"AND BOUND FAST THEIR SWORDS IN WEBS GOODLY WOVEN."
"I think," said Fred as Tammy shuffled away, "that some of us must
follow the 'light-keeper's' example and take ourselves off, especially
as we came without invitation."
But no one would permit him to say another word about leaving. Mr.
Neeven curtly requested the _Norna's_ captain to accompany him to
Trullyabister "on business." Dr. Holtum, Harry Mitchell, and Fred
followed Mr. Adiesen to his study, for the purpose of inspecting some
of its treasures. Aunt Osla insisted upon Signy's retirement to a
sofa--for the child still looked wan and nervous. Yaspard carried off
Tom and Bill to Noostigard, where Gloy had gone immediately after
breakfast to tell the Harrisons all the astonishing news. Thus the
lawn at Moolapund was cleared of the large human party which had
assembled there--the first for many years; and their places were taken
by the motley crowd of birds and beasts who daily assembled for the
matutinal meal the scientist never failed to give them from his own
hands.
Great was the astonishment created amongst them by his non-appearance
on this occasion. Loki stretched out his long neck with the curious
jerk which makes a cormorant look so idiotic as well as voracious,
while one or two scories[1] gave utterance to a good deal of strong
language. Pigeons, chickens, shelders,[2] sparrows, and starlings
skirmished for the crumbs, &c., which Signy had put out, and wondered
what was to happen next; a pony shoved his frowsy head against the
window, and a patient large-eyed ox stood near the door with the
obvious intention of remaining there till the master put in an
appearance. All were envious of the favourite cat who was seated
serenely inside the window, blinking complacently at the assemblage
through a safe shield of glass, and at last her airs of superiority and
content became too much for Thor.
After hopping sedately about, contriving to annex the tit-bits from
Signy's contribution, and making inquiries into the position of
affairs, Sir Raven suddenly alighted on the window-sill in front of
Mistress Puss, and screamed harshly in her very face, "Shoo! shoo!
Uncle, uncle, uncle!"
The feline person waited for no second remark, but setting up her back
at Thor, she cursed him in cat language and hastily decamped; whereat
the astute Thor, turning to the company observant of all that was
taking place, said "Just so!"
By that time the patience of a good many of the creatures was
exhausted, and they took to falling out with one another, the result of
which was a concert so peculiar that it drew the attention of the
gentlemen, even though they were very intently turning out the contents
of a cabinet.
"Ah, poor things! I don't often forget them," Mr. Adiesen said by way
of explaining the clamour outside, and--excusing himself to his
guests--he hurried away to his menagerie.
Dr. Holtum and Fred stood together at the window and watched the
scientist distribute food to his dependants, while Fred told the Doctor
a great deal of what had passed between himself and his hereditary
enemy; and we may be sure his listener rejoiced over such a happy
termination to the feud of years.
A pleasant morning glided swiftly to the hour of noontide dinner, when
the boys returned to the Ha' hungry and in high spirits. They had
concocted a grand "lark" while at Noostigard; and they had encountered
Mr. Neeven at the Hoobes, when he had invited Tom to come to
Trullyabister whenever he so pleased.
"And I'll go," said Tom, when the recluse was out of hearing. "I'll
go, and I'll take the rest of us with me."
After dinner the Doctor said, "You have a Lunda boat here; and I must
be at Collaster this afternoon, but I don't want to hurry Fred.
Perhaps some of the boys will take me home and return for him."
But Fred required to go home too, so it was settled that the whole
Lunda party were to depart together.
"We are to meet, however, on Friday," said Fred, "and have a splendid
picnic in honour of little Signy. She is to be queen of our revels."
"Hurrah! All right! Just your style! Good for you, Fred!" In such
words the lads let it be known how thoroughly they appreciated any such
project; and when they subsided Mr. Adiesen said, "I wished the picnic
to be here--on Boden, I mean; our island is a scrap compared with Lunda
in size, but we have some cliffs and caves quite as fine as those of
any of the Shetland Isles; and I could show you some fine scenery from
the Heogue. But Mr. Garson wishes his picnic to be held on----" The
old gentleman came to a very full stop, pushed back his spectacles from
his nose to his forehead, drew himself up and looked around, meaning to
be very emphatic indeed (which he was). "Yes," he resumed, when all
his hearers were sufficiently impressed with the importance of what he
had to state--"yes, Mr. Garson desires, and I cordially agree, that the
picnic--I might call it the celebration of our thanksgiving for my
Signy's preservation. Yes--hum! this meeting of my family with our
_friends_ of Lunda is to take place on---- Havnholme!"
