. Wouldn't I pitch into him!" exclaimed the Viking-boy;
whereat Harry, laughing, said, "That's all done with now. Wreckers
went after the Vikings, didn't they?"

"With the exception of fule-Tammy," retorted Yaspard.

"And yourself," said Tom.

"Maybe they left as bad behind them," Yaspard said quickly. "Men who
cheat in trade, who scamp work, evade taxes, rack-rent the poor, are no
better than pirates and wreckers."

"Here we are at the Stack," Harry exclaimed. "Look out there with the
sail! Captain, mind your helm. There now; you nearly had her aground!
I declare we've skimmed over a bau!--we may thank our stars we didn't
capsize on it--all through your jabber about wreckers who left this
planet a century ago."

They landed on Swarta Stack, and made themselves comfortable for the
night not far from the geo where the _Osprey_ was moored. It was too
late to explore the Stack that night, so after supper all rolled
themselves up in rugs, as had been their wont for a week, and were soon
in the mysterious land of dreamless sleep.

[1] Odds and ends, or plunder.

CHAPTER XXIX.

"GREAT IS THE TROUBLE OF FOOT ILL-TRIPPING."

Our boys woke up early next morning, for a chill wind sweeping over
Swarta Stack was as effectual a rouser as the dressing-bell.

When fully awake they looked (as if led by one instinct) to the open
sea, for from thence was coming the deep mournful moaning which
precedes a storm.

"Mither," said Gloy, "wad say that the sea was sending its warning tae
wiz."

"We will certainly pay heed to that warning," answered Yaspard, "as
soon as we have had breakfast. Let's look alive, boys, and get our
fire up as fast as we can, for there's going to be a gale before night,
and we should be at Broch then."

"The _Osprey_ won't take long to run into Burra Wick," said Tom; "and
we must make a jolly good breakfast here before returning to civilised
life."

"There will be time to inspect the Stack, I hope," Harry remarked. "We
must have a full report of this isle that has a bad name, according to
Gloy."

They lit their fire, and boiled the last of their potatoes, brewed the
last of their tea, and finished the biscuits and ham.

"Not much to carry back," one said, and another added, "I shouldn't
like to be left on a skerry now that the ferdimet is all but done."

When breakfast was ended no time was lost in starting for a tour round
Swarta Stack, which is a lofty island about a mile l