kind of existence in Tammy's
imagination. Only one thing he said attracted the boy's serious
attention, and remained in his recollection to throw light on future
events.

As Tammy raised the keschie to his shoulder he exclaimed in a kind of
exultation, "They think me a puir 'natural,' that can do nae gude to
man or beast, but for a' that it's myself that's pit mair light upon
wir isle as ever men and money will pit, though the Laird--puir
body--speaks aboot it evermair, and evermair will speak. Yea, yea!
puir Tammy and his pate-keschie does mair for ill-luckit, wandering
sea-folk than does the muckle kirk and the peerie[3] queen pit
together. And, though I say it that shouldna, puir Tammy kens when tae
wake and when tae sleep better than them that has their heads fu' o'
brains and books forby."

So maundering, Tammy returned to the house, and closed the back-door
behind him, and then Yaspard stole round to the uninhabited and ruined
portion of the house to reconnoitre.

When satisfied that the "coast was clear," he whistled softly in such
perfect imitation of a golden plover, that the Harrisons, waiting for
that same signal, were not quite sure that it was Yaspard, and no bird.
But when the wild musical notes had been repeated three distinct times,
they knew that it was their captain's call.

Fastening the boat to the dyke-end, they hastened to raise the
foot-boards and open lockers fore and aft. From these hiding-places
they took a curious assortment of articles--a blanket and towel, armour
in plenty, a knife, fork, plate, and mug; two candles, a box of
matches, and a basket of nondescript victuals. Stowing these into two
keschies brought for the purpose, they slung the baskets on to their
backs, and marched confidently up the hill, assured that Yaspard would
give the alarm if danger was to be apprehended.

They reached his side without any adventure, and then all three
clambered over the broken wall into what had been a goodly
apartment--now roofless and in ruin. At the farther end of this room
there was a low doorway, leading to a dark passage; and as Yaspard
walked boldly towards it Gibbie said in a frightened whisper, "No' that
way! surely no' _that_ way? Yon passage ends in the haunted room."

"The haunted room, you goose, is just the place that is to be our
captive's cell," replied the Viking.

"I thought ye meant _this_ room, or some other bit that's fallen tae
ruin," Gibbie muttered, and hesita