driving before
her a hen and her brood of chickens, which she had found straying
along the cliffs, and of her we asked for Tom. She at once offered
to run to the house and bring him, but ultimately Robbie Rosson
went instead, with my terrier at his heels.

"How is it you are not at the fishing, Halcro?" inquired Thora when
we were alone. "I saw the schoolmaster away down at the Bush just
now as I came past. He seemed to be catching very little, though."

"Ah!" I said, "I doubt it's too clear a day for the trout. We're
off to Skaill Vie to see if we can catch a seal."

"That will be fine fun," said Thora, with a touch of envy in her
voice. "I wish I was going with you. Will you not take me?"

"Indeed," I returned, not unwilling that she should join us in our
sport, "I'd be real glad if you would come. But here's Tom, we'll
ask him."

Robbie and Tom approached across a plot of potatoes. Tom was eating
a huge piece of oatcake, and slashing, with a long stick he
carried, at the heads of the thistles that grew, all too
plentifully, among the potatoes.

Tom was a tall, large-boned lad, and his feet, which were encased
in rivlins, or rough hide shoes, projected several inches below his
trousers; his arms, too, seemed to have grown far beyond the length
of his jacket sleeves. His untidy black hair and dark eyes
contrasted strangely with the fair and delicate beauty of his
sister Thora. A stranger might have taken Thora to be of pure Norse
family, and her adventurous spirit would have justified the belief.
But Tom took after his father, whose type was that of a race not
uncommon in the north of Scotland, and called--for I know not what
reason--"The dark men of Connemara."

"Tom," I asked when he was beside us, "what do you say to Thora
coming with us to the sealing?"

"What! Certainly not," replied Tom, who was ever jealous of his
sister and loved not to favour her in any way. "What would a lassie
do at the sealing? Let her go back home and do her lessons, and try
if she can win to the head of the class again."

"Indeed," said Thora with suppressed indignation, "it is you who
should try to do that, Tom. You're the eldest and biggest lad in
the school, and have never yet been at the head of the class, dunce
that you are! But away with you to the sealing. I do not care, for
I have adventure of my own. I know where there's a hen harrier
building her nest on the Black Craigs, and it's not you I will tell
where it is, my