loy glanced around the geo, evidently calculating how far his powers
of climbing were fit to cope with the walls of his prison; and Yaspard,
guessing his thought, said, "I shall leave Pirate on guard with you."

Gloy resigned himself to fate, and patting the dog, he assured Yaspard
that he didn't mind staying in the geo a few hours--even days--if that
would help to demolish the quarrels which had kept poor young Adiesen
so isolated from his kind.

"You're a brick," the others declared. Then Pirate got his
instructions, and the _Osprey_ went on her homeward way.

When she had disappeared in a curve of the fiord, a tiny punt came out
from behind some crags which formed part of the geo. The punt was
propelled by no unskilful hand, although its solitary occupant used a
geological hammer more often than an oar. We may judge what Gloy
Winwick felt like when he recognised the new-comer to be the dreaded
Laird of Boden!

In blissful ignorance of the fact that his uncle had been so near, and
had heard every word of their conference, Yaspard landed the Harrisons
at their own noost; and promising to return for them at dusk, he took
himself to Moolapund. There Signy was looking out eagerly for him, and
great was her joy at his safe return. The little girl's lively
imagination had been conjuring up all sorts of terrible adventures
through which her hero might be passing, and she looked anxiously at
him and his boat for signs of a fray. None were visible, not even the
armour, for it had been stowed under the foot-boards.

"What have you done with Pirate?" Signy asked.

Now Yaspard was a very truthful boy, and could not tell a "whopper" to
save his life. "Pirate is all right," he answered; "and if you will
come up to my room, Mootie, I'll tell you my great secret, for it has
begun to work. Only think!"

There were few things he loved more than his bright little sister's
sympathy. He was never so happy as when pouring into her ears the
story of his exploits. He thoroughly enjoyed telling her all about his
expedition to Havnholme, and his pleasure was not even damped by the
tears rising in her blue eyes when he described Gloy a prisoner in the
geo with Pirate for jailer.

"Wasn't it a good lark, Signy? Don't I make a ripping Viking, &c.?"

She smiled in spite of her compassion, but she said, "Oh, brodhor, you
know he is only a poor boy. If it had been one of the others it would
not have mattered so much; but Gloy W