om group to group, singing
to a doleful tune with a grin on his face--

"Thus said the Rover
To his jolly crew,
_Down_ with the black flag,
_Up_ with the blue.
Shake hands on main-deck,
Shake hands on bow;
Shake hands amidships,
Kiss down below."

"You are improving on Scott, I hear," said Garth Halsen. "I didn't
know you went in for being a poet as well as a Viking."

"No more I do, but _I_ know you write poetry," retorted Yaspard; and
then Fred said, "Yes; and do you know he has been impudent enough to
compose a ballad about a legend of your family, boy? Think of that! I
liked the ballad so well that I asked Garth to bring it along and give
us all the benefit; so you are to hear the story of your own
great-granduncle, whose namesake you are, done into verse, with all the
Viking and Shetlandic accompaniments. What think you of that?"

"It depends upon how it is treated," quoth Yaspard with most unusual
caution, and eyeing Garth as if he were some curious specimen more fit
for Uncle Brues's cabinets than a picnic.

Aunt Osla, however, was charmed with the idea, said it was a very
pitiful story, quite true, and just suitable for a ballad; so Garth's
verses were to be read after lunch and other ceremonies were over--for
other ceremonies there were to be, as all could guess who saw Fred
Garson talking eagerly apart with Yaspard, then choose a lovely green
spot, and say, "This will do. Our dining hall can be on that flat
lower down, but _this_ is exactly what we want. You might get some of
the fellows to bring up a few stones, while I fetch the flag-staff."

Off went Yaspard, and soon the Harrisons and Mitchell boys were helping
him to convey some large stones to the brae which Fred had chosen.

"To fix a flag-staff" was all he told them, and they were not
inquisitive, although our Viking's smile and knowing look betokened
something much more important than the erection of a flag-staff.

"That will do, boys," said Fred, returning from his boat with a long
stout stick and a spade, and in a short time the noble flag of noblest
Britain, the beautiful red, white, and blue, with its mingled crosses
telling so much of Britain's fame and story, was floating over
Havnholme.

[1] Smartly dressed.

[2] Odds and ends.

CHAPTER XXV.

"AND THERETO THEY PLIGHTED TROTH BOTH OF THEM."

Do you wonder how so many people (and the boys in particular) contrived
to amuse themselves o