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Updated: June 27, 2025
He and Minnie and his uncle had frequent discussions in regard to it, but to little purpose; for although Swankie and Spink had discovered old Mr Brand's body on the Bell Rock, it did not follow that any jewels or money they had found there were necessarily his.
Another moment, and a goodly cod of about ten pounds weight was wriggling on the iron hook which Ruby handed up to Dumsby, who mounted with his prize in triumph to the kitchen. From that moment the fish began to "take." While the men were thus busily engaged, a boat was rowing about in the fog, vainly endeavouring to find the rock. It was the boat of two fast friends, Jock Swankie and Davy Spink.
They evidently thought this an unaccountably polite Government officer, and were puzzled. However, they could do no less than accept such a generous offer. "Thank'ee, sir," said Big Swankie, spitting out his quid and significantly wiping his mouth. "I hae nae objection. Doubtless it'll be the best that the like o' you carries in yer bottle."
To his surprise and delight he found that it contained a gold watch and several gold rings and brooches, in some of which were beautiful stones. Swankie was no judge of jewellery, but he could not avoid the conviction that these things must needs be valuable. He laid the case down on the rock beside him, and eagerly searched the other pockets.
"What! is it thou, Swankie?" he cried. "Dog, methought I had killed thee long ago!" "That is yet to be done," cried the berserk, leaping upon Glumm with a sweeping blow of his sword. Glumm stooped quickly, and the blow passed over his head; then he fetched a sudden cut at Swankie, and split him down from the neck to the waist, saying, "It is done now, methinks," as he drew out his sword.
He tried again to speak, and Glumm, misunderstanding the few words he muttered, said: "Thou art already avenged, King Hakon; Swankie the berserk is dead." The dying man made another effort to speak, and was successful. "That concerns me little, Glumm. Thou lovest Ada, I know. This ring take it to her, say her father's last thoughts were of her. Be a good husband, Glumm. The brooch see."
Swankie was too angry to make any reply, or to enter into further conversation with his comrade about the kegs of gin, so they continued their way in silence. Meanwhile, as Lieutenant Lindsay and his men had a night of work before them, the captain suggested that Minnie, Ruby, and himself should be landed within a mile of the town, and left to find their way thither on foot.
"Hech! lad, that was a guid ane," said the disappointed man with a sigh; "but he's awa'." "Ay," observed Swankie, "and we must awa' too, so up anchor, lad. The rock's lookin' oot o' the sea, and time's precious." The anchor was speedily pulled up, and they rowed towards the rock, the ragged edges of which were now visible at intervals in the midst of the foam which they created.
Both men were stooping over the plate-chest, the Badger with his back to the door, Swankie with his head towards it. The major raised the boot-jack and took aim. At the same moment the door squeaked, Big Swankie looked up hastily, and, in technical phraseology, "doused the glim." All was dark in an instant, but the boot-jack sped on its way notwithstanding.
"Denmark or Rooshia, it's a' ane to me," rejoined Swankie; "I'll hae a smoke." So saying, he pulled out his pipe and tobacco box, and began to cut the tobacco. Davy did the same. Suddenly both men paused, for they heard a sound. Each looked enquiringly at the other, and then both gazed into the thick fog. "Is that a ship?" said Davy Spink. They seized their oars hastily.
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