en the post by your
crafty, sneaking, murderous villainy, Carver Kinlay. What business
had you putting out to the Lydia on Sunday?"

"What business is that of yours?" was the response.

"Every one has business in a case like this," said Abernethy, "and
I'll wager a thousand pounds if you hadn't gone out the accident
wouldn't have happened. It was nothing else than the fear that
you'd get aboard before them that made the men think of boarding
the barque in such a hurry, and so far out. I knew the men well,
poor fellows, and they were all decent men and good pilots, every
one of them."

While Abernethy was saying this, Kinlay was venting a torrent of
oaths and words in disparagement of my father and his men.

"You villain! you rascal!" continued the skipper, "if you say
another word against Sandy Ericson I'll pitch you out at the
window!"

At the same time Bailie Duke stepped forward and said:

"Now just hold your filthy tongue, Kinlay. You've been trying for
years to do what you've done now. You've gotten your wish; what
more do you want?"

The bailie succeeded in quieting him, and Carver slunk off to a
corner of the room. The company, after this interruption,
dispersed, leaving only Captain Gordon, Kinlay, Captain Miller, and
myself.

No further words had been exchanged before a stalwart fisherman
entered. I immediately recognized Jack Paterson. Jack was, as I
have before said, a powerful man. He came in with a firm resolution
in his step, and looked around the room. We watched him closely,
for there was something strange in his look.

On seeing Kinlay he walked straight up to him, laid a big hand on
his shoulder--the hand that wanted a finger--and, without a word,
dragged him to the middle of the room. Kinlay turned quickly round,
and putting his hand on his sheath knife drew the weapon. Without
hesitation Paterson stepped forward and dealt a tremendous blow
with his fist on Carver's nose.

"Ye ken what that's for--I needna tell ye," said Paterson; and
Kinlay reeled over and fell upon the floor, while Jack Paterson
walked quietly into the street.

The explanation of this swift chastisement was this. There had that
morning been a small indignation meeting of Stromness fishermen.
They were all determined that Kinlay should see they had no
sympathy with him, and the purpose of the meeting was to determine
what form of vengeance they should employ.

Their method was simply that which Jack Paterson had car