ment is the first rule of all who elect to follow
a chief," Yaspard said decidedly. "You must see as your captain bids
you, Tom."

"That's right," Harry Mitchell struck in; "we all agree with Fred.
Good-bye to the black flag; and may Balder guide you to fresh fields of
adventure, Sir Viking, for we look to you to provide us with something
'worthy of our steel.'"

"Quotations from Scott and Garth Halsen are always dodging among
Harry's yackles,[1] ready to dance on the tip of his tongue when the
smallest opportunity occurs," remarked Tom.

"Practical Tom Holtum aspires to poetic language," retorted Harry, with
some heat.

"There they go!" exclaimed Bill, giving a small kick to each, as he
happened to be seated between them. "Always sparring at each other
like young cocks."

"Sailing under the black flag, eh?" said Mr. Adiesen to Tom and Harry,
who looked a little ashamed, but joined in the laugh at Bill's next
speech.

"Talk of feuds," quoth he. "These two have had a feud of their own
going since they were born."

"Why, there is the _Osprey_ coming up the voe," Signy called out. She
had left the table a minute before, and had gone to the window to throw
out some scraps to the pet birds waiting, well assured that they would
not be forgotten.

Very few boats came up Boden voe, especially at such an unusual hour,
therefore more than one of the breakfast party followed Signy to the
window to see who was coming.

"It's father for one," said Tom.

"And that schooner's captain for another," said Fred.

"Now for it," thought Yaspard. "I wonder what I ought to do? I can't
peach on poor fule-Tammy."

He was not put to the test, for as the boat reached the quay Gaun
Neeven stalked up to the door followed by the culprit Tammy, looking
quite satisfied with himself, and not at all disconcerted by the many
eyes turned upon him--some in wonder why he was there, some in pity for
his half-witted condition which had caused so much trouble.

"Shall we boys clear out of the way?" Harry asked of Mr. Adiesen, who
assured him there was no necessity for their effacing themselves, as he
believed a very few words with the _Norna's_ skipper would explain
everything.

"I wish I had not come on a disagreeable errand," said Dr. Holtum, as
he shook hands all round. "Yes, Tom, I expected to find you boys here.
You generally do contrive to get on Fred's track. We were so thankful,
Adiesen, to learn that the child was safe. On