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"Mother, mother, dinna fash theesel'. It's naught at a' but a mistake; an' I'll gae wi' Bailie Inkster, if he's feared to tak my word." "I could tak thy word fain enough, John " "But the thing isna possible, Inkster. Besides, if he were missing Monday morn, I, being i' some sort a relation, wad be under suspicion o' helping him awa."
It was the Sabbath-day; the captain as usual had summoned the crew to prayers, the greater number went willingly, for they were well aware of the imminent danger they had escaped, and were glad to express their gratitude to Him who had preserved them. Max Inkster, with a few others, made excuses for staying away.
Then Bailie Inkster said, "Peter Fae, before God an' his minister before twa o' the town bailies an' thy ain daughter Margaret, an' thy friend Ragon Torr, an' thy servants Hacon Flett an' Gerda Vedder, thou art now to say what man stabbed thee."
He blinds their eyes, and they are thus easily led captive by his emissaries, just as you were led away, as I have since discovered, by that unhappy man, Max Inkster. God's ways are inscrutable. He has been allowed to perish, I fear, in his sins, while your life has been preserved.
Those who associate with unprincipled people run a fearful risk of being led astray by them. Archy, notwithstanding his mother's warnings, had persisted in visiting Max Inkster, for the sake of hearing his long yarns of nautical adventure, and he would at first have been excessively indignant had he been told that he was likely, in consequence, to be led into any further act of disobedience.
"I have often before been on board whalers, and knew how the casks were stowed," answered Archy, hoping that he should avoid further questions which might implicate Max Inkster. "You are deserving of severe punishment for coming on board without my leave," said the captain. "I must consider how I shall treat you. If we fall in with a homeward-bound ship, I shall put you on board.
On landing, he made his way to the house where Max Inkster lodged. The door was open. Archy walked in. Max was alone in a little room on one side of the passage; he was smoking, and a bottle and glass were on the table. "Glad to see you, lad," he said. "Sit down. I doubted that you would come." "Why?" asked Archy.
They attacked him, as soon as he got among them, with all sorts of questions, laughing and jeering at his folly. No one laughed at him more than Max Inkster. Archy felt inclined to retort, but he remembered his promise to Max, and gave him no sign of recognition, he was treated as one of the ship's boys, and was put to do all sorts of drudgery and dirty work.
The ithers are i' my room." "Get them, Christine." Christine returned in a few minutes pale-faced and empty-handed. "They are not there, John, nor yet i' thy kist." "I thought sae." "Then God help me, sister! I know not where they are." Even Bailie Inkster looked doubtful and troubled at this circumstance.
This day he had received many good-natured greetings Jenny Torrie had told him that the Sea Gull was just coming into harbour, and so heavy with cargo that the sea was worrying at her gunwale; then Mary Inkster from the other side of the street added, "Both hands seen and unseen are full, Captain, I'll warrant that!" "Don't thee warrant beyond thy knowledge, Mary," answered Ragnor, with a laugh.
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