the chains, rattled over her bow +and she came to an anchorage close inshore, she was surrounded by +inquiring fisher folk. + +In one of the first boats that came alongside sat Bailie Duke +wrapped in a great gray plaid. He hailed one of the petty officers +of the cutter, and Mr. Fox came forward and asked him aboard. + +"What's all this about?" said Mr. Duke, addressing the lieutenant +as he stepped on the deck. "I see ye've made a prisoner of our +pilot." + +"I've made prisoner of a smuggler, sir, pilot or not pilot," said +Mr. Fox. + +"But on whose authority have you taken the St. Magnus? Do you not +know that she is our pilot boat?" asked the bailie. + +"On the highest authority, Mr. Duke--the Queen's," replied the +lieutenant. "If Kinlay was your pilot, then all the greater was his +offence. His men must suffer the penalty for their crime, and I +suppose the port must just appoint another pilot, that's all." + +"His men must suffer, you say?" said Mr. Duke, not understanding. +"Then you do not accuse Carver Kinlay himself of smuggling?" + +"I should certainly have done that, Mr. Duke; but Carver Kinlay, +unfortunately, is dead." + +"Carver Kinlay dead!" exclaimed the bailie. + +"Yes; he lost his life just now in the Gaulton Cave, where we +discovered him and his crew in the act of carrying off contraband +spirits. + +"I suppose," the officer continued, "we can send the prisoners +ashore to your jail, sir?" + +"Certainly," said Mr. Duke; "we've plenty of room there: send them +ashore. But they will be tried at Kirkwall, not here, you know." + +"I know," returned the officer; "but you see the roads are blocked +with this snow. There's no getting to Kirkwall except by sea, and I +have another little affair of this sort on hand tonight." + +Bailie Duke was naturally inquisitive, and at the mention of this +other "little affair" he pricked up his ears. + +The lieutenant drew him to the other side of the deck, and they +both remained there in earnest conversation. Mr. Duke had his back +towards me. He had not observed me as yet. But the cutter's boat +was being got out to take me ashore, and as I was anxious to hear +from him whether Thora had been found, I walked across and waited +until he should turn round. As I stood there I heard my own name +mentioned. + +"Oh, it's just as clear as daylight!" said the magistrate, in reply +to a question from Mr. Fox. "I have traced it all out. There is +little doubt that it was young Halcro Ericson that did it." + +"Halcro Ericson! What! the boy Halcro Ericson?" exclaimed the +lieutenant with undisguised surprise. "Why, then, that accounts for +our finding him hiding in the cave! I would never have thought it." + +"What!" said the bailie. "You don't mean you have got the lad?" + +"Yes, I do, sir; that is if you have no other natives with the same +outlandish name. He's on board, I assure you. Ay, and here he is." + +The officer turned round towards me where I stood with my lantern +in one hand, and the coil of rope over my shoulder. + +Bailie Duke looked at me with a frown on his brow, and his eyes +were steadily fixed upon my face, which could only have reflected +the innocence of my heart. + +"I cannot believe it," he said in an undertone; "and yet the +thing's so clear." + +Then he laid a hand sternly on my shoulder, and said, "Ericson, my +lad, I'm really sorry; but, you see, there's no use evadin' the +hand o' the law, and I must make you my prisoner." + +"Your prisoner, Mr. Duke! But you cannot think that I have anything +to do with the smuggling?" + +"Smuggling!" said he. "I said nothing about smuggling. With that I +have no business. No, it's not the smuggling, it's the murder!" + +"Murder! What murder?" I gasped. + +"The murder of Colin Lothian, the wandering beggar," he said. + +Colin Lothian murdered! I was stunned and perplexed by these +terrible words. But, without further explanation, Mr. Duke gave +orders to some men in the boat he had come out by to make a +prisoner of me. Two men came aboard and bound my arms about me with +my own rope, and conducted me into the boat, while the bailie got +down into the stern, where he sat ruminating as we were rowed +towards the landing pier. + +I was marched between two guards up the narrow street of Stromness, +and the cold snow fell down upon me. At the doors of the houses +women and children, whose faces were all so familiar, looked at me, +some with pity, some with shrinking fear. I heard strange +utterances of accusation. + +"Who would have thought it, that he could hae done such a thing?" +said one. + +"See how the lad hangs his head!" said another. + +"Ay, but it's a young murderer he is," said a third. + +And this word "murderer" sounded in my ears from every side, and +much I wondered what it all could mean. + +When we arrived at the door of the prison house a crowd of the +townspeople awaited us. I looked round the faces fearlessly, and in +their midst I recognized the wrinkled face of my skipper, Davie +Flett. + +"Cheer up, my hearty!" said he, as I passed by him. "We'll not +heave anchor till ye come out; and you'll not be long, I'll +warrant." + +But I confess it was difficult for me to feel cheerful at that +moment. Indeed, when the prison doors closed upon me, when I found +myself alone in my dark cell, I became dazed and stupid, and began +to think that perhaps after all I was the murderer that I had been +called. Yet what could it all mean? Colin Lothian murdered! My old +friend Colin Lothian! + + + +Chapter XXXVIII. Accused Of Murder. + + +I need not prolong my narrative by telling you in what way I spent +that first night in the cold solitude of my prison cell, or by +recording the thoughts that occupied my mind through those long and +weary hours. My jailer, one Jimmy Macfarlane, an honest, +kind-hearted man, who had known my father, gave me a basin of hot +porridge before he locked me up for the night, and left with me, as +though by accident, a good, thick horse cloth to keep me warm. +Conscious of my innocence, and trusting in the justice of my +accusers, I slept well and soundly, nor did I awake until late on +the following morning, when the Sabbath light stole through the +crossbars of the little window, and the opening of the door aroused +me. + +I heard Macfarlane speaking with some one. + +"Ye'll find him in here, captain; but dinna stay ower long wi' him; +for, ye ken, I'm breakin' the rule in letting ye see the lad." + +"All right, Jimmy!" said a voice that I at once recognized as that +of Captain Flett. + +"Well, Ericson, my lad," he said, entering the cell and offering me +his hand. "They've not put the hangman's rope round your neck yet, +I see." + +Then he added in a more serious tone, "Come, I canna stay with you +long. Let us talk the affair over, and see what's to be done." + +"First of all then," I said, "I want to know what it's all about. +Why have they put me in here?" + +"What! have they not told you the particulars?" + +"No; I know nothing but that old Colin Lothian has been murdered." + +"And ye dinna ken who it was that murdered him? Tell me the truth +now." + +"I know nothing at all about it," I said. + +"Well, then, I'll just tell you all that I know myself, Ericson." + +And sitting down beside me on an old box that was in the cell, the +skipper proceeded with his account of the affair, of which the +following is the substance. + +On the afternoon following that of the beginning of the snowstorm, +Captain Flett waited for me on the schooner, for he wanted to set +sail again. Every now and then he went up the companion ladder to +look out for me towards the snow-covered town. While thus engaged +he heard the boatswain's whistle sounded on board the revenue +cutter, then lying in the outer bay, and he was admiring the +alertness of the blue jackets as they got the cutter ready for +sailing, when a small boat that he had not noticed came alongside +of the Falcon, and Bailie Duke accosted him. + +"Captain Flett," said the bailie excitedly, "I want the lad +Ericson; where is he?" + +"'Deed I can't tell you that, your honour," replied Flett. "I have +been waiting for him here mysel' all the day." + +"Just as I expected," said the bailie, with evident annoyance; "the +young rascal has escaped. When did you last see him, captain?" + +"I saw him yestreen, sir. But was it anything of importance you're +wanting the lad for?" + +"Anything of importance! Ay, is it of importance! For, know you +this, Captain Flett, the lad's nothing but a murderer, a murderer +in cold blood!" + +"Impossible!" ejaculated the skipper. "When heard you of the lad +harming body or beast? But who is it that's murdered, bailie?" + +"Colin Lothian, the gaberlunzie," replied the magistrate. + +"Man, you astonish me," exclaimed Flett. "Poor auld Lothian! And +when did the thing happen?" + +Bailie Duke then told how during that morning a party of men had +been sent up from the town to the moor to search for the lost Thora +Kinlay. They did not find the girl. But Jack Paterson and another +fisherman, while crossing a very lonely part of the moor, had +discovered a poor dog, whose pitiful whining had drawn them to the +spot. The animal was at once recognized as the dog that had always +been seen at the heels of the wandering beggar, and it stood +shivering in the cold snow that had gathered there in a deep +wreath. The dog refused to move from the spot, and the men cleared +away some of the snow, when they came upon the stiff and lifeless +body of Colin Lothian. + +At first they thought the man was merely asleep, for his woollen +plaid was spread