take place on---- Havnholme!"

Who can say what it cost that old man to agree to Fred's proposal; to
bury his pride and his resentment, his ancestral prejudice and his
personal arrogance, and meet the Laird of Lunda with his friends on the
disputed piece of earth?

We cannot understand either the position or the concession, which seem
almost ludicrous in our estimation, but were sufficiently solemn, even
tragic, in the sight of Brues Adiesen, living a secluded life apart from
men, and nursing there every fantastic or unreasonable or old-world
idea.

The boys had not a word to say when their host's speech was concluded;
but a sniff from Miss Osla, which might be the prelude to tears and
sentiment, warned Dr. Holtum not to leave the silence for _her_ to
break, and he remarked--

"A good thought. We have not had a picnic on Havnholme for ages. The
last time I saw the Yarl of Broch, he was saying he had not set foot on
the Holme since he was a boy, and got thrashed there by you, Adiesen,
eh?"

"I remember! I remember!" answered the scientist, chuckling and
rubbing his hands together. "We were boys then--yes, boys--and
boy-like, very ready for a row. It seems so short a time ago! It was,
yes, it was a rare good fight--the only time I ever came off best! Ha!
ha! I was not a fighting boy as a rule. I may say Neeven could always
lick me; so could my poor brother Yaspard. But _that time_--don't know
how it happened--I thrashed Halsen. I did indeed, though you mayn't
think it."

"I am awfully surprised," said blunt Tom Holtum.

"You may be that," rejoined the scientist, not in the least nettled by
the implication in Tom's speech. "You may well be surprised, for he is
twice my size; he was a big boy, and is a big man. Yes! the Yarl is a
genuine old Shetland Viking of the right sort."

"He'd suit you down to the ground, Yaspard," quoth Tom; and Fred Garson
added, "You would freeze to Garth Halsen, boy. He is as mad about
Vikinger as you are, only it's in another way. I'll ask them to join
our party. You would like to see Mr. Halsen again, wouldn't you?"

"To be sure," Mr. Adiesen replied. "We'll fight our battle o'er
again--with our tongues this time. By all means let's have the Yarl
and his boy on Friday."

So things were settled; and in high good-humour the Lunda boys escorted
Dr. Holtum and their young captain to the boat, and with hearty
good-will rowed home, singing lustily as they pulled--