"OH, NEED SORE AND MIGHTY."
Shortly before Yaspard and Signy left Collaster on that unfortunate
expedition, the young Laird of Lunda was called from the Ha' to
interview some shipwrecked men who had been found by a haaf-boat on one
of the sound skerries.
Arab soon carried Fred to the extreme point of his island, where the
men were hospitably lodged by some fisher folk. Great was his wrath
and astonishment on being told the story of their misadventure, which
seemed incredible from one point, and yet was the only explanation
admissible, considering that when the accident took place the weather
was not rough, and the vessel still under management, if the skipper
was telling truth.
Fred put the men through a searching course of cross-questioning, but
could not discover any flaw in their statement regarding the large fire
lit on the hill; and he was obliged to admit that there must have been
a signal there as described.
After seeing that the men had every comfort, he went off to consult the
minister and Doctor Holtum as to what must be done. The sailors were
wrathful (as was not wonderful) and vowing vengeance. The fisher folk
were puzzled, and affirmed that there must have been some supernatural
agency at work. Fred felt sure the matter would have to be sifted, and
that upon himself and Doctor Holtum (the only magistrate in Lunda since
Mr. Garson's death) would devolve the duty of instituting inquiries in
Boden.
"It will be a very awkward job," Fred said, when retailing what had
taken place to Dr. Holtum. "It will certainly put an end to all chance
of peace with Mr. Adiesen, for he is sure to resent such a charge and
such a suspicion with the utmost bitterness."
"There is no one living on Boden but what one might call his own
household, for the Harrisons are just like home servants; therefore--as
you say--he will resent this as a personal matter."
"There is that strange man Neeven," said Fred thoughtfully. "I have
heard very curious tales of him. He does not seem to be quite sane, if
one may credit all that is reported of his ways. It is possible that
_he_ may have lit that fire for some eccentric purpose quite different
from that which those men imagine."
"You have not unlikely hit upon the truth, Fred," said the Doctor; "but
that makes our task no easier."
"If that Viking-boy had not been here last night, I should have been
convinced it was some prank of his. Well for him that we can prove an
_alibi_ for him! Dear-a-me, Doctor, what a business this will be! I
am sure being Laird of Lunda isn't all sugar and spice."
"It has happened most unfortunately at this time, just when those young
people were bringing the old man round in such a nice way. Well, well,
Fred! we must believe there is some good purpose in even such a 'kettle
of fish' as this."
After various consultations among the wise-heads, it was agreed that
Dr. Holtum and Fred, with the captain and mate of the _Norna_, should
go over to Boden next day and interview Mr. Adiesen. I need not
describe what they meant to say, or how they hoped to mollify the
irascible old man, for their intention was never carried out. In
crossing the sound they spied Yaspard gesticulating wildly from the
crest of Yelholme.
"Some of your men on the holme, captain?" the Doctor said, as soon as
they caught sight of the figure.
"I only lost one, and that _may_ be him," was the answer; "but he fell
from the rigging, and must have been awfully mashed. Indeed, I never
dreamt he could be alive; and I can hardly believe he would be able to
dance about in _that_ fashion."
Yaspard was moving restlessly about, afraid that if he stood still he
might not be noticed. As the boat approached nearer Fred remarked,
"That is a mere lad, but there is some one else lying on the skerry."
Dr. Holtum had very keen vision, and very soon he said in agitated
tones, "Fred, lad, it is very like the boy Yaspard; and I don't see any
boat about."
"It certainly _is_ Yaspard, with no jacket on, and a man beside him.
Whatever can have happened?"
The boat went straight for Yelholme, and as she reached it the Doctor
called out, "My dear boy, what has happened to you?"
Yaspard could not speak, but his haggard, weary appearance, as well as
the helpless form beside him, told a tale of sufficient misery.
"That's my bo's'n," said the captain, as soon as he saw the man's face.
Then the Doctor and Fred scrambled on shore, and while the former--with
the instinct of his profession--made for the wounded man first, Fred
turned to Yaspard (foreboding the truth) and asked, "Your little
sister?"
"I have lost her. She has gone with the boat," came in bursting sobs
from the poor boy, who was by that time so completely exhausted and
unmanned that Fred could only take him in his arms and try to comfort
him as one might a little child.
A brief explanation made the whole matter plain to our friends of
Lunda, but it took some time to show the _Norna's_ captain how it
stood. He had been nursing much wrath against the inhabitants of
Boden, and would scarcely pay sufficient heed to what Fred said. But
his boatswain's account of the matter satisfied him, and he was as
willing as any one of the party to postpone the disagreeable visit to
Boden, and return to Collaster with as much expedition as possible.