over him like a blanket. But on raising the +garment they saw marks of blood that had trickled upon the snow and +sunk down into the underlying heather. Paterson at once despatched +his companion to Stromness for Dr. Linklater, whilst he himself +went up to a small cottage which stood about two hundred yards +away. Nobody was in the cottage, but there were signs of some one +having been there very recently, for the peats were yet smouldering +on the hearthstone, and on a little table lay a towel stained with +blood. + +Dr. Linklater arrived sooner than Paterson expected him, and after +a careful examination of the body he stated that Lothian had been +dead several hours, and that his death was the result of foul play. +The man had, in fact, been murdered. + +"I'm real sorry to hear this, sir," said Flett to the bailie. "It +was only yestreen I was speakin' wi' poor Colin at the inn. He'll +be sorely missed in the countryside. But tell me, Mr. Duke, what +for d'ye say that young Ericson has anything to do wi' it?" + +"Because," the magistrate replied, "simply because the gun that the +man was shot with was found near the spot where he died. That gun, +captain, is identified as Halcro Ericson's." + +"But surely ye canna convict the lad on such slight evidence, sir. +He's innocent, I'll swear!" + +"I trust he may prove so, captain. But you must allow that the +evidence is against him. Colin has been shot dead, and with +Ericson's gun. Ericson is not to be found; no one knows where he +is. That is clearly against him; and as a magistrate I am bound to +arrest him on suspicion. In fact, I have already issued a warrant +for his arrest, and if you know anything of his whereabouts, just +say so, Davie; for the lad's not at his home, and his mother knows +nothing. They say he is out seeking for young Thora Kinlay; but it +seems clear to me that he has fled from the consequences of his +foul crime." + +"Well," said Flett, "I have told you all I know, that the lad left +the schooner here before the snow came on so heavy. I have been +expecting him aboard all the day. I know no more, Mr. Duke, and +that's the truth." + +At this point of my skipper's account we were interrupted by +Macfarlane, who put his head in at the door and said: + +"Come away, Davie. I canna let ye stay longer, man." + +"Ay, ay, just another minute, Jimmy," said Flett. + +Then turning to me again, he continued: "Weel, I'm just away up to +Dominie Drever's. The dominie was aboard the Falcon just before the +Clasper came in yestreen, and I saw him again after ye were brought +here. He was up at Lyndardy this mornin' seeing your mother for +information about all your movements these two days past. And now +I'm to go up to the schoolhouse and tell him--what shall I tell +him, Halcro?" + +"Just tell him this, Davie: that the last time I saw poor Colin +Lothian was when we were in Gray's Inn. That I went straight home +from the Falcon, and never left the house till the servant woman at +Crua Breck knocked me up to seek for Thora. That I was out looking +for her part of the night and all the morning, and then that I +climbed down the Gaulton Cliff, thinking I would find her in the +cave. There, instead of finding Thora, I was taken along with the +smugglers and brought in the Clasper to Stromness, where Bailie +Duke himself arrested me. + +"There, that is the sum of it all. Tell it to Mr. Drever, and he +will believe it and understand." + +"Very good," said the skipper, and then he left me. + +He had not gone out many minutes before Jimmy Macfarlane came into +the apartment and made a fire in the grate, and brought me water to +wash myself, and a good breakfast of coffee and fried bacon. When I +was made comfortable he left me alone again, and only disturbed me +during the rest of the day to bring in my meals or more fuel for +the fire. + + + +Chapter XXXIX. An Unprofessional Inquiry. + + +Whatever the common opinion among the people of Stromness may have +been with regard to the death of Colin Lothian, there was one who, +all along, never allowed himself to doubt my innocence. Dominie +Drever had his private views on the matter, and he was not over +eager to communicate them to other persons. He even kept them from +myself in a great measure, and only gathered such information +regarding my movements as Captain Flett and my people at Lyndardy +were able to supply. There were some other aspects of the case, +quite apart from myself, that he was anxious to make clear, and +with this purpose in view he had gone quietly about the town +gathering evidence and summoning an array of important witnesses. + +Not until late on this Sunday afternoon did he come to see me; and +then our interview lasted but for a few moments. Macfarlane showed +him in just as I was finishing my tea and settling myself cosily +before the fire. + +"Ah, Halcro, my lad!" he exclaimed in his breezy way, "I see they +are making you comfortable here. I hope you find it no great +hardship to be cooped up here, eh? It's hardly so bad as your +experience on the Falcon, I should think?" + +"No, sir, and I hope it will not last so long either," I said, +taking the hand he offered me. + +"Little fear o' that," said he. "Mr. Duke will send you home i' the +morning; but it's as well you should stay here until the evidence +is complete. Bailie Thomson will not agree to your being set at +liberty before the inquiry." + +"And when is the inquiry to be?" I asked. + +"At ten o'clock tomorrow morning," said Mr. Drever. "You see, +Halcro, they're not to put you on your trial in any formal way. +That could only take place at Kirkwall, or before the procurator +fiscal. But the roads are all blocked wi' snow, and there's no +getting to Kirkwall just now. Even the St. Magnus smugglers, and +another gang that Mr. Fox arrested yestreen up at Sandwick, have to +be imprisoned here until the roads are opened up. But it will be +easy to prove your innocence. Thora will make that perfectly clear, +as ye will see." + +"Thora!" I exclaimed. "Then Thora has been found?" + +"Found! certainly. She never was lost. However, ye'll hear all +about that matter again. Just leave it all to me, Halcro, and dinna +be downcast about biding here another night. But I must away now. +Good e'en to ye!" + +"Good e'en, sir!" + +The good man was leaving me abruptly, when at the door he turned +back. + +"Oh, Halcro!" said he, as though suddenly remembering something, +"they tell me that your viking's stone has been amissing. Have ye +heard anything of it yet?" + +"Why, yes, Mr. Drever," I replied. "I found it at the head of the +Gaulton Cliff on Saturday." + +"Just so," said he smiling, "I had heard that. Now that stone may +be wanted in evidence. Would you mind letting me have it?" + +"Here it is, sir," I said, handing it to him. + +And taking it with him, he left me to my thoughts. + +The morning of the inquiry came round, and at about ten o'clock +Jimmy Macfarlane opened the door of my place of confinement and +beckoned me to follow him. He conducted me through a long passage +into a large room adjoining the prison house. + +It was a comfortable apartment, with a bright peat fire burning on +the hearth, before which Colin Lothian's dog lay sound asleep. +Close to the fire and athwart the room was a long table, where, as +I entered, I saw Bailie Duke seated at his ease in a large +armchair. At his right sat Bailie Thomson--a man with a forbidding +face, whom I had often of late seen in the company of Carver +Kinlay. At Mr. Duke's left hand was the schoolmaster, prim and +businesslike as I had often seen him look in the school when +anything of importance was pending, such as a class examination. +Near him sat Lieutenant Fox, looking very handsome in his naval +uniform, and very much at his ease. The only other person in the +room was Dr. Linklater, who smiled a greeting to me as I stood at +the door. + +"Take a seat there, Ericson, my lad," said Mr. Duke, indicating a +chair opposite to him in the middle of the floor. + +And then he turned to the dominie, speaking with him in an +undertone. + +These five men, who were all in different degrees known to me, +presented no very formal aspect, and I felt no dread of what was to +follow. As I sat there awaiting the opening of the proceedings I +looked straight before me at the long table. Here, lying in front +of the two bailies, were my fowling piece and a coil of rope. +Before Mr. Drever lay Jarl Haffling's talisman; also, to my +surprise, I observed the wooden box that I had seen in the cave, +and the little chest that I had taken from the chart room of the +Pilgrim; on the lid of the latter was the log book of that +ill-fated ship. + +What these relics of the Pilgrim could possibly have to do with the +murder of Colin Lothian I was at a loss to know. But their +importance in the issue of the case will presently be seen. + +"Halcro Ericson!" said Bailie Duke. + +I rose to my feet and faced him. He tapped his snuffbox and took a +large pinch, and leisurely passed the box to the dominie. +Presently, after much use of his bandanna handkerchief, he +continued: + +"Halcro Ericson, you were arrested on Saturday last on suspicion of +being the murderer of Colin Lothian--a poor, worthy man, known and +respected in the Mainland for many, many years. At the time of your +arrest on board the Clasper, the evidence against you was +circumstantially complete, and appeared to be conclusive. Further +evidence of an important nature, however, has since been gathered +by Mr. Drever here, and it has brought new light upon the matter. +You