"SO HE SHUT ME IN SHIELD-WALL."
I have not been able to describe Yaspard's grief when he lost sight of
the _Osprey_, and I am less able to describe his joy upon seeing her
floating snug against the crags which were the favourite landing-place
on Havnholme. But neither he nor Fred could utter a Bound when they
caught sight of Signy lying under shelter of the skeö, which had been
of like service to many a person before; but never surely to so fair,
delicate, and forlorn a creature as she--when she quitted the boat on
the previous evening, and sank down on the spot to weep herself into
unconsciousness. The sun had gone down, and had risen, and was fast
sinking to rest behind the western waves again, but Signy had never
moved from the place. Once or twice she had waked up, and gazed wildly
around until she had once more realised her position, then with a low
cry, that was yet a prayer, she had buried her face in the grass again
and lapsed into that state of half slumber, half stupor, which was a
merciful relief from the more keen realisation of her position.
In trembling haste her brother and Fred landed, and ran to where she
lay; but so lifeless did she seem that Yaspard paused beside her, and
dared not even stoop for a nearer look.
It was Fred Garson who lifted her head, and tenderly put the hair back
from the white, innocent face; then said with tears, "Thank God, this
is only sleep!"
Down Yaspard dropped on his knees by Signy, and when she opened her
eyes they lighted first on her brother's face--white as her own, but
full of gladness and love.
For a few moments she did not realise what had happened to her.
"Brodhor! I had a strange dream," she murmured--"a terrible dream.
But--where am I? Oh! I remember! Oh, Yaspard! you have found me!
Oh, God heard all I said to Him!"
She leaned back on Fred's arm again, and looked up at him with the same
confiding look she had raised when they were galloping over the Lunda
heath, and she said very sweetly, "In the boat I thought of you helping
Yaspard to find me."
They had brought wine and other nourishment with them, hoping that
these might be found of use in that very way; and after Signy had
partaken of refreshment, she was able to smile a little and tell them
how she managed to land.
"The boat just went where it liked," she said, "and I was _so_
dreadfully frightened for a little while. Then, as I prayed, it seemed
all at once that I wasn't afraid any more, so I sat still and watched
the sea, and wondered who would pick me up. After a long, long time
the boat stopped rocking, and then I knew she had got out of the tides
into the bay here. I had been here with Yaspard, and knew it; and I
thought if I could row, or steer, or something, I might get the
_Osprey_ to the land. I was afraid to try with the oars, so I went and
steered, and I really managed to turn the boat so that she was carried
to the shore at the right place. I got out and tied the rope as I had
seen Yaspard do. It felt so nice to stand on the ground again! But I
was very tired; and I came up here, and looked all round at the sea,
and I never had felt it to be a dreadful, dreadful thing before--never
in my life! I had so loved the sea! But _then_--oh, it seemed so
large, and powerful, and cruel! Somehow I began to tremble all over
after that, and I am afraid I cried very much. I am not sure when it
was I fell asleep, but it seems ages ago."
They would not let her talk any more about what had happened, but
turned the conversation to home, and Signy was soon able to chat on
that theme with a degree of composure.
After being rested and cheered, Fred carried Signy to the Lunda boat,
saying to Yaspard as he did so, "We must all go together; and we can't
bother with a boat in tow, so we had better secure the _Osprey_ here
till she can be fetched."
"Yes; and then if any of the search-party come to Havnholme, they will
know by that that Signy has been found."
The hour was late, and Yaspard began to speculate upon what Aunt Osla
and Uncle Brüs would say on being roused from their slumbers to receive
the adventurers and hear the story which had so nearly ended in a
tragedy.
"I am afraid uncle will be very angry," said Yaspard; but Signy, who
lived closer to the eccentric old man's heart and understood it better,
affirmed that he would be so pleased to have her back in safety he
would not "break out" on anybody. "Besides," she added, "he will see
that we _couldn't_ leave that poor man, and that it was all just a mere
accident."
Yaspard was not so confident, nor yet was Fred, but they did not
discuss the point further; only Fred remarked, "I'd carry you both
straight away to Lunda, and get Dr. Holtum to take you home and smooth
matters as _he_ only can; but ill news travels fast, and it is quite
possible that the catastrophe has been reported at Moolapund; and
reported with twenty exaggerations tacked on to it. In that case the
sooner you are home the better;" and Signy added, "I'd like best to go
_home_."
Home had seemed so dear and far away while she was alone, that now her
whole heart was turning to it with a passionate yearning; and her
companions thoroughly understood the full meaning of her little
sentence.
The events of the last twenty-four hours had completely driven all else
from our Viking's mind, and he did not remember that he had trysted the
lads of Lunda to meet him that night at (what they had named) Gloy's
geo. But they, knowing nothing of what had taken place after they
parted from the Osprey, were not likely to break bargain in such an
affair--promising, as it did, some rare fun.
