oft-repeated declaration that the man "wasn't so bad as he looked."
Therefore, when Yaspard moored the _Osprey_ at the head of the voe, and
announced his intention of running up the hill to have a word with
Tammy, Signy said--

"I'll stay on the beach, brodhor. There are lovely shells about, and I
can gather a heap while you are away."

"All right," said he, and up the hill he bounded, while Signy set
herself to picking up shells. She was soon so interested in her
occupation that she forgot how time slips past, and was not aware that
Yaspard had been absent a whole hour when he returned looking very much
annoyed.

"Bother that fellow!" he said, as he helped Signy into the boat and
took his place at the oars.

"You mean fule-Tammy?" she asked.

"Of course. The impudence of _him_, to say I mayn't have any
tumble-down bit of Trullyabister for a play-place! I had it all so
nicely planned--to hide Gloy there, and bring our armour and our spoil
there. It was just the very place. It _is_ an old Viking's place--at
least one bit of it is said to be. But I'll circumvent fule-Tammy yet."

"Why not ask permission from Mr. Neeven?" Signy ventured to suggest;
but Yaspard shook his head.

"He would not hear of such a thing. Besides, that would take all the
secrecy and dark plotting and fun out of it all. But, never mind, I'll
have my prisoner in Trullyabister in spite of everything."

No cloud rested for many minutes on Yaspard's smooth brow, and very
soon he was laughing merrily as he pulled his boat along.

As they neared Moolapund, Loki came slowly sailing homewards, and,
feeling heavy and lazy after a long day's fishing, gravely dropped into
the boat, and looked at Yaspard as much as to say, "Your oars are
better able than my wings at present."

"Just look at the Parson! What a cool customer he is!" laughed
Yaspard. He had given Loki the nickname of "Parson" because of his
white choker and dignified visage.

Just then another pair of dark-hued wings hove near, and Thor, the
majestic raven which was Mr. Adiesen's particular pet, alighted on the
bow with a croak so hoarse and solemn that Signy cried out, "Oh dear,
how very eerie this is! How terribly grave Thor and Loki are! They
make me feel creepy."

"I shall take them with me on some of my Viking raids," Yaspard
exclaimed. "Just as the Vikinger did, you know. They always carried a
raven with them; and as for Loki--he can be an imp, or a Valkyrur. It