are not, I am happy to say, to be formally charged with the +murder of Lothian; but, in the absence of the proper official--the +procurator fiscal--it is necessary that I, as the senior bailie of +Stromness, should make some inquiry into this case, you see. You +will presently be examined with other witnesses, and you will have +an opportunity of, I hope, clearing yourself of whatever suspicion +is still attached to you. Sit down again, Halcro." + +Concluding this speech, Mr. Duke rang a little hand bell that was +on the table, and Macfarlane appeared at one of the doors. + +"Just send in Jack Paterson and Steenie Barrie," he said; and +presently the two fishermen were ushered in. Paterson, entering +first, touched his forelock to the magistrate, and similarly +saluted Lieutenant Fox. + +"Jack, my man," said Mr. Duke, "just let us know what way ye found +auld Colin's body." + +Paterson stepped up to the table, twirling his sou'wester round and +round by the brim between his two big hands. + +"Weel, ye see, Mr. Duke," began Jack falteringly, "I was lying in +my bed on Friday night when young Halcro Ericson knocked at the +door and telt me that Thora Kinlay was out in the storm and couldna +be found. So I cam' along to Stromness--" + +"Ay, but dinna mind that part o' the story, Jack," interrupted Mr. +Duke; "just begin where Steenie and you heard the dog." + +"Yes, Mr. Duke," said Paterson, dropping his sou'wester in his +nervousness. And then he repeated what Captain Flett had already +told me. + +"Did you both go into the cottage?" asked the bailie. + +"No," said Jack, "Steenie ran away down to the town to tell the +doctor. I went into Mary's mysel'. But Mary was away at Kirkwall, +ye ken. I saw that some person had been there, however; for the +peats were still hot, and there was some roasted potatoes on the +table, forbye a cloth that had blood on it." + +"And you waited about there until Dr. Linklater came?" + +"Yes, Mr. Duke." + +"Now do you recognize this as the gun you found?" Mr. Duke asked, +touching my fowling piece. + +"Ay, that's just it," replied Jack. + +Bailie Thomson then asked: "Have you ever seen the gun before, +Paterson?" + +"No," said Jack. + +"What! have you never seen Ericson with it?" + +"Never," said Paterson, "though they tell me it is Halcro's gun." + +"Are you sure that Ericson had not the gun with him when he knocked +you up on Friday night?" persisted Mr. Thomson. + +"Yes, quite sure," said Jack. + +"And where did Ericson go to after he left you?" questioned Mr. +Thomson. + +"I dinna ken, Mr. Thomson. He said he was to gang back to Lyndardy. +But ye'd better ask himsel', had ye not?" + +And Paterson looked round to where I sat. + +Mr. Thomson seemed to have no further questions to ask, and Bailie +Duke said: + +"Very well, Jack, that will do now. You may both go." + +And Jack Paterson went away, followed by Barrie. + +"Now, doctor, would you just let us hear what you have to say, +please?" said Mr. Duke, turning to Dr. Linklater. + +The doctor kept his seat, and said: + +"Mr. Drever came to me early on Friday morning and told me that +Colin Lothian had been shot dead over by Mary Firth's cottage, and +I went out. I met the man Barrio on the way, and he turned back +with me, conducting me to the spot. I found Lothian quite dead. He +had been dead quite two hours, I should say. There was a gunshot +wound in his back under the left shoulder. I got Paterson and +Barrie to take off a door in Mary Firth's room, and we carried the +body upon it down to my house. I made an examination of the body, +and extracted several swan shot from the left lung." + +Dr. Linklater then passed a piece of paper containing the shot to +Bailie Duke, saying: "I suppose you need me no longer, bailie?" + +"No, doctor, that's all," said Mr. Duke. "Just tell Macfarlane to +send David Flett in, will you?" + +Flett came in and took his place before the magistrates, and gave +information as to the time of my leaving the Falcon on Friday +night. + +Mr. Thomson, questioning him, asked: + +"Do you know of any motive that the lad Ericson might have in +committing this crime? Was there any enmity between him and +Lothian?" + +"Certainly not. How could ye think so, Mr. Thomson?" said my +skipper. "Why, Colin and Halcro were most friendly. It seems to me +ridiculous that anyone should ever suspect such a thing o' the +lad!" + +Mr. Duke here rang his bell and told Macfarlane to bring in Tom +Kinlay. + +It was a considerable time before Tom appeared, with the jailer at +his side, for he had to be brought out of the cell in which the +smugglers were imprisoned. As Flett went out, he came forward +slowly, looking pale and haggard. I noticed him start nervously as +Mr. Duke, putting forth his hand to take up his snuffbox, happened +to touch the gun. + +There was some dispute between Bailie Duke and Bailie Thomson as to +which of them should first question Kinlay. But it was arranged +that Mr. Thomson should do so. He commenced by saying to Tom: + +"You were taken in the North Gaulton Cave on Saturday, were you +not?" + +But at this point Mr. Drever made an unexpected interruption. +Hitherto he had, during the proceedings, been quietly but busily +writing down the evidence, for use in the formal indictment which, +as I afterwards learned, Mr. Duke was to submit to the procurator +fiscal, whose deputy he was. + +"Mr. Duke," said the dominie, "do you not think, in view of the +importance of Kinlay's evidence, that it is advisable to administer +the oath?" + +"Ah! you're right, dominie; yes, certainly," said Mr. Duke. + +"No, no," objected Bailie Thomson. "Why should this witness be +treated differently from the others?" + +"Mr. Drever is right, Thomson," said Mr. Duke. "We must have the +oath." + +"I see no reason for it," said Bailie Thomson. "This is not a +formal or judicial inquiry; it is a simple precognition of +witnesses." + +"I think, Mr. Thomson," mildly interposed the schoolmaster, "that +you will see a little later on the necessity of it. Besides, you +must remember that Kinlay is already a prisoner on two separate +charges." + +"Yes," said Mr. Duke, "both for smuggling and for having +contravened the law of treasure trove." + +Then addressing Tom Kinlay he said: + +"Thomas Kinlay, you will now hold up your right hand and repeat +these words distinctly after me." + +Kinlay raised his hand above his head and repeated the solemn and +impressive words of our Scotch adjuration: + +"I swear by Almighty God, as I shall answer to God at the great day +of judgment, that I will tell the truth, the whole truth, and +nothing but the truth. So help me, God!" + +When this was done Mr. Duke leaned back in his chair and said: + +"Now, Mr. Thomson, if you please." + +"You were taken in the cave of Gaulton on Saturday, were you not?" +repeated Mr. Thomson, addressing Tom. + +Tom sullenly answered "Yes." + +"Now, tell us," the bailie continued, "when you entered that cave +with your father and the crew of the St. Magnus, whom did you find +there?" + +Tom had first seen me when I was taken down to the cutter's boat, +and no doubt he had believed that it was I who had guided the +revenue men to the cavern. He, therefore, grasped at the +interpretation implied by the bailie's question, and, whether +intentionally or not, suppressed the fact that he was himself in +the cave before the smugglers arrived, he merely said: + +"We didna find anybody in the cave." + +"That is strange," said Mr. Thomson. "Then you saw nothing of +Ericson in the cave?" + +"Nothing, sir, until I saw him in the Clasper's pinnace." + +"Of course we are to understand," observed Bailie Duke, "that +Ericson might hide in the cave without being discovered by the +smugglers. Lieutenant Fox had better be questioned about his manner +of arresting the lad;" and he looked towards the officer. + +Mr. Fox bent forward in his chair and said: "I first saw Ericson in +the cave when, as I believe, he saved my life by knocking a pistol +from Carver Kinlay's hand. I believe the lad was in there before +the crew of the St. Magnus." + +"Then that is proof sufficient that Ericson was hiding," said Mr. +Thomson with an air of triumph. + +"Halcro! come forward, will you?" said Mr. Duke, "and stand beside +Kinlay." + +I did as he requested, and then I was required to take the oath as +Kinlay had taken it. Mr. Thomson looked satisfied. + +"Tell us, Ericson," said Bailie Duke, taking a pinch of snuff, and +then bending forward with his elbows on the table, "tell us this: +When you bravely, and at the risk of breaking your neck, climbed +down the North Gaulton Cliff to render assistance, as you supposed, +to Thora Kinlay, did you find anyone in the cave?" + +"Yes, Mr. Duke," I answered with directness, "I found Tom Kinlay. +He was alone and asleep." + +"You descended the cliff without the aid of ropes, I believe?