Under the Doctor's skilful directions the injured man was removed to
the boat, which was soon being rowed by six pairs of strong arms back
to Lunda; and while so proceeding, Fred contrived to revive Yaspard's
hopes regarding Signy.
It was impossible, he said, that the boat could go far out to sea, for
the many cross-currents would prevent her. Nor was it likely that she
could upset, unless she came in contact with the rocks. It was even
possible that little Signy, so intelligent and brave, might think of
using the helm to guide herself. She was quite familiar with the
working of a boat, and after the first panic was over might find some
way of serving herself.
Thus Fred talked, and Yaspard's naturally sanguine nature caught
inspiration from his words. He was even ready to smile, and say, "Yes,
the _Laulie's_ crew will find her if any can," when Fred spoke of the
young Mitchells and their boat, no doubt available at that time.
Unfortunately the _Laulie_ was not available, for those restless boys
had determined on a fishing expedition to the Ootskerries preparatory
to their Viking-raid on Trullyabister, and had gone off early that
morning. However, there were many other, if less interested and less
efficient, crews in Lunda ready to do the young Laird's bidding; and
not long after his return a number of boats were leaving the island to
scour its neighbouring seas in search of the lost child.
Yaspard could scarcely be constrained from embarking in the first
available boat, and was only deterred by Fred's assurance that he had a
plan in his head which was only workable by themselves twain.
"When you have fed and rested we will set about it; and while you are
obeying the Doctor by lying down on that sofa, I will go home and tell
my mother what has happened, and what I purpose doing."
In the afternoon--just twenty-four hours after the _Osprey_ had sailed
from the voe of Collaster with a happy brother and sister aboard of
her--Fred and Yaspard put off in a small boat, very like our Viking's
bark in size and build. They sailed straight for Yelholme. By that
time Fred explained what his plan was, and Yaspard became much excited
over it, hoping everything from its peril and ingenuity.
When they reached the holme they hauled down their sail, and waited "on
their oars" till the tide was exactly in the same stage in which it was
when Signy was carried away by it.
Then the oars went in; the two adventurers sat passive on the middle
thwarts, and let the boat go as the waters willed. Away she spun round
the holme, and out in the same direction that the _Osprey_ had taken.
"It's going to do, I really believe," Yaspard exclaimed, and Fred
nodded; but Fred's heart was heavy at thought of the beautiful little
creature who had flown like a dove into his heart so short a time
before. He could so easily recall the sweet-confiding way she rested
her head against him; he almost felt her soft hair blowing about his
face as it had done when Arab carried them both to Collaster, and he
was also carried into the undiscovered country of a young man's ideals!
They did not speak much as they drifted with the currents. They saw
many of the boats that had been sent out, and spoke some; but no one
had any report to make. Nothing had been seen or heard of the _Osprey_.
"It is scarcely time to hear anything yet," said Fred. "We must not be
discouraged until we have heard from the boats that have gone farther
away, and until our own plan fails to put us on her track."
"I don't believe it will fail," answered Yaspard, with a show of
resolution far greater than his inward hope warranted.
"We will hope, boy; and we will not forget that the Father's watchful
care has been about her in her loneliness and peril, poor little
lassie!"
They lapsed into silence after that, and drearily watched the water as
it carried them along, until they began to near a group of skerries
which lay on the direct way to Havnholme. The steady current flowing
past the point of Yelholme had borne them in safety beyond all
dangerous rocks until nearing that ugly group, and when they noted the
direction in which they were then drifting their hearts sank.
Fred sat white and stern, looking at the black rocks round which the
ocean seethed white, and Yaspard wondered what he meant to do. He did
not have much time to wonder. Fred took the seat in the stern, and
said in a low voice, "She shall go as far as we dare let her; stand by
to lift the sail when I bid you."
On went the boat, rolling more perilously as she came among the more
disturbed waters; then it seemed that she lay checked between two huge
waves for a moment; and while she so seemed to pause, the young fellows
anxiously gazed at the group of skerries, fearing everything from their
dark and frowning appearance.
Presently--could it be? Yes, the boat was not proceeding as she had
done. She was going in another direction; she had met a cross tide,
and was being carried by it past the skerries, past the towering cliffs
of Havnholme, and into the quiet smiling little bay which gave that
island its blessed name.