uttoned up his
coat, before handing over the money.

Kinlay pocketed the sovereigns, and then looked round the crowd of
faces about him with an air of extreme satisfaction. At the same
time old Isaac turned to a Dutch sailor who was addressing him in
their own language. By the fox-like look in the Jew's eyes I
understood that he, on his part, was not really discontented with
the bargain he had closed.

But Tom had evidently not disposed of all his valuables, for, just
as Isaac was slipping away, he held him by the sleeve and showed
him a handful of the viking's coins and rings, whereupon the old
Hebrew renewed his bartering, with the result that Tom disposed of
all his remaining store for the sum of two additional pounds.

The crowd was breaking up, and the Jew again slipping away, when I
called out to him, thinking I would tell him that there were some
more of these things in Stromness, and believing for the moment
that Mr. Drever might have some wish to deal with so generous a
purchaser. Isaac could at least tell him what the treasure was
worth, I reflected.

"Will ye buy any more o' these things?" I asked, when he came to my
side.

"Well, I want nossing more, mine young friend," he replied. "I haf
make a very bad bargain already. But what have you? Any more of
dose pretty tings?" and he indicated the gem that he had bought
from Kinlay.

I thought at once of my magic stone that was suspended at my neck
under my guernsey. I produced it, though of course I did not mean
to let him have it at any price.

"Is this worth anything?" I asked.

But I had no sooner brought it forth than I felt a tugging at my
sleeve. I turned round and saw old Davie Flett frowning at me
meaningly.

"Don't have anything to do wi' the auld thief!" he whispered,
dragging me aside. "Come away, lad, an' let me tell ye something."

But the Jew was already examining my little black stone, and asking
me to take the cord that held it off my neck. He scratched its
smooth surface with his long finger nails, and then took out an old
knife from his pocket and was proceeding to insert the blade under
the gold ring that encircled the stone. I snatched my precious
talisman from him, and replaced it under the collar of my knitted
shirt. The Jew looked surprised; but without heeding him I turned
away with Captain Flett, who walked with me some distance from the
dispersing crowd.

When we were alone beside one of the sheds he said:

"It's all r