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Do you know any other lad in Pomona who could have done such a +thing? Kinlay, there, for instance?" + +"He might have done it, sir, but not in winter." + +"How, then, do you account for Kinlay getting into the cave?" + +"I suppose, sir, that he had my ropes;" and I pointed to the coil +of rope on the table. + +"Now, further, do you recognize this gun?" + +"Yes; it is mine." + +"When did you last use it?" + +"Two days before I went away in the Falcon, more than two months +since." + +There was a pause here and a passing of the snuffbox. Bailie Duke +then turned to Kinlay, holding the viking's stone in his fingers. + +"Have you ever had this curious stone in your possession, Kinlay?" +he asked. + +"Yes; I got it from my sister," replied Tom. + +"Ericson," asked Mr. Duke, "how came the stone in your possession +on Saturday?" + +"Jessie and I found it at the head of the Cliff," I said. "It was +that which made me believe that Thora was in the cave. She got the +stone from me before I went away, and I thought she had maybe +dropped it as she was getting over the cliff." + +"But what on earth could the lass want in the cave?" asked Mr. +Thomson. + +"She was unhappy at home," I explained, "and had threatened to run +away. I supposed she had taken refuge in the cave." + +"Kinlay," said Mr. Duke, touching the coil of rope, "did you at any +time make use of these lines to climb down the Gaulton cliffs?" + +Tom was silent. + +"If you do not care to tell us that, then, perhaps, you will say if +you happened to make use of this gun on the night on which Colin +Lothian met his death?" + +Tom became perceptibly confused. + +"Mr. Duke," exclaimed Bailie Thomson, "what in the world are you +driving at?" + +"I'm driving at the truth, Mr. Thomson," said Bailie Duke calmly, +"and I think I see it. In the first place, you will observe, sir, +that no motive whatever has been found which would induce Halcro +Ericson to raise his hand against poor Colin Lothian. Now, on the +contrary--and I can prove this by witnesses if you wish--it is +certain that Kinlay had a quarrel with Lothian on the very day of +the murder. Lieutenant Fox, who was witness of that quarrel, will +be able to tell the reason of it. The reason was simply +this--nothing else but this, Mr. Thomson--that it was Colin who let +it out about the smuggling. It was what Lothian said in Oliver +Gray's inn that morning which led the officer to believe that +Carver Kinlay kept a store of illicit whisky in the Gaulton Cave. +Is that so, Mr. Fox?" + +"It is quite true," said the officer. + +"Now, it is useless to examine more witnesses in proof of what I +say. All that may be considered in detail when the case comes +before the procurator fiscal. But Mr. Drever has found one witness +whose evidence is of the greatest importance, and I will have that +witness called. + +"Macfarlane, bring in Thora Kinlay. + +"Ericson, my lad, sit down here with Mr. Drever." + +Stepping towards the schoolmaster I faced the door through which +Macfarlane had disappeared, giving a pat of recognition to Colin +Lothian's dog as I passed it. And now that door was reopened, and +my dear school friend Thora came in. + +It was the first time I had seen her since her illness. She seemed +taller and more stately, and I mutely marvelled at the delicate +beauty of her fair face and at the brightness of her deep-blue +eyes. + +Our eyes met, and we simply pronounced each other's name. + +"Halcro!" said she; "Thora!" said I. + +And then Colin Lothian's dog sprang about her skirts in joyful +greeting, and followed her to the middle of the room. + +Bailie Duke, after a consultation with Mr. Drever, called Thora to +the table and administered the oath. She pronounced the words with +grave solemnity. + +"I understand, Thora," said Mr. Duke, "that you know something +concerning the death of Colin Lothian?" + +"Yes," said Thora. "I know all about it, Mr. Duke." + +"What! You can tell how it happened? You know who committed the +deed?" + +Lothian's dog here licked her hand. She sent it away, and it +wandered about the room until it came to Tom Kinlay. + +"Yes, I can tell you that," she replied. + +And then she turned round, pointing with accusing finger at Tom +Kinlay, "'Twas him that did it. I saw it all. See, even the dog +kens its own master's blood!" + +At Kinlay's feet crouched Lothian's dog, snarling angrily as it +looked at a stain on the young man's trousers. + +Consternation filled me as I heard this terrible accusation. Mr. +Drever alone of those present seemed unmoved; he alone seemed to +have expected it. Tom Kinlay's face grew pale and haggard, and he +almost tottered as he stood there with all eyes directed upon him. + +When the excitement had subsided, Mr. Duke looked towards Thora and +asked her to tell all she knew, in her own way, and to omit no +detail. She accordingly stepped a little nearer to the table, +resting her hand upon it, and gave her evidence in a clear, +unfaltering voice. Her narrative was to the following effect: + +On the day of the commencement of the snowstorm Thora, who had not +been to school since her illness, went over to Clouston to visit +her young friend Hilda Paterson. When the storm came on she issued +out of the cottage and took the road as far as Stenness, and over +the undulating land of Sandwick, where the snow wreaths were +already so deep that often on her way she failed to recognize the +landmarks. She travelled in uncertainty as to the direction she was +taking, and felt utterly tired out--for she was not yet +strong--when she came unexpectedly to a little cottage, and, to her +dismay, found she had walked nearly three miles out of the direct +road home. + +The cottage was a tiny building of rough stones, and the snow found +its way inside through the wide crevices in the walls. It was the +home of one Mary Firth, a lone old woman who earned her living by +knitting stockings and burning kelp. Opening the door, Thora +entered the only room. There was no one within and the fire was +dead out, for Mary Firth had gone away that morning to Kirkwall to +sell her stock of knitting. Thora was cold and hungry; she +considered it impossible to reach Crua Breck before dark, and the +snow was falling heavily, so she determined to wait till old Mary +returned. She got a few pieces of dry peat from a corner and piled +them on the hearth, then sought for Mary's flint and steel, and +proceeded to kindle a fire. Its warmth was comforting, and she sat +there on a low stool until the peats glowed hot and the kettle +began to boil. + +Still Mary did not return. There was no tea to be found in the +cupboard and the only particle of food was a piece of oaten +bannock. There were a few raw potatoes, however, and Thora put some +of these in the fire to roast. + +She was looking out at the falling snow through the little window, +and expecting Mary, when in the distance she saw the figure of a +man walking in the direction of Lyndardy farm, and bending forward +as he fought against wind and snow. Behind him was a dog, and she +knew at once that the man was Colin Lothian. + +Now Thora had been anxious to meet the old wanderer ever since I +had told her of the wreck of the Undine, and throwing her shawl +over her head she ran out of the cottage to bid him enter and share +the meal she had prepared. + +She had not gone far, however, before she observed another person +approaching old Lothian from the opposite direction. This was Tom +Kinlay, and as she recognized him she paused and slowly retreated +to the cottage without being observed, for she had no desire to +meet him, or be seen by him at that moment. + +As she looked round the two men met and stood face to face. The +wind carried the sound of their voices towards her, and she heard +angry words pass between them. Yet what they said was indistinct. +She only gathered that they were quarrelling about something that +Lothian had told to the excise officers. The dog barked at Kinlay, +and he kicked the animal. + +Finally, Tom allowed the old man to continue his way a few yards +and shouted after him, "Well, anyhow, you'll tell no more;" and as +he said these words he raised a gun to his shoulder and fired. + +The girl saw Lothian stagger and fall. Then Tom went and knelt down +at the side of his victim as though he would complete his work with +the knife he took from his belt. But, looking nervously round in +the direction of the cottage, as though fearing that the report of +the gun might bring some one out, he hurried away in the direction +of the cliffs, carrying with him a rope which was coiled over his +shoulder. + +Already Thora had left the cottage, but Tom had not observed her. +She ran through the snow towards the wounded man. The dog was +yelping and running frantically about. + +The old man raised himself to a sitting posture as she stooped and +supported his head. He did not recognize her until she spoke. + +"Where are you hurt, Colin?" she asked. "Do you not know me? I'm +Thora." + +He tried to place his hand on his side, and fell back helpless. + +"Can ye walk with me as far as Mary Firth's?" she said. + +"Nay, Thora, lassie," he murmured. "I'll not walk any more. My +travelling is ower. The life flies out o' me." + +Thora wrung her hands, not knowing what to do. The darkness of +night was coming on. They were far away from any dwelling, save the +little cottage, and the snow wreaths on the desolate moor were +becoming every moment more impassable. + +"I will run to Stromness for Dr. Linklater," she said. + +"No, lassie, no; there's no use o' doing that," said Colin. "The +doctor can do nothing. Go away home and let me die." + +"No, I canna leave you, Colin," she said woefully. "And how can I +go home when my own brother has done this thing?" + +"Tom Kinlay is no brother o' yours, Thora!" gasped Colin. "Nor +Carver your father!" + +"What do you mean, Colin? Oh, what do you mean?" cried she. "Carver +not my father! Who is my father, then?" + +"Listen!" said Colin. + +But he had not strength to say more. He dropped his head back and +groaned. And then she saw that he was dead. + +She took the plaid from under him and spread it over his body to +protect it from the snow. Then leaving the dog in charge of its +dead