Who can say what it cost that old man to agree to Fred's proposal; to
bury his pride and his resentment, his ancestral prejudice and his
personal arrogance, and meet the Laird of Lunda with his friends on the
disputed piece of earth?
We cannot understand either the position or the concession, which seem
almost ludicrous in our estimation, but were sufficiently solemn, even
tragic, in the sight of Brüs Adiesen, living a secluded life apart from
men, and nursing there every fantastic or unreasonable or old-world
idea.
The boys had not a word to say when their host's speech was concluded;
but a sniff from Miss Osla, which might be the prelude to tears and
sentiment, warned Dr. Holtum not to leave the silence for _her_ to
break, and he remarked--
"A good thought. We have not had a picnic on Havnholme for ages. The
last time I saw the Yarl of Broch, he was saying he had not set foot on
the Holme since he was a boy, and got thrashed there by you, Adiesen,
eh?"
"I remember! I remember!" answered the scientist, chuckling and
rubbing his hands together. "We were boys then--yes, boys--and
boy-like, very ready for a row. It seems so short a time ago! It was,
yes, it was a rare good fight--the only time I ever came off best! Ha!
ha! I was not a fighting boy as a rule. I may say Neeven could always
lick me; so could my poor brother Yaspard. But _that time_--don't know
how it happened--I thrashed Halsen. I did indeed, though you mayn't
think it."
"I am awfully surprised," said blunt Tom Holtum.
"You may be that," rejoined the scientist, not in the least nettled by
the implication in Tom's speech. "You may well be surprised, for he is
twice my size; he was a big boy, and is a big man. Yes! the Yarl is a
genuine old Shetland Viking of the right sort."
"He'd suit you down to the ground, Yaspard," quoth Tom; and Fred Garson
added, "You would freeze to Garth Halsen, boy. He is as mad about
Vikinger as you are, only it's in another way. I'll ask them to join
our party. You would like to see Mr. Halsen again, wouldn't you?"
"To be sure," Mr. Adiesen replied. "We'll fight our battle o'er
again--with our tongues this time. By all means let's have the Yarl
and his boy on Friday."
So things were settled; and in high good-humour the Lunda boys escorted
Dr. Holtum and their young captain to the boat, and with hearty
good-will rowed home, singing lustily as they pulled--
"A life on the ocean wave,
A home on the rolling deep."
When the Lunda boat was out of sight Yaspard heaved a long sigh, and
said to Signy, who with him had stood watching their new friends until
the curves of the voe hid them from sight, "Well! I suppose I may stop
my raids when I like now. There is no feud, and no occasion to go on
the warpath."
"It seems almost too good to be true, brodhor," the girl made answer.
"You need not mind giving up your Vikinging for such a good reason."
"That's true," he answered cheerily; "only we were getting no end of
fun out of it. However, we must think of some other plan, as Mr.
Garson said. Oh! but isn't _he_ a brick, Signy?"
"He is just splendid," was the fervent answer.
"They are _all_ splendid," replied the lad, "except perhaps Tom
Holtum. I don't like him much. And to think of cousin Neeven taking
to _that_ one of all the lot! Well! if Tom is to be visiting
at Trullyabister, where even I have not more than a half-civil
'Good-day'-and-don't-stay-long sort of welcome, there will be hot times
in Boden, and plenty of rows."
"Oh, brodhor! don't set up a feud of your own, I beseech!" Signy cried,
with a comical look of dismay on her face, and lifting both hands in
appeal.
Yaspard burst into laughter. "Oh, Mootie, what a little goose you are!
I couldn't keep a feud going to save my life. I can fight! I dare
say, if that chap is much about, I shall knock him down if he cheeks
me, but we will shake hands on the spot every time, you bet! _I_ a
feud! No, Signy, I am not a fool just yet; though if I had stayed much
longer on Yelholme, I'd have lost the little wit I now possess."
They strolled away to the house, and did not know that Uncle Brüs had
been lying sunning himself on the other side of the stone wall near
which they stood. As the brother and sister departed the old gentleman
muttered, "Not a fool yet! No, Yaspard is not such a fool now as his
uncle has been through a wasted long life. Heaven pardon me!"
[1] Young gulls.
[2] Oyster-catchers.