The boats which Fred had sent out to scour the seas had not approached
the Ootskerries, knowing that the _Laulie_ was there, and that her crew
were not likely to miss seeing the lost boat if it came that way.
Moreover, the fishermen calculated that the tide would carry her in a
more southerly direction, altogether ignorant of the influence, at a
precise and fortunate moment, of cross-currents. As we have seen, Fred
Garson judged differently and with a better result.
But of all these things our lads were ignorant; therefore, shortly
after Fred's boat entered Boden voe the _Laulie_ set out from the
Ootskerries for her rendezvous; and what next happened to her crew you
shall learn when we have safely housed the young Adiesens at Moolapund.
There was the complete and brooding silence of Nature at rest over land
and sea when the boat sailed up the voe, and the three adventurers did
not speak a word till Signy caught sight of a light.
"Oh," she cried, "look! uncle has not gone to bed; there is a lamp
burning in the parlour still."
"That is very satisfactory," quoth Fred; "but they can't have heard any
rumour about you, else there would be more folks awake than the
scientist, and other lamps besides that of the study."
"Uncle Brüs will be grubbing among his specimens," said Yaspard
concisely.
When they reached land they heard Pirate begin to bark and whine,
evidently aware of their vicinity, and eager to get out and give them
welcome; and as they drew near the house the door opened and Mr.
Adiesen appeared, in a fantastic dressing-gown and Fair Isle cap,
saying to the dog, "What's the matter, Pirate?"
The "matter" became plain to his vision next moment in the form of
Signy, who flew into his arms crying, "Oh, uncle, dear, dear uncle! I
am so thankful to be here again. I was lost, and nearly died; and poor
Yaspard was left on Yelholme."
"Bless the child!" he gasped; "what on earth is she saying? Yaspard!
do you know it is midnight? What is-- Why, Mr. Garson! what--what!"
For once in his life Mr. Adiesen was thrown off his balance. Signy,
springing up to bind her arms round his neck, caused him to stagger
backwards into the hands of Fred and Yaspard, while their appearance
and the girl's words upset his mind as much as his body. The joyful
bounds and barks of Pirate added to the old gentleman's confusion, and
when set on his feet again he could only turn and walk back to his
parlour in blank amazement.
The others followed, of course, and stood waiting for him to speak,
which he did shortly after resuming the arm-chair, which he had vacated
at Pirate's request. "Explain yourself, sir!" he said severely,
addressing Fred. So there was nothing for it but for Fred to begin and
tell the story as best he might; but he had not proceeded far when
Signy crept to her uncle's knee. _Then_ he noticed her face was white
and drawn, and her eyes still full of a great fear.
"Stop a moment, sir," said Mr. Adiesen; "my child is ill. Signy, who
has frightened you?"
"No one, uncle; only I was alone in the boat and on Havnholme, and I
was so afraid," and then she began to cry bitterly. He drew her close
and looked frowning at Yaspard; "You had charge of your sister!" he
said very sternly.
"The lad is not to blame, Mr. Adiesen," Fred exclaimed. "He was doing
a good action, and he has suffered much also. Don't be hard on
Yaspard."
"Mr. Garson saved me, uncle dear," sobbed Signy. "He found me on
Havnholme; he is so good."
"Havnholme!" the old man muttered, and something like an electric shock
went through him at that word.
The change in his expression was not lost on Fred. In a very few words
he explained all; and when the narrative was ended he added, "We know
that God had the dear child in His keeping all the time; and I am fain
to believe that He who holds the seas in the hollow of His hand guided
the boat to Havnholme--_to Havnholme_--for some wise purpose, Mr.
Adiesen."
The old man's face dropped to the curly head lying on his breast, but
he only said, "The child must get to rest, and Mam Kirsty. Ring that
bell, Yaspard, and then go and tell your aunt. Sit down, Mr. Garson,
sit down, till I've had time to think."
Fred did as he was bid, and so of course did Yaspard; and a pretty
scene he created in Miss Osla's room when he burst in there and told
her all!
The ringing of the bell had roused the maids and Mam Kirsty, who
presented herself in the parlour with head discreetly and carefully
covered in a huge cap and hap-shawl, but her feet and legs only
protected by a short petticoat and pair of wooden clogs.
Her appearance and incoherent ejaculations were quite too much for the
gentlemen, although their mood had been grave enough the moment before.
They both laughed; and even Signy's tears were checked as she cried
out, "Oh, dear Mam Kirsty, you do look so awfully funny."
"Take the child to her aunt's room," said Mr. Adiesen, "and see that
she sleeps there to-night. She must not be alone. And some of you
girls there prepare a room for Mr. Garson, and bring in some supper.
Be sharp now."
He kissed Signy fondly, and had no objections to offer to Fred's doing
likewise, but when she disappeared with her nurse he muttered, "I ought
not to have trusted her out of this isle."