master, she hurried first to the cottage to see if Mary Firth +had returned. She wiped her hands of the blood that was on them, +and made her way through the snow to Stromness. + +It was almost midnight when she arrived in the town, for her +journey had been a long and a difficult one. All the houses were in +darkness, and there was not a person to be seen in the deserted +streets. She made her way to the schoolhouse, and after much +trouble succeeded in arousing Andrew Drever. + +But when the door was opened she had not strength to speak. She +fainted from exhaustion as soon as she sat down in the kitchen. Mr. +Drever gave her food, which revived her; but it was not until she +had had several hours' sleep that she could recount even a part of +what had occurred on the moor. But the schoolmaster understood this +much, that Colin Lothian was lying dead near to Mary Firth's +cottage, and, leaving the girl for a few minutes, he ran to Dr. +Linklater's and sent him to make further discoveries. + +Such was the substance of Thora's evidence, though I have given it +in fuller detail than as she delivered it to Mr. Duke. + +When she had been cross-questioned by Bailie Thomson the inquiry +was closed by Mr. Duke, and the case remitted to a higher court. +Tom Kinlay was thereupon taken by Macfarlane to his prison cell to +await the delivery of the formal charge of murder. + +I was taking up my gun and preparing to leave when Andrew Drever +requested me to remain in order to be present at the consideration +of a further question that had arisen out of his investigations of +the case. Mr. Duke remained in his chair, talking with Thora, while +Bailie Thomson and Mr. Fox went out. Presently, however, I was +somewhat surprised to see Captain Flett enter, with Peter Brown; +and I could only conjecture that there was now to be some +explanation as to the meaning of the two boxes being on the +table--the box out of the cave and the little chest from the +Pilgrim. But what was said and done at this supplementary inquiry +may well be reserved for another chapter. + + + +Chapter XL. Ephraim Quendale. + + +"Tom Kinlay is no brother of yours, Thora; nor Carver your father!" + +These words were ringing in my ears. What did they mean? + +I was questioning in my own mind what Colin could have meant when +Mr. Drever asked us all to sit at the table. He had some statement +to make. + +Turning to Mr. Duke he said: + +"In the remarkable evidence just given by Thora--I will not now +call her Thora Kinlay--you who heard it were no doubt astonished at +the revelation made to her by Colin Lothian in his dying moments." + +"Yes, dominie," said Mr. Duke. "I have just been asking Thora what +Colin could have meant. Can you throw any light on the matter +yourself?" + +"I believe we can throw some light on it, bailie, and perhaps you +can help me to make the matter clear." + +The schoolmaster stood with his hand resting on the chest that had +been brought from the cave. + +"First of all," said he, "I will ask if you remember Carver +Kinlay's arrival in the Mainland?" + +"Right well do I remember it," said Mr. Duke. "He was cast ashore +in the wreck of a Danish barque about a dozen years ago, or more. +What was the ship's name, now?" + +"The Undine?" suggested Mr. Drever. + +"Ay, that's just it, the Undine. And Sandy Ericson found Carver in +some hole in the cliff two or three days after the wreck." + +"That was so," said Andrew. "And you will also mind that Carver was +not alone in the cave. There was a child with him--a little girl." + +"Yes, yes; I mind that now, Andrew. The child was Thora herself." + +"And that cave was the same that the smugglers were taken in on +Saturday," said David Flett. + +"The very same," said the dominie. "And this box, here, has +remained in the cave ever since the wreck. See, the ship's name is +painted on it!" + +And he turned the box with the name outward. We read the word +"Undine." + +The schoolmaster then opened the box and took from it a bundle of +papers and a book, handing them to the bailie. + +"By these you will see, sir, that the barque Undine sailed from +Glasgow, bound for Copenhagen, and that her owner's name was +Quendale--Ephraim Quendale, of Copenhagen. The ship's book will +also show you that at Glasgow she took on board the man Carver +Kinlay and his wife, his son Tom, and an infant girl." + +"The girl Thora--" put in Bailie Duke. + +"Wait a bit, sir," said Andrew, continuing. "There were four +persons saved from the wreck in pilot Ericson's boat. These were +Kinlay's wife and their boy Tom, a Danish seaman, and a gentleman +passenger. That passenger, sir, was Ephraim Quendale himself, the +owner of the ship, who, from what I gather, seems to have been +returning to his native land, having been on a trip to Scotland +with his young wife and their child. + +"On the morning after the wreck some bodies were washed ashore, +and, if you will remember, amongst these was the body of a +beautiful young woman, in whose arms was still clasped the +shattered body of a little child. You see, Mr. Duke, there were two +children on board the vessel, both of them girls, of about the same +age. The drowned woman was recognized by Quendale as his wife, and +she was afterwards buried with the child in the old burying ground +of Yeskenaby. + +"Two days afterwards--that is to say on the fifth day after the +wreck--Ephraim Quendale and the Danish sailor left Orkney." + +Here Andrew Drever put his hand in his breast pocket and drew out a +paper. + +"I have here," he said, "a letter that I got yesterday from widow +Ericson. It is a letter addressed to her husband, Sandy Ericson, +and it was written by Ephraim Quendale on the eve of his departure +from Kirkwall to Copenhagen. I will read it: + +"'Pilot Ericson-- + +"'I have been fortunate enough to find a ship in this port bound +for my own land. We sail this morning for Copenhagen, and I shall +not be able to see you to thank you personally for what you have +done for me in my hour of misfortune. But I shall be back again in +your island, please God, in a few weeks' time. I beg that you will +do me the goodness to have my beloved wife's name, Thora Quendale, +inscribed on the tombstone, and also that you will take charge of +all wreckage that may be gathered from the remains of my poor ship. +I grieve sorely that you were unable to find the body of the other +child; for I still have my doubts, notwithstanding that the woman +Kinlay was so positive that the child we buried was not her own. It +was sad that the little head was so disfigured. The eyes would have +proved all to me. My own darling's eyes were heavenly blue, like +her mother's. Should you discover the other body, I beg you will +write me a full description of its appearance and forward it by the +first ship to me, at Copenhagen, in Denmark. + +"'Ephraim Quendale'" + +The schoolmaster handed the letter to Bailie Duke, who read it over +to himself and asked a few questions regarding its contents. + +"Mr. Quendale never returned to Orkney?" said he. + +"No," replied the dominie. + +"Strange. And did Pilot Ericson never hear from him?" + +"Never." + +"And what about the wreckage?" + +"There was none of special value," said Andrew. "This box that we +have here is, I believe, the only thing of value that remained, +and, as you know, it was only discovered a few days since." + +"But Kinlay appears to have known of it," observed Mr. Duke. + +"Certainly he knew of it," the dominie returned; "but its value +consists in the papers it contains, most of them being in the +Danish language, which Kinlay was ignorant of. Had he known that +tongue he would doubtless have seen that a large number of the +documents are drafts upon the National Bank of Denmark, and other +claims of value." + +"Very good, Andrew; we'll examine them afterwards," said the +magistrate. "There was no other wreckage? no other bodies washed +ashore?" + +"No. It was while he was looking out for further remains of the +wreck that Sandy Ericson discovered Carver Kinlay in the Gaulton +Cave, and with him the child we know as Thora." + +"Kinlay's own child, that is," observed the bailie. + +"I believe not, Mr. Duke," said Andrew. "She is the daughter of +this Mr. Quendale, the owner of the wrecked ship." + +"Indeed! You believe that, Andrew?" + +"I firmly believe it." + +"Had we not better send for Mrs. Kinlay, to hear what she has to +say on the matter?" said Mr. Duke. + +"Mrs. Kinlay is dangerously ill. However, I was at Crua Breck +yesterday and saw her. It seems that when Sandy took the bairn to +her, she, in her excitement at its recovery, claimed it as her own. +There was no clothing on the child to identify it by, you see, and +she did not discover her mistake for some hours after Sandy had +gone. But Sandy had told her that Mr. Quendale was to return to +Pomona very soon, and Thora was kept there until her father should +come back." + +"But, Andrew, man, how do you explain their keeping Thora and +bringing her up as their own bairn if, as you affirm, she was known +to be the daughter of other parents?" + +"Simply in this way," said Mr. Drever; "Carver, you see, knew very +well that Mr. Quendale was expected back in Orkney. He kept the +girl, as his wife confesses, hoping for a ransom from so wealthy a +father. But having begun, very foolishly, by passing Thora off as +his own bairn, he was obliged to continue to recognize her as such +before folk, still believing that her true father would reappear." + +Bailie Duke was not altogether satisfied with this explanation. + +He turned to Thora