CHAPTER XXVII.
"OF THE VOLSUNGS' KIN IS HE."
There they found, carefully arranged, all the miscellaneous articleswhich they had conveyed to Trullyabister on the night of their firstraid upon it. There too were the things brought by the _Laulie's_crew, when engaged upon Tom's "deed of high emprise." The Lunda boyshad been too ashamed at their defeat to say one word about theirproperty to Mr. Neeven, but they had spoken of it to Yaspard, and hadbeen somewhat comforted by his assurance that all they had lost shouldbe restored before long.
Our Viking eyed the confiscated articles with infinite satisfaction,before instructing his followers how to deal with it. "But time mustnot be wasted," said he in a moment. "I believe the ogre to be a verysleepless creature, and he may soon rise to wander after his usualstyle; so let's make haste."
They stowed everything into their keschies, and what could not go therewas packed in the _Laulie's_ "spare canvas," or suspended from theirbelts; while Tammy watched the proceedings with profound interest.
When they were ready to depart the marauders conveyed Tammy to hiskitchen, and left him seated comfortably in his favourite corner,assured that he would sit there till Mr. Neeven should get up. Theywere well aware that Tammy would allow the kitchen to be burned abouthis ears before he would venture to disturb the recluse in his chamber.
I may mention here that it happened as they supposed it would, and itwas not until his breakfast-hour arrived, and Mr. Neeven came todiscover why Tammy was not stirring, that he found the "natural"sitting sleeping, gagged and bound!
When aroused, released, and able to speak, Tammy said, "It wis yonfilskit moniments o' boys, sir. But they've taken no' a vestige thatwis no' their ain. They'll be far enough by this time; and puir Tammyis thinking that there's no' muckle use in trying tae get the better o'the likes o' them."
"You are about right for once," replied his master, as he turned away,saying to himself, "Boys are certainly more than a match for men in theexercise of their wits."
Meanwhile the _Osprey_ had gone to Gloy's geo, and deposited on a safeledge of rock all which our Viking-boys had carried away fromTrullyabister; and when that was done the marauders returned to theirhomes.
At the breakfast-table Yaspard said to his uncle, "The Yarl of Brochasked me to come to Burra Isle to-day, if you have no objections. TheLunda boys are to be there. It's to be only a _boy party_, not likethe picnic."
"When the young braves go forth alone," replied Mr. Adiesen, in abantering tone, which showed he was in excellent good-humour, andlikely to give the required permission, "when the warriors embarkwithout the companionship of women, there are perilous tasks to beperformed. May a mere humdrum person inquire what knightly deed amodern Viking proposes, and what is to be the result of 'only a boyparty'?"
"We are going to have some jolly fun--of Mr. Halsen's planning; but itwould spoil it to tell beforehand."
"I can leave the responsibility on Mr. Halsen," answered Uncle Brues;"he understands what boys need and like."
"I shall want to stay some--days. It might be a whole week; and I needthe Harrison boys and the _Osprey_, of course. I would also like totake Thor as well as Pirate, if you please, uncle."
"You will want clean collars and socks," said Miss Osla.
"No, thank you, auntie. I shall not take any _luggage_ with me, onlywhat I need in----"
"Of course," she interrupted, "you won't want a lot of clothes, onlywhat is needful;" and the good lady went off as soon as breakfast wasover to pack a bag for Yaspard, who was obliged to take it with him.
"I can leave it at Broch anyway," he said to Signy as he stowed the bagaboard. She had carried it to the quay, and was watching him get readyfor his expedition.
"Then are you going farther than to Broch?" she asked; and, underpledge of secrecy, the girl was told the whole scheme, which delightedher.
"Oh, what a fine time he will have! It is so nice to be a boy!" Signysaid to herself, as she slowly turned from the shore when the _Osprey_took wing.
When the Boden boat reached the geo she was stopped while Gibbie wentashore, and brought all the odds and ends recaptured at Trullyabister.These were stowed beside the basket containing Thor, who made known toall concerned how little he relished being in durance vile byoccasional bursts of angry speech and vindictive snaps, through hisprison bars, at whatever came within reach. Once it was Lowrie'sjacket tails, another time it was Gibbie's sleeve; but what pleasedThor best was when he got a chance at Pirate's ear.
