CHAPTER XVIII.
"OH, NEED SORE AND MIGHTY."
Shortly before Yaspard and Signy left Collaster on that unfortunateexpedition, the young Laird of Lunda was called from the Ha' tointerview some shipwrecked men who had been found by a haaf-boat on oneof the sound skerries.
Arab soon carried Fred to the extreme point of his island, where themen were hospitably lodged by some fisher folk. Great was his wrathand astonishment on being told the story of their misadventure, whichseemed incredible from one point, and yet was the only explanationadmissible, considering that when the accident took place the weatherwas not rough, and the vessel still under management, if the skipperwas telling truth.
Fred put the men through a searching course of cross-questioning, butcould not discover any flaw in their statement regarding the large firelit on the hill; and he was obliged to admit that there must have beena signal there as described.
After seeing that the men had every comfort, he went off to consult theminister and Doctor Holtum as to what must be done. The sailors werewrathful (as was not wonderful) and vowing vengeance. The fisher folkwere puzzled, and affirmed that there must have been some supernaturalagency at work. Fred felt sure the matter would have to be sifted, andthat upon himself and Doctor Holtum (the only magistrate in Lunda sinceMr. Garson's death) would devolve the duty of instituting inquiries inBoden.
"It will be a very awkward job," Fred said, when retailing what hadtaken place to Dr. Holtum. "It will certainly put an end to all chanceof peace with Mr. Adiesen, for he is sure to resent such a charge andsuch a suspicion with the utmost bitterness."
"There is no one living on Boden but what one might call his ownhousehold, for the Harrisons are just like home servants; therefore--asyou say--he will resent this as a personal matter."
"There is that strange man Neeven," said Fred thoughtfully. "I haveheard very curious tales of him. He does not seem to be quite sane, ifone may credit all that is reported of his ways. It is possible that_he_ may have lit that fire for some eccentric purpose quite differentfrom that which those men imagine."
"You have not unlikely hit upon the truth, Fred," said the Doctor; "butthat makes our task no easier."
"If that Viking-boy had not been here last night, I should have beenconvinced 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! Iam sure being Laird of Lunda isn't all sugar and spice."
"It has happened most unfortunately at this time, just when those youngpeople 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 'kettleof fish' as this."
After various consultations among the wise-heads, it was agreed thatDr. Holtum and Fred, with the captain and mate of the _Norna_, shouldgo over to Boden next day and interview Mr. Adiesen. I need notdescribe what they meant to say, or how they hoped to mollify theirascible old man, for their intention was never carried out. Incrossing the sound they spied Yaspard gesticulating wildly from thecrest of Yelholme.
"Some of your men on the holme, captain?" the Doctor said, as soon asthey caught sight of the figure.
"I only lost one, and that _may_ be him," was the answer; "but he fellfrom the rigging, and must have been awfully mashed. Indeed, I neverdreamt he could be alive; and I can hardly believe he would be able todance about in _that_ fashion."
Yaspard was moving restlessly about, afraid that if he stood still hemight 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 agitatedtones, "Fred, lad, it is very like the boy Yaspard; and I don't see anyboat 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 Doctorcalled out, "My dear boy, what has happened to you?"
Yaspard could not speak, but his haggard, weary appearance, as well asthe 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--withthe instinct of his profession--made for the wounded man first, Fredturned to Yaspard (foreboding the truth) and asked, "Your littlesister?"
"I have lost her. She has gone with the boat," came in bursting sobsfrom the poor boy, who was by that time so completely exhausted andunmanned that Fred could only take him in his arms and try to comforthim as one might a little child.
A brief explanation made the whole matter plain to our friends ofLunda, but it took some time to show the _Norna's_ captain how itstood. He had been nursing much wrath against the inhabitants ofBoden, and would scarcely pay sufficient heed to what Fred said. Buthis boatswain's account of the matter satisfied him, and he was aswilling as any one of the party to postpone the disagreeable visit toBoden, and return to Collaster with as much expedition as possible.