and said: "Did Carver always treat you kindly, +Thora--as a father?" + +Thora looked up appealingly to him, with tears on her cheek, +saying: "No, Mr. Duke. He was good to me before folk; but he was +very hard sometimes." + +"And your mother--I mean Mrs. Kinlay--was she good to you?" + +"She has aye been good to me; but not like a mother," said Thora, +as plaintively as a lost lamb. + +"And you never suspected that she was not your true mother?" asked +Mr. Duke. + +"Not till Colin Lothian spoke to me about it." + +"There is certainly some mystery about all this," said the bailie, +turning to Andrew Drever. "But it remains with us to communicate +with this Mr. Quendale, if he is still alive." + +"He is not alive," said Andrew, with conviction. + +"Oh, then, you know something of him?" + +"Yes," said Mr. Drever; and here he turned to me and asked me, to +my surprise, to relate all that had occurred during my solitary +voyage in the Falcon. I did not see what possible application this +could have to the case, or how it could be connected with the +mystery of Thora's parentage. But I related my adventure. + +I told how David Flett had been knocked overboard, and of the mate +and Jerry leaving me alone on the schooner; of my difficult +navigation of her, and of my discovery of the Pilgrim. Here the +schoolmaster called the magistrate to give attention, and I guessed +that it must be with the ill-fated ship that the mystery was to be +in some way cleared. I told how I saw the supercargo seated at the +table in the cabin, and how I had read the last entry in his log +book. + +Andrew Drever opened the book, which was before him, and passed it +to Mr. Duke, saying: "You will observe, sir, that the last date +written here is January, 1831. Thirteen years ago." + +"Thirteen years ago!" exclaimed Mr. Duke, turning over the pages. +"Ah! now I begin to see your application. Go on, Halcro." + +I then spoke of finding the charts, and described how the Pilgrim +had touched at Kirkwall. + +"She called at Kirkwall to put me ashore for hospital," interposed +Peter Brown. + +"What!" exclaimed Mr. Duke. "And are you going to say that this +Pilgrim was the vessel in which Mr. Quendale sailed for +Copenhagen?" + +"Copenhagen was the port she sailed for--calling at Akureyri, in +Iceland," quietly explained the dominie. "Go on, Halcro." + +I then described the captain's room, and told of the man I had seen +lying dead in the sleeping bunk. I spoke of the diamond ring. + +"Have you got that ring?" asked the magistrate. + +"Yes," I said, feeling in my waistcoat pocket and producing it from +the folds of a piece of muslin. I handed it to the schoolmaster, +whom I had not told about it before. He examined the sparkling +stones and handed it on to Mr. Duke. I saw Mr. Duke eyeing it +curiously. As he looked at the inner circle of gold a light came to +his eyes. + +"Ah, hello!" said he. "There are some letters engraved here. Can +you read them, dominie? The characters are foreign. It looks like +German or Russian." + +Andrew took the ring nearer to the light. + +"The characters are Danish!" said he excitedly. "It is the name +'Thora Quendale!'" + +"Well, all this is unmistakable evidence," said Mr. Duke. "I think +you have proved, Andrew, that this passenger on the Pilgrim and the +owner of the Undine were one and the same person. The ring is a +lady's ring. Probably it belonged to Quendale's wife." + +"I think it likely that he took it from his dead wife's finger," +said the schoolmaster, handing the ring back to me. + +"No, sir," I said. "The ring isna mine. It belongs now to Thora, +and Thora shall have it;" and making my way towards her I took her +fair hand in mine. + +White and smooth it was, like the hand of a lady, with long +tapering fingers and shapely nails. A strange new sensation came +over me as I held it in my own rough palm. My heart beat quicker, +and I felt myself growing red in the face. + +"Take the ring, Thora, and wear it for the sake of those who have +gone before;" and I slipped the glistening ring upon her finger. + +"Thank you, Halcro!" she said, very softly. "Thank you! I will wear +it for my father and mother's sake, and also for yours." + +"For my sake, Thora!" and I looked down into her eyes. + +There was an expression in them that I had not seen there before. I +started back with a sudden recollection. Here before me I saw the +same blue eyes, the same fair hair, the same beautiful face and +rounded neck that I had seen pictured in the locket that fell from +the dead man's hand on board the Pilgrim! Here was proof added to +proof. There could no longer be any doubt in my mind that Thora was +indeed the daughter of the beautiful woman who was cast ashore at +Inganess, and whose body now lay in the old neglected graveyard +across the moor--the daughter of Thora and Ephraim Quendale. + + + +Chapter XLI. The Last Of The Kinlays. + + +Thora Quendale--as I must now call my young girl friend--returned +that evening to her old home at Crua Breck. We walked together that +far over the hardened snow; and many were the questions she asked +me concerning all that I had seen and learnt of her dead father. +What was he like? Was he tall, and great, and noble as she imagined +him? What was the colour of his hair? How old did I think he was? +And did I suppose he had suffered much in that dreadful ice prison +in the far north? + +To all of which I answered as best I could, with my very slight +knowledge of the facts she was so much interested in. O, if I had +only known who that passenger was that lay dead in the captain's +room! I could perhaps have discovered more about him before the +ship went down. + +As we walked side by side across the white moorland, my companion +looked again and again at the glittering ring on her finger. + +"I am glad," I said, "that I happened to bring the ring away with +me." + +She sighed. + +"I'd rather you had brought my mother's picture. That would have +been more to me than anything else." + +"Alas!" I said. "But I did not know then that it was the picture of +your mother, Thora; and I thought it would be wrong to take it from +his hand. For it was perhaps the only thing he had to look upon in +those weary long days in the ice prison that could remind him of +his happier times. I think it must have been the last thing his +eyes rested upon while his life lingered." + +"Maybe you're right, Halcro," said she; "but I'd like to have seen +the picture. + +"Tell me," she continued, "d'ye know where my mother's grave is?" + +"Yes, well do I know it, and I'll take you to it some day when the +snow is away." + +We walked along silently after this, and parted at the gate of Crua +Breck farm. + +A few days after Bailie Duke's preliminary examination of +witnesses, the procurator fiscal--the official by whom such +inquiries are conducted in Scotland on behalf of the Crown--arrived +from Kirkwall. The case had already been made clear in preparation +for him, and he had little else to do than take the evidence +formally and arrange it in legal order. + +The matter became somewhat involved with the action against the +smugglers, for it transpired that Tom Kinlay had, after telling his +father of the affair at the inn, been sent by Carver to spy on +Colin Lothian, and to watch the cliffs and give an alarm in case +the revenue authorities had determined to institute a plan of +attack from the land. The evidence against him was too strong to +admit of a doubt as to the ultimate issue of the examination, and a +single day's inquiry was sufficient to establish the case against +him. He was accordingly carried off to Kirkwall, and there +committed to prison on the charge of having "wilfully, wickedly, +and with malice aforethought, murdered Colin Lothian by shooting +him with a gun." + +The trial was awaited with much interest by the people of the +Mainland. No one doubted that the prisoner would be found guilty of +a capital offence. The only question that gave any one concern was +the nature of the punishment that his guilt would merit. + +But several weeks before the date fixed for the trial an event +occurred which made all speculation superfluous. One morning the +rumour reached Stromness that Tom Kinlay and all the smugglers had +escaped from Kirkwall jail. At first this was generally +discredited, for the building in which the men were confined was a +notably strong one; but later reports confirmed the rumour. The +authorities had trusted more to the strength of the prison than to +the vigilance of the guard; and one dark night, by the aid of some +of their comrades outside and the treachery of one of the jailers, +the prisoners effected an easy escape. Dodging through the narrow +streets they went by various ways to the harbour, and there took +forcible possession of a small brig that was lying at anchor in the +bay. Before the alarm spread the vessel was far out at sea beyond +the possibility of pursuit. The escape was well planned, and as the +brig was fully provisioned, her destination could only be surmised. + +It was commonly believed that the fugitives would return to their +old trade of smuggling, and, as the men's knowledge of navigation +was known to be extremely limited, it was not thought that they +would venture upon a voyage to very distant parts. + +At this time I was away on a short trip in the Falcon. We touched +at the island of Rousay, and here we learnt that some smugglers in +a strange brig had, two days earlier, made a daring raid upon one +of the small villages, robbing the inhabitants of their most +precious