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The schoolmaster left me to continue my work, and three days afterwards I heard that he had started for Edinburgh in a trading sloop that plied between Kirkwall and Leith. He was absent in Scotland for nearly two months, and when he returned I received a message from him asking me to bring Willie Hercus and Robbie Rosson down to the schoolhouse on a particular evening.
What was it that old Duke gave her this morning? Was it a bawbee?" "I took no notice of what it was, Tom," I replied. "But it was very kind of him to give her anything." "It was a sixpence he gave her," said Robbie Rosson. "I saw the colour of it." "A sixpence!" exclaimed Tom. "The sneak that she is! Let's go back and make her give us a share of it." "Get away, man," said Robbie.
The lapwing escaped unhurt, and flew screaming into the air, but Selta held to the hawk till we ran up and helped her. I managed to secure the bird's wings, which flapped about with surprising strength, while Tom held its struggling legs. "Thraw its neck, thraw its neck!" cried Rosson, now coming up to us.
"I hae done so already," I said. "I left it wi' the dominie yestreen." The lads looked at each other, but neither offered any objection. "Oh, very well!" said Rosson, "I'll bring mine down i' the mornin'." "And I mine," echoed Hercus. During the first lesson in school it was noticed that Tom Kinlay was absent. "Where is your brother this morning, Thora?" asked Mr. Drever.
Now, I'm thinking that it's just possible one of them had maybe left the siller for safety in the Kierfiold Cave where I where we found it, and clean forgotten to go back for it; just as old Betsy Matthew forgot the guineas she hid under the floor in the heel of a stocking." "Ay, I dinna doubt it may be so, Willie," observed Rosson. "But then, what about the dead man's head?"
I had not known that there was such a cave at that spot, although, indeed, I prided myself upon my knowledge of the whole coastline from Rora to Birsay. I accordingly determined to explore the cliff at some future time. I must not omit to mention that Willie Hercus and Robbie Rosson duly delivered up to Mr. Drever their shares of Jarl Haffling's treasure.
Rising on his knees in the water, he wrapped both his arms round the seal, and, with the assistance of Rosson, succeeded in carrying it ashore, where it was finally killed.
Seeing my determined attitude, he regarded it as a challenge, and at once took off his jacket and held it out for Robbie Rosson to take charge of. Robbie promptly showed the tenor of his feelings by allowing the jacket to fall upon one of the gravestones, and by coming to my side. Hercus merely busied himself in pacifying my dog, which had become restless on hearing our high words.
She at once offered to run to the house and bring him, but ultimately Robbie Rosson went instead, with my terrier at his heels. "How is it you are not at the fishing, Halcro?" inquired Thora when we were alone. "I saw the schoolmaster away down at the Bush just now as I came past. He seemed to be catching very little, though." "Ah!" I said, "I doubt it's too clear a day for the trout.
"You take your proper place, I notice. But what is the meaning of this lateness? What excuse have you this time?" "I was down at the shore side catching sillocks," I boldly answered, "and I just stopped to make up the even number." Robbie Rosson here put his hand to his mouth in the form of a speaking trumpet, and whispered: "How many did you catch, Hal?"
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