resist the soft tone and word, so answered--

"Why do you want to stay here?"

"I have been watching Loki fish, and it is so funny; I want to see when
he _will_ be satisfied. He has been at it for hours."

Loki was a pet cormorant, and Yaspard had taught him to seek food for
himself in the voe. The affectionate bird, though allowed such
licence, never failed to return to Boden when hunger was satisfied; and
at all times he would come at once to his master's call.

Yaspard stood for a minute looking at the bird as it swam about, every
now and then taking a sudden leap and "header" after some unwary
sillack. There were shoals of small cod-fish in the voe, and Loki had
no difficulty in filling his most capacious maw. His mode of fishing
was certainly comical, but Yaspard was not so interested in the matter
as Signy, therefore his eyes were soon roving again to the islets and
boats.

Presently his attention became riveted on a smart skiff rounding the
headlands in a manner which proved that she was managed by skilful
hands. As the boat drew nearer, rising lightly on the waves, Yaspard
said, "Yes, it's the _Laulie_. What splendid sea-boys those lads of
Lunda are! They are always off somewhere; always having some grand fun
on the water. They are making for Havnholme now, and I expect they
mean to stay there all night. Oh, bother feuds and family fights! I
wish I were with them."

"They must be nice boys," said Signy. "It does seem very sad that you
can't have them for chums. I can't see why our grandfathers' quarrels
and Uncle Brues's grumpiness should hinder you from being friends with
the only boys of our rank within reach of Boden."

"It is a horrible nuisance. But never mind! I'll make the family feud
work into my idea, sure as can be! There, Signy; there goes Loki with
five dozen sillacks in his maw, so let's go too."

The cormorant had had enough. He began to flap along the surface of
the sea until it was possible for him to rise in steady flight. Then
he floated high overhead and took a straight course for the Ha' of
