CHAPTER XXIV.
"MEET AND RIGHT IT IS, FAIR LORD, THAT I SHOULD GO."
The day before that on which the picnic was to take place a mysteriouscommunication passed between the young Laird of Lunda and YaspardAdiesen, the effect of which was to set our Viking into a fit of thefidgets combined with a state of exhilaration of spirit that threatenedto effervesce in a dangerous manner at any moment.
But nothing more serious came of it than the startling of Miss Osla'swits by an apparition of her nephew prancing downstairs with one ofSigny's old dolls in his arms, and his face and head wrapped in a pieceof black linen, upon which our young hero had sketched a death's-headand cross-bones. As the terrific symbols were spread over his face, itwas scarcely wonderful that Miss Osla got a fright, and called him aprofane boy; but Signy--who was following her brother--explained that"it" was only the "black flag," and that it would never frightenanybody any more; with which explanation the gentle old auntie wasquite satisfied.
Friday came, a glorious summer day, and promising to continue so.Yaspard was up early, putting some finishing touches to his boat, whichhad been undergoing a good deal of cleaning and painting in honour ofthe occasion.
He was all impatience to be off soon, desiring to be the first at therendezvous; but Uncle Brues was not a person who liked to be hurried,and took his usual time to finish breakfast and feed his pets in spiteof Yaspard's fidgets.
Fortunately the Harrison brothers (who were to be the _Osprey's_ crewthat day) arrived soon; and he found some relief in discussing withthem the projected "lark" to which I have alluded, and which will berecorded in its proper place.
At last Mr. Adiesen and his sister came from the house, the formercarrying a vasculum and field-telescope, the latter burdened withshawls and umbrellas, which were an insult to the sun, smiling that dayas he seldom condescends to smile on Hialtland.
Signy followed her guardians, and Pirate came with her, bounding andbarking his delight--for he was still a young dog, and expressed hispleasure naturally, as young creatures do.
Yaspard's eager impatience did not prevent him from noting his littlesister's attractive appearance, and he called out as she came runningto the quay, "Why, Mootie, you do look spiff[1] to be sure! Where onearth did you get that elegant frock from?"
"Out of Aunt Osla's bullyament[2] boxes," said she; and Aunt Oslaherself explained that the bairn's "best things" had been worstedduring her terrible adventure, which had obliged Miss Adiesen to make anew dress. All the same, Signy knew that the good lady had consultedwith Mam Kirsty, and had come to the conclusion, fortified by theopinion of her _aide-de-camp_, that "whether or no," such an importantoccasion demanded a new frock for the queen of the revels.
The Shetland ladies of that time were wont to keep "by them" a hoard of"material," seeing that shops were beyond their reach; therefore MissAdiesen was at no loss to provide a suitable and elegant picnic costumefor the darling of Boden; and the result did credit to her taste andingenuity.
As the family party were taking their places in the boat, twounexpected guests arrived with the evident intention of joining theothers. These were Thor and Mr. Neeven. Thor coolly lighted aboardand settled himself close by Mr. Adiesen, remarking, as he did so,"Just so! Bad boy! bad boy! Uncle!"
These observations evidently referred to Pirate--not the scientist--whowas lying at their master's feet with head lovingly rested against hisknee, a position which Thor never liked to see occupied by any one, forhe was a jealous bird.
Mr. Adiesen welcomed Sir Raven by handing him a crust from thecapacious pocket which never failed to carry a supply of such tokens ofgood-will. While addressing Thor in the way he liked best, the oldgentleman greeted his cousin by saying, "Glad you thought better of it,and have come, Gaun. Fine day for an excursion, this. Here is acomfortable place for you," and he made room for Neeven beside MissOsla; but the recluse merely nodded "Good morning" to his relatives,stepped along the thwarts to the bow, and seated himself there.
His ways, peculiar and not meant for incivility, were too well known toprovoke comment. The _Osprey_ was shoved off by Yaspard, while Lowrieand Gibbie got out a pair of oars to help the boat along, as the windwas very light.
Brues Adiesen was in high good spirits, and insisted upon taking an oartoo as soon as his nephew sat down to row. Then Signy began to singfor very gladness of soul, as the birds do. Yaspard took up the chorusof her song, which was commented upon by Thor in his usual sage manner;and even Miss Osla forgot to seem afraid of the sea--a sentimentalfashion which had been considered a feminine attraction in the days ofher youth.
