ight have a fine sail in the Curlew. I wish I could get such a
chance."

"All right, lad!" interrupted my father. "Away with you to the
sealing. You'll get many another chance of a sail. Who's going with
you?"

"Robbie Rosson and Willie Hercus and--" I added with some
hesitation, "Tom Kinlay," for I knew my father did not entirely
approve of Tom as a companion.

"Kinlay again?" he muttered, knitting his brows. "I would advise
you not to go with that lad so often. But then you dinna ken what
his father is, I suppose."

It was seldom that I heard my father speak an ill word against any
man. I did not ask him any question, but his brief warning was
enough to show me that there was some serious cause of enmity
between him and Tom's father, Carver Kinlay.

"Father," I said, "I'll not go with Tom if you object."

"Object!" said he. "What care I for the lad? It's the father that's
my enemy. His bairns may be better than he. Away to the sealing
with you, and may you get good sport!"

And he followed me to the door.

Chapter V. The Hen Harrier.

I lingered about the little quay while my father and the crew were
hoisting sail. For a moment I questioned if I should not be happier
in the bow of the Curlew, than tramping half a score of miles over
rough uninteresting moorland on the chance of capturing a seal; but
in the end I was satisfied in keeping to the plan arranged by my
companions. I waited only to see the boat bend over in the fresh
breeze as she sailed outward to the ships; then, armed with my
harpoon and a knobbed stick, I hastened out of Stromness, followed
by my dog.

Selta (so called after one of our native streams) was a
long-bodied, long-haired animal, with a touch of the otter hound in
her nature. I got her from Colin Lothian, an old "gaberlunzie" man
who travelled our countryside. He gave me the dog when she was a
young thing, and he had another of the same litter which followed
him wherever he went about the island.

Selta was notable for her shaggy brown coat and ungainly head, and
for her keen scent. One day during the previous winter I had been
over to Russadale for my mother, and in coming home I was caught in
a snowstorm. The mist was thick and the way obscured by the driving
snow, but Selta lowered her nose and led me over the hills in a
beeline to Stromness.

She had never before been out with me at the seal catching; but I
took her this day, thinking she might prove useful--as indee