Part 17 (1/2)

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 pa.s.sionate 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 Brus 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 G.o.d 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.