possessions. We heard a similar story at Papa Westray. But +it was not until our return to Stromness that we associated these +piratical raids with Tom Kinlay and his companions. + +A few weeks afterwards a Glasgow barque, named the Surprise, put in +at Stromness, and reported having, on passing one of the Outer +Hebrides, rendered assistance to a wrecked vessel, which, though +bearing another name, answered exactly to the description of the +stolen brig. Among the passengers on the Surprise was Captain +Gordon, who had left his ship, the Lydia, at Greenock, and was now +on his way to Leith. He had gone out in the ship's boat to the +wreck. One of the crew was saved, an Orkney man; but the rest were +all lost, including, as we afterwards heard, young Tom Kinlay, +whose career of crime was thus brought to an early termination. + +Mrs. Kinlay, who was a gentle and good woman, had much tribulation +to bear up against in the unhappy deaths of her husband and son; +and, having but little of the sympathy of her neighbours, she +resolved to leave the island. Accordingly, as soon as she recovered +her health, the farm, stock, and furniture at Crua Breck were sold, +and the unfortunate widow took passage over to Caithness, where she +remained among her relatives for the rest of her days. + +A great dread came upon me when I heard that Mrs. Kinlay had left +for Scotland. I thought that Thora Quendale had gone with her, and +that I had lost sight of my dear girl friend for ever. I feared +even to ask if this was so; but passing along the road one evening, +soon after we had dropped anchor in the bay, I chanced to meet +Andrew Drever walking home with a string of trout hanging at his +side. + +Having exchanged a few friendly remarks with me, he asked if I +would go and spend the evening with him. + +"Come and take some supper with us, lad," said he. "Thora will be +glad to see ye." + +"Thora!" I exclaimed. + +"Ay, Thora. Did you not know Thora lives with us now?" + +"No; I thought she had gone to Caithness with Mrs. Kinlay." + +"Nay, nay," said Andrew; "Thora can look after herself now, since +we heard from Copenhagen. But come along as soon's you can, and +we'll tell you all about it." + +And with that he trudged away humming a lightsome tune. + + + +Chapter XLII. A Choice Among Three. + + +Not many minutes after I left the schoolmaster, when I was passing +by the wharf, I met Jack Paterson. Jack was standing looking down +into the water, with his two hands deep in his trousers pockets, +and his face bearing an expression of curious indecision. + +"Hello, Jack, what's troubling you now?" I asked, approaching him. + +"Troubling me! Well, I suppose it is troubling me, too. The fact +is, Ericson, I've been asked to take command of the new pilots." + +"Well, man, that's surely nothing to look so gloomy about, is it?" + +"No, lad; and I wouldna trouble sae muckle if I could see my way +clear to takin' the offer. But, ye see, Halcro, I canna do the +piloting without a boat." + +"I see, I see. Ay, Jack, but that's a pity, man. And ye canna get +the money towards buying the St. Magnus?" + +"No; the St. Magnus is for sale, I weel ken that, and she's a right +good boat. But where can a poor crofter body like me get the +siller, think ye?" + +"'Deed, I dinna ken, Jack; but maybe the siller will come somehow. +There's many a one in Orkney would advance it for you, surely. +Dinna be cast down about it, man. What about your crew?" + +"Weel, I was thinkin' of yersel for one, Halcro?" + +"Of me!" + +"Ay, and Jimmie Crageen, and Ronald Ray from Kirbister, and Steenie +Barrie; all o' them good honest men and weel acquainted wi' the +Orkneys. What d'ye say, Halcro? Will ye join us?" + +"I canna say, Jack. Ye see there's the Falcon. I couldna leave +Davie Flett very well; though I'll not deny I'd rather be a pilot +than anything else." + +"Weel, ye'll think of it any way; and if we can get the money, +there's no doubt but we'll manage the business right enough." + +With that I left Jack on the wharf and continued my way, meditating +upon this chance of fulfilling my ambition of being a Pomona pilot. + +I had not gone far, however, when I heard a quick step behind me. + +"Ericson, Ericson!" some one called. + +I turned and saw Lieutenant Fox following me in full uniform, and +with a young midshipman attending him. He came up to me, and, after +a few ordinary observations, said: + +"I wanted to ask you something, Ericson. We're short-handed on the +Clasper, and we need the help of a man who knows these islands +well; someone who knows all about the people, and can be of service +in keeping down the smuggling. Now, what d'ye say? Will you join us +yourself?" + +"I'm afraid not, Mr. Fox," I replied, for I had already half made +up my mind about the piloting, and with true Orkney instinct I +clung to the old ways of my family. "I'm afraid not, sir. You see +I'm aboard the Falcon just now, and if I leave Davie Flett it will +only be to join the new pilots. + +"But if you're needing a hand," I continued, thinking just then of +Willie Hercus, "I can get you a lad that knows just about as much +of the Orkneys as I do, one that has always wished to be a +man-o'-war's man." + +"I'd rather have yourself, Ericson," said the officer. "Just think +about it, will you? It's a good opening for you, and you may yet +reach the quarterdeck and become an admiral, and fly your own +pennant before you're as old as Davie Flett. Let me know as soon as +you decide. But if you can't join us, send your friend. Good +evening!" + +As the young lieutenant walked away with a great clattering of his +long sword, I looked at his laced cocked hat and his epaulettes, +and fancied myself in a similar uniform. However, my native +simplicity came to my rescue, and, good as this opportunity of +serving my Queen appeared, I yet thought fondly of the pilot's +busy, perilous life. Something told me that it was my destiny to be +a pilot, as my fathers for three generations had been before me. + +I went into Oliver Gray's inn, and there found my skipper, Davie +Flett, awaiting me. He was talking with a little old man, whom I +soon recognized as Isaac the Dutch Jew, who had bought the viking's +ruby from Tom Kinlay. When I entered, Isaac retired to a far corner +of the parlour and watched me closely as I talked with Captain +Flett. + +"When do we sail, captain?" I asked, as I sat down beside the +skipper. + +"Tomorrow night," said he. + +And I judged that I should now have to determine without delay +which of the three appointments I should take--remain with Flett, +join the revenue cutter, or become a pilot. + +"I've just been speaking with Lieutenant Fox of the Clasper," I +said. "He wants me to go into the revenue business." + +"Ay! and so you're to be a blue jacket, eh?" mused Flett, without +offering any objection to my leaving the Falcon. + +"No," I replied, "I'm not sure yet that I'll join them, captain. +The fact is, I have also seen Jack Paterson, and he wants me to +become a pilot." + +"That's more in your line, my lad. Tak' my advice and join the +pilots. Ye'll do better as a pilot than anything else. It's in your +blood. As for the Falcon, I said when you came aboard us that you +could easily leave if you chanced upon something better. We can +soon get another lad to fill your berth. Maybe ye ken a lad yersel' +that would come aboard us?" + +"Ay, that I do," I responded. "There's Robbie Rosson, he'd be glad +of the chance." + +"Bring him to me then, Halcro, and we'll take him along with us +next trip to see if he likes it." + +Here was a fortunate opportunity. By my own advancement I was to be +the means of helping my two school companions. Willie Hercus was to +join the revenue cutter; Robbie Rosson was to go aboard the Falcon. +As for myself, I may say that it was a foregone conclusion with me +that I should take to the piloting. + +"Has Paterson got a boat yet, Halcro?" asked the skipper. + +"No, that is his one difficulty. He wants the money. I wish I could +only get some money from somewhere." + +Captain Flett lapsed into silence, as though, acting in his +customary fashion, he was contriving in his mind how best to secure +a pilot boat for Jack Paterson. Presently the old Jew edged nearer +to us and said to me: + +"Did I hear you say you vant money, mine young friend?" + +"That's a thing a good many folk want," said I. "Why?" + +"Vy? Oh, just because I tink you have got someting vort a great lot +of money. Dot little black stone you showed me; long time ago, you +know." + +Here Captain Flett interposed, speaking with Isaac in Dutch. A long +conversation followed in that language, during which Flett asked me +for my viking's stone. The old Jew took the talisman in his long +fingers. He regarded it as though he were familiar with its +structure, twisting it round and screwing the thin band of gold +that encircled it. Then a very wonderful thing happened. He gave +the stone a few taps upon the table and the metal ring fell off. +The stone dropped open in two pieces like a shell, and in the heart +of it appeared a bright clear gem that sparkled in the light of the +oil lamp hanging above us. I looked on in dumb amazement. + +This stone, Jarl Haffling's talisman, that I had carried about with +me so long, fondly believing that it had the power to protect me +from all perils, was it no talisman after all? I doubted it now. +Whatever dangers I had gone through had been surmounted by no aid +from this supposed amulet, but simply by my own endeavours. But +useless as it no doubt was in this particular, I could