s sent to watch. British sea-captains, from
Drake downwards, had been a race of pirates and cut-throats, and if
the captain of this ship, on landing at Grimsey, found Michael
Sunlocks dead, he would follow on to Reykjavik and never take rest
until he had strung up the Governor and his people to the nearest
yardarm.

So thinking in the wild turmoil of his hot old head, wherein
everything he had thought before was turned topsy-turvy, Jorgen
Jorgensen decided to countermand his order for the execution of
Sunlocks. But his despatch was then a day gone on its way. Iceland
guides were a tribe of lazy vagabonds, not a man or boy about his
person was to be trusted, and so Jorgen concluded that nothing would
serve but that he should set out after the guards himself. Perhaps he
would find them at Thingvellir, perhaps he would cross them on the
desert, but at least he would overtake them before they took boat at
Husavik. Twelve hours a day he would ride, old as he was, if only
these skulking Iceland giants could be made to ride after him.

Thus were four several companies at the same time on their way to
Grimsey: the English man-of-war from Spithead to take possession of
the Danish sloop; the guards of the Governor to order the execution
of Michael Sunlocks; Jorgen Jorgensen to countermand the order; and
Red Jason on his own errand known to no man.

The first to reach was Jason.

II.

When Jason set little Michael from his knee to the floor, and rose to
his feet as Greeba entered, he was dirty, bedraggled, and unkempt;
his face was jaded and old-looking, his skin shoes were splashed with
snow, and torn, and his feet were bleeding; his neck was bare, and
his sheepskin coat was hanging to his back only by the woollen scarf
that was tied about his waist. Partly from shock at this change, and
partly from a confused memory of other scenes--the marriage festival
at Government House, the night trial in the little chamber of the
Senate, the jail, the mines, and the Mount of Laws--Greeba staggered
at sight of Jason and would have cried aloud and fallen. But he
caught her in his arms in a moment, and whispered her in a low voice
at her ear to be silent, for that he had something to say that must
be heard by no one beside herself.

She recovered herself instantly, drew back as if his touch had stung
her, and asked with a look of dread if he had known she was there.

"Yes," he answered.

"Where have you come from?"

"Reykjavik.