Under the Doctor's skilful directions the injured man was removed tothe boat, which was soon being rowed by six pairs of strong arms backto Lunda; and while so proceeding, Fred contrived to revive Yaspard'shopes regarding Signy.
It was impossible, he said, that the boat could go far out to sea, forthe many cross-currents would prevent her. Nor was it likely that shecould upset, unless she came in contact with the rocks. It was evenpossible that little Signy, so intelligent and brave, might think ofusing the helm to guide herself. She was quite familiar with theworking of a boat, and after the first panic was over might find someway of serving herself.
Thus Fred talked, and Yaspard's naturally sanguine nature caughtinspiration 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 theyoung Mitchells and their boat, no doubt available at that time.
Unfortunately the _Laulie_ was not available, for those restless boyshad determined on a fishing expedition to the Ootskerries preparatoryto their Viking-raid on Trullyabister, and had gone off early thatmorning. However, there were many other, if less interested and lessefficient, crews in Lunda ready to do the young Laird's bidding; andnot long after his return a number of boats were leaving the island toscour its neighbouring seas in search of the lost child.
Yaspard could scarcely be constrained from embarking in the firstavailable boat, and was only deterred by Fred's assurance that he had aplan in his head which was only workable by themselves twain.
"When you have fed and rested we will set about it; and while you areobeying the Doctor by lying down on that sofa, I will go home and tellmy mother what has happened, and what I purpose doing."
In the afternoon--just twenty-four hours after the _Osprey_ had sailedfrom the voe of Collaster with a happy brother and sister aboard ofher--Fred and Yaspard put off in a small boat, very like our Viking'sbark in size and build. They sailed straight for Yelholme. By thattime Fred explained what his plan was, and Yaspard became much excitedover it, hoping everything from its peril and ingenuity.
When they reached the holme they hauled down their sail, and waited "ontheir oars" till the tide was exactly in the same stage in which it waswhen Signy was carried away by it.
Then the oars went in; the two adventurers sat passive on the middlethwarts, and let the boat go as the waters willed. Away she spun roundthe holme, and out in the same direction that the _Osprey_ had taken.
"It's going to do, I really believe," Yaspard exclaimed, and Frednodded; but Fred's heart was heavy at thought of the beautiful littlecreature who had flown like a dove into his heart so short a timebefore. He could so easily recall the sweet-confiding way she restedher head against him; he almost felt her soft hair blowing about hisface as it had done when Arab carried them both to Collaster, and hewas also carried into the undiscovered country of a young man's ideals!
They did not speak much as they drifted with the curren
ts. They sawmany of the boats that had been sent out, and spoke some; but no onehad 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 bediscouraged until we have heard from the boats that have gone fartheraway, and until our own plan fails to put us on her track."
"I don't believe it will fail," answered Yaspard, with a show ofresolution far greater than his inward hope warranted.
"We will hope, boy; and we will not forget that the Father's watchfulcare has been about her in her loneliness and peril, poor littlelassie!"
They lapsed into silence after that, and drearily watched the water asit carried them along, until they began to near a group of skerrieswhich lay on the direct way to Havnholme. The steady current flowingpast the point of Yelholme had borne them in safety beyond alldangerous rocks until nearing that ugly group, and when they noted thedirection in which they were then drifting their hearts sank.
Fred sat white and stern, looking at the black rocks round which theocean seethed white, and Yaspard wondered what he meant to do. He didnot have much time to wonder. Fred took the seat in the stern, andsaid in a low voice, "She shall go as far as we dare let her; stand byto lift the sail when I bid you."
On went the boat, rolling more perilously as she came among the moredisturbed waters; then it seemed that she lay checked between two hugewaves for a moment; and while she so seemed to pause, the young fellowsanxiously gazed at the group of skerries, fearing everything from theirdark and frowning appearance.
Presently--could it be? Yes, the boat was not proceeding as she haddone. She was going in another direction; she had met a cross tide,and was being carried by it past the skerries, past the towering cliffsof Havnholme, and into the quiet smiling little bay which gave thatisland its blessed name.