Our Viking-boy received the warmest of welcomes when he arrived atBurra Wick. The Lunda boys were there, and had brought a parcel forhim from Fred, which, upon being opened, was discovered to be a finefield-glass, such as Yaspard had long wished to possess, and abeautiful silk flag embroidered by Isobel.
He did not know which to admire and value most; yet I think the letterof manly kind advice and friendship which accompanied these gifts wascherished still more; for I know that when the faded flag was stowedaway--long years afterwards--in an old bureau, and the field-glass hadbeen lost on a wild Western prairie, Yaspard still kept lying near hisheart the words of love and Christian counsel written to him by hisboyhood hero in the golden days of youth and dreams.
The rest of that day was spent at Broch--delightfully spent, we know,since the Yarl was host.
Gerta and Amy were extremely kind to the boys, although they were onlythe "young ones," and not to be compared with their elder brothers.But Yaspard was more attracted to Garth than to the girls. He had beenabroad with Mr. Congreve, and had the most interesting stories to tellof the northern lands he had visited. Then his books of travel andlegend, how bewitching they were! While Harry Mitchell revelled inGarth's specimens, Yaspard pored over his books, and could scarcely betorn from them.
"Oh, Harry," he said, "wouldn't you like his chance of going away anddiscovering all sorts of places and things?"
"I'll _make_ a chance of the sort for myself," replied Harry, in hisusual quiet, determined way, which meant never less than "act to followword."
"It would be fine, glorious!" Yaspard mused; then shutting the"Wanderings of Waterton" with a clap, he exclaimed, "We'll do it,Harry--you and I--some day. We will go off as the Vikings did, andexplore the world."
"As you are going to-morrow, eh?" said Garth.
"Boys play at what men achieve," answered Harry.
And then was begun a dream which Yaspard and Harry realised in lateryears.
In the evening, Amy, seeing Yaspard still hankering after Garth'sScandinavian travels and lore, said, "Do, Garth, read us what you havewritten about the Jews and the Norsemen. I am so fond of that littlebit. I suppose because my family was of Jewish extraction."
"I believe it was composed in compliment to you," laughed Gerta,bringing a blush to the sensitive young author's face by her words.But his father seconded Amy's request, so Garth read--
"There are two races of men who have retained their peculiarcharacteristics through long ages and through many vicissitudes. Theyhave wandered over the whole globe, and become part of almost everypeople now existing. They have conquered and been conquered. Theirblood has mixed with that of all the other tribes of earth. Asindependent nations they no longer exist, and yet the personality ofthe Jew and the Norseman is as distinct to-day as it was when they weremighty ruling powers on the earth.
"The Egyptian of old, the Greek and Goth, where are _they_ now? Theyhave left grand memories, but have become 'mixed races,' and thepeoples of to-day who bear their names have few, or any, of theirattributes.
"Not so have the wandering Arab and the restless Scandinavian obeyedthe law of nature that says--
'The old order changeth, yielding place to new, And God fulfils Himself in many ways, Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.'
"Like the two currents that roll side by side in one channel, distinctin their nature, those two great races have come down the ages bearingto all lands and all peoples a God-derived power and a God-
givenmessage. They have not been lost in each other; and in blending withthose among whom they dwelt they have yet never ceased to leaveindelible traces, which have made them recognisable always. _They_have absorbed, but never been absorbed.
"When our hearts thrill to some glowing page of Eastern imagery, whenwe listen enraptured to some sacred song, some impassioned speech ofone filled with religious fervour; when we read of suffering bornepatiently, of fortitude unequalled amid awful tribulation, of quietperseverance conquering difficulty--we recognise the strength of theHebrew race. When we are told of some venturesome band daring thedangers of iceberg and darkness in penetrating to the secret haunts ofNature; when we learn that gallant seamen are guiding civilisation tothe farthest corners of the earth, are doing deeds of heroism that stirour deepest feelings of reverence; when we know that our explorers andsailors laugh at peril and face death without fear; when we see numbersof our boys, from the prince who stands by the throne to the cityoutcast who begs at our door, prefer and seek sea-life rather than anyother--we acknowledge with pride that the power of our sea-king siresis dominant yet.
"The Jew and the Norseman have surely been chosen of Heaven to keep thehuman race from degenerating, for the soul of the Jew rules our moralbeing, and the spirit of the Norseman controls our intellectual nature.The nursery of our faith was the tent of an Arab shiek, and the cradleof our fame was the bark of a northern Viking."
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