at was moored the castaways were
quaffing draughts of milk and devouring oatcakes and butter. Nothing
had ever tasted so sweet to Tom's lips as that milk, and the gentle
voice of Garth Halsen, his cool soft touch, were as good as medicine.

He was carefully conveyed to the boat; the _Osprey_ was safely beached,
high and dry, and loaded with stones to prevent her being buffeted by
the winds again, until such time as she could be removed; and the boys,
with lightened hearts, scrambled into the haaf-boat, carrying with them
all their campaigning effects.

"If Yaspard were here," said Harry, "he would wish to stay by his boat
until he had made her fit to float us off the Stack again. I don't
half like leaving her all by herself, poor old _Osprey_."

"You and your Viking can return and finish up your voyage of discovery
another time," quoth Garth; "but at present you must submit to being
taken to Broch in a commonplace manner."

But the Yarl had been watching Tom, as he lay among coats spread on
grass in the bottom of the boat, and the kind old man's face had grown
more sad and serious every moment.

"I think we must not make for Burra Wick after all," he said. "Much as
I'd like to have you at Broch, I believe we ought to take another
course. This lad should be in his father's hands with as little delay
as possible. So it's Collaster where we will bring up."

And to Collaster they went, after landing Lowrie on the nearest point
of Burra Isle, to carry tidings of them to Yaspard, as well as to Gerta
Brace, who would certainly be alarmed if her uncle did not put in an
appearance that day.

We can imagine the sensation created at the Doctor's house when Tom was
carried there, and the story of his misadventure was told. Harry did
not tell that it was Tom's own fault which brought about the accident,
and it was many a long day before Tom was able to give the full account
of it himself. But we must leave him in the care of his loving mother
and skilful father, content to know that he recovered eventually, and
lived to take a front place in many a wild adventure with his old
antipathy Harry, and his new one Yaspard Adiesen.

Bill carried the news to Wester-voe and Fred Garson, while Gloy took
his cousin Gibbie to Lunda; and Harry asked to return with the Yarl and
Garth to Burra Isle. He wanted above all things to be with Yaspard,
and in his company finish up the adventurous expedition after a more
satisfactory mann