Altogether the _Osprey's_ party was as happy and almost as blithe a oneas that of the _Laulie_, which arrived at the little bay of Havnholme afew minutes after the Boden boat. Shortly afterwards two more boatsarrived in company. These were the _Vaigher_ and _Mermaid_, containingall the rest of Fred's guests. He was in his father's place at theVaigher's helm, presiding, as his father would have done, over thesafety of the elder and more sober portion of the party. His sisterIsobel had the management of the little _Mermaid_, and her companionswere Gerta Bruce and Amy Congreve, who had, of course, accompaniedGarth Halsen and his father, the Yarl of Burra Isle. Any of us whomade the acquaintance of the Yarl, his household, and guests fromEngland, will know all about those girls and Garth, and will expect funwhere they appear.
It is a real pleasure to me (and I hope to you who read this) to renewmy acquaintance with the Burra Isle contingent; to look once more onthe tender faces of Mrs. Holtum and the "little mother" of those Manseboys, and to hear the minister's genial laugh, as well as the Doctor'scheery voice.
What a shaking of hands and clatter of voices there were, to be sure!Even Pirate had to make a demonstration, for Watchie had accompaniedthe Holtums, and was ready to be friends with any dog. The only personwho did not share in the general good-will and hilarity, who seemedindeed to be out of place among so many pleasant folk, and to feelhimself quite above all such demonstrations of peace, was Thor. Aftersurveying the "ongoings" from the safe point of a masthead, he came tothe conclusion that the proceedings interested him no more, and with adismal croak he flew off to the skeoe, and, seating himself on thetopmost point of its ruinous gable, commented in very uncomplimentaryterms upon the ways of mankind. As his opinions were expressed aloud,and accompanied by many grotesque and expressive gestures, he created agood deal of amusement, although Mr. Adiesen remarked gravely enough,"We ought not to have allowed Thor to accompany us."
"He won't stay at home unless he is shut up," Yaspard explained; andSigny added, "Poor old Thor! I dare say he is more pleased than he_seems_."
"Perhaps," Fred whispered aside to the brother and sister, "theThunderer, the god of war, can appreciate a peace celebration as wellas others."
"Anyway," replied Yaspard, "there ought to be a 'chief mourner' at thefuneral, and I don't know who can undertake the part if Thor will not."
"Funeral! What do you mean, brodhor?" Signy asked, with eyes very wideopen; whereupon he beseeched her to be silent, or the cat would be outof the bag in a jiffy; and Signy, still wondering but submissive, heldher peace, while Yaspard went rollicking from group to group, singingto a doleful tune with a grin on his face--
"Thus said the Rover To his jolly crew, _Down_ with the black flag, _Up_ with the blue. Shake hands on main-deck, Shake hands on bow; Shake hands amidships, Kiss down below."
"You are improving on Scott, I hear," said Garth Halsen. "I didn'tknow you went in for being a poet as well as a Viking."
"No more I do, but _I_ know you write poetry," retorted Yaspard; andthen Fred said, "Yes; and do you know he has been impudent enough tocompose a ballad about a legend of your family, boy? Think of that! Iliked the ballad so well that I asked Garth to bring it along and giveus all the benefit; so you are to hear the story of your owngreat-granduncle, whose namesake you are, done into verse, with all theViking and Shetlandic accompaniments. What think you of that?"<
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"It depends upon how it is treated," quoth Yaspard with most unusualcaution, and eyeing Garth as if he were some curious specimen more fitfor Uncle Brues's cabinets than a picnic.
Aunt Osla, however, was charmed with the idea, said it was a verypitiful story, quite true, and just suitable for a ballad; so Garth'sverses were to be read after lunch and other ceremonies were over--forother ceremonies there were to be, as all could guess who saw FredGarson talking eagerly apart with Yaspard, then choose a lovely greenspot, and say, "This will do. Our dining hall can be on that flatlower down, but _this_ is exactly what we want. You might get some ofthe fellows to bring up a few stones, while I fetch the flag-staff."
Off went Yaspard, and soon the Harrisons and Mitchell boys were helpinghim to convey some large stones to the brae which Fred had chosen.
"To fix a flag-staff" was all he told them, and they were notinquisitive, although our Viking's smile and knowing look betokenedsomething much more important than the erection of a flag-staff.
"That will do, boys," said Fred, returning from his boat with a longstout stick and a spade, and in a short time the noble flag of noblestBritain, the beautiful red, white, and blue, with its mingled crossestelling so much of Britain's fame and story, was floating overHavnholme.
[1] Smartly dressed.
[2] Odds and ends.