well imagine +that the bright diamond which had been so cunningly enclosed within +its hard stony shell might be of considerable value. + +That it was of great value I soon discovered from what the old +Hebrew informed me. He took from his inner pocket a tiny pair of +scales, and proceeded to weigh the glittering jewel in the balance. +Then he made some calculations on a dirty piece of paper, speaking +as he did so in Dutch with Captain Flett. + +"D'ye want to sell the thing, Halcro?" said the skipper. "He says +he canna buy it himsel', but he kens its value. He's the agent of a +diamond merchant in Amsterdam." + +I hesitated to answer, reflecting upon my need of money. My mother +was poor; I could help her by selling this thing, and then, if I +should get for it more than sufficed for her immediate needs, was +there not this pilot boat to buy? I might be able to become part +owner of the St. Magnus. + +"What does he say the diamond is worth?" I asked of Flett. + +The sum he named astonished me. I could scarcely contain my wonder +at the thought of it. + +"Five hundred guineas," answered Flett. + +Five hundred guineas! Why, that was a fortune. + +"Would you give me that much for it?" I asked, looking at old +Isaac. + +"Ah! mine young man, you tink me rich. I could not offer you five +hundred shilling for the stone. I only tell you it is vort so +much." + +He thereupon replaced the gem within its covering of stone, drew on +the band of gold again, and returned to me my talisman in its +original condition. Then he drank the gin that was in the glass +before him, and put back his little scales into his pocket. Before +leaving us he handed me a little card on which was inscribed the +name of a diamond merchant in Amsterdam. + +"You are a sailorman," he said, buttoning up his coat. "You may be +in Amsterdam one day. If you go to dat address dey vill buy the +stone from you; but do not take one groschen less dan five hundred +guineas. Good day, mynheer!" + +And he went out. + +"Weel," said Davie Flett, "I must say that's a queer auld fellow." + +"He seems to have turned honest," I said. + +"The auld scoundrel has taken a liking for you, Halcro," said the +skipper, smiling. + +"But," said I, "I almost wish he had bought the diamond." + +"Nonsense, lad! keep it and bide ye're time. Besides, you forget +the dominie's 'Law of Treasure Trove'" + +"Ah, yes, I suppose I would only be entitled to a third of the +money after all," I said. "But what about the pilot boat?" + +"That will be all square, my lad. Did they not tell you that I had +bought the St. Magnus?" + +"No! do you really mean that, captain?" + +"Certainly I mean it. And you and Jack Paterson can start the +piloting as soon's ye like." + +That night, as I sat at Andrew Drever's fireside talking of Jarl +Haffling's talisman, Thora Quendale told us how, when one day after +her illness she was sitting in an armchair, with the stone dangling +by a string from her hand, she fell asleep before the warm fire. +She was awakened by hearing a footstep in the room; it was Tom +Kinlay's. She felt for the stone, but it was gone. Tom had stolen +it. This was how it came into his possession. Evidently it was by a +mere accident that he left it at the top of the cliff, before going +down to the cave, after the death of Colin Lothian. + +That night, too, Andrew Drever told me, as he had promised to do, +how he had received news from Copenhagen concerning Thora; how the +insurance money on the ship Undine and on Mr. Quendale's life was +to revert to Thora. This would surely make her a wealthy woman. But +the business connected with this, and the inheritance of her +father's real and personal property, required that Thora should go +to Copenhagen to establish her claims in person at the chancery +courts of Denmark. Mr. Drever was interesting himself specially on +her account in the capacity of a guardian, and he was soon to +accompany her to Denmark and leave her there, probably for several +years. + + + +Chapter XLIII. Thora's Answer. + + +It was a fresh, breezy, August afternoon. In the open sea, far out, +east of the Skerries, we were scudding along blithely, with a flock +of seagulls flying wantonly in our wake. The low hills of the +Orkneys rose like a faint haze on the horizon to westward. Light +waves, touched with green, curled over into snowy spray about our +sides as our boat bent over and plunged buoyantly through them. +Blue was the far-stretching sea, and bluer still the summer sky. + +Away to the eastward, whither our bowsprit pointed, a white-sailed +clipper grew larger as we approached her. The Danish ensign flew at +her mizzen; the familiar signal for a pilot streamed from her fore +peak. My heart beat quicker, telling me who was aboard this fair +vessel as nearer and nearer we drew. Now we could distinguish the +tiny figures moving about her yards, as one by one her studding +sails were taken in. + +Sitting in the stern sheets of my own pilot boat, I watched and +watched for some sign on the ship's quarterdeck. At last a white +object appeared over the rail, waving with regular motion. I took +out my handkerchief and unfurled it in reply, still with faster +beating heart. + +"Lower away, my lads!" I cried, putting the helm to starboard. + +"Ay, ay, sir," responded Willie Hercus, who had left the Clasper +and was now our mate. Then down fell our sails, flapping loud in +the breeze, and out went our long sweeping oars. + +We crept in under the vessel's counter; a rope was thrown to us, +and in a few moments I was on her quarterdeck, standing all +trembling and nervous before a tall beautiful woman, whose +deep-blue eyes and fair, breeze-blown hair were all that I could +see--everything else was lost to me. + +"Halcro!" she exclaimed, holding out her two sunburnt hands in +greeting. + +"Thora!" I murmured, taking her hands in mine. + +"You have expected me, then?" she said, as I drew her gently to the +rail to let the sailors pass. + +We stood there, looking into each other's face, in which the four +years that had passed since our last meeting had left their +maturing touch. + +"I have been expecting you these two months past," I said, looking +wistfully over the sea. "There has never come a ship from Denmark +but I have boarded her, hoping to see you." + +"Well, you see me at last, and am I altered?" + +"You are only more beautiful, Thora, more womanly. And so you are +coming back to Pomona to visit us again?" + +"No, not to visit you, Halcro. I am homeward bound this time. I am +never going to leave old Orkney again. My schooling is over, and +there is no one left in Copenhagen now to keep me there. I am going +to settle down in some cottage near our dear sea cliffs, where I +can see the ships passing from my garden seat and dream my life +away in pleasant solitude." + +"In solitude!" I stammered; then shyly asked: + +"Did you not get my last letter, Thora?" + +"What! the one in which you told me of Jessie's marriage to Captain +Gordon, and that the dominie had retired from his school, and that +you were promoted to captain, and had called your new boat the +Thora? Yes, certainly, I got it." + +"But there was something else I said in it, Thora--something more +important to me than these things you speak of. Did you not read +that part?" + +Thora looked meekly down at the white planks of the deck, her +cheeks growing rosy and her breath coming quick. Then turning her +eyes aft towards the steering wheel, she said, crossing the deck: + +"Captain Ericson, do you not think you should be attending to the +piloting of this ship?" + +"No," I said, following her across to the lee side, where the great +mizzen sail shielded us from the view of others on board. "No; my +mate, Willie Hercus, is looking after that. I am off duty today. I +am here not as pilot; I have come out to welcome you home." + +Then, after a long silence, during which we both looked overboard +upon the dancing waves, where the porpoises rolled in play, and the +gulls dipped lightly on balanced wings, I said: + +"Thora, you did not answer all my letter when you wrote. You were +not offended, were you, by what I said?" + +"I know what you mean, Halcro," she said, resting her hand upon the +rail and turning her eyes full upon me, "I was not offended, or I +should not now be here. I did not answer you in writing. I have +come to answer you in person." + +She put her hand in mine, and added the one word: + +"Yes." + +And that was the answer that Thora spoke on that summer day, long +ago, as we stood together on the ship that brought her over from +the home of her fathers to the land in the northern seas that was +more truly her own. And the ship sailed on, over the blue waters +and through breezy sounds and among verdant isles; into sunlit +fiords, where the sea birds flew; on, under the dark weatherbeaten +cliffs and lofty rocks, where the cormorant sat perched on high. +And at last, as the dusk of the evening gathered and the light of +the sunset silvered the waters, down went the chain with rattling +noise, and we came to an anchor in the peaceful haven of Stromness. + +THE END. + + + +Notes. + + +i According to the standard of value in 1843, the ingot of +silver, weighing six ounces, would be worth 1 pound, 13s., 0d. + +ii Peerie = little. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PILOTS OF POMONA*** + + +******* This file should be named 14149.txt or 14149.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/1/4/14149 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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