ling me you were in
the port. And when do you sail?"

"Tomorrow," said the captain. "We're bound for Brazil; but I was
wanting to see some people tonight. Pilot Ericson asked me to smoke
a pipe with him. Then I have to see Grace Drever, to--"

"Grace Drever!" exclaimed the dominie, evidently wondering what the
sailor could want to see his mother for.

"Yes," continued Captain Gordon. "My ship's overrun with mice, and
I was directed to Grace Drever, who, I am told, deals in all the
charms and cantrips a sailor can require."

"Charms and cantrips!" echoed the schoolmaster. "Why, who on earth
has been putting such notions into your head? I doubt if you go to
Grace Drever on such an errand you'll be disappointed, sir."

"You know the old lady, then?" said the captain.

"Just as well as a man can know his own mother," replied Andrew.

"Oh! then, you'll be the schoolmaster? Really, I beg your pardon;
but I was told that Mistress Drever had dealings with such things;
and although I am not exactly superstitious--"

"Never mind, sir, never mind. It's just some ignorant lads have
been making up the story; and it's all one to me, for I know well
it's not true. There was once a woman in Stromness, I will allow,
who used to sell favourable winds to the sailors. But though there
is still a most lamentable amount of superstition in the Orkney
folk--belief in witches and warlocks and such nonsense--it's
gradually, just gradually, dying away."

"No doubt the influence of your schools," observed the captain,
anxious to conciliate.

"Ay, no doubt," said Andrew. "But what was it you were saying about
mice?"

"Why, we're just infested with them, and I must get either cats or
poison for them, or I'll not say but we may be manned by mice
instead of men before we get beyond Cape Wrath."

"My mother has a cat," quietly remarked Andrew, "one of the few we
have in Orkney. And though she does not deal in witchery, you might
bring her to part with Baudrons. Now, if you'll come home with me
and have a taste of these trout--"

"Oh, thanks, thanks, most happy!" said the captain.

Now this, I thought, was a very graceful invitation for Andrew
Drever to give to a stranger who had only a few moments before
implied that his mother was a witch. But it was a kindness such as
he was ever showing; and I must add that Captain Gordon was one of
those easy-mannered sailors who at once give an agreeable
impression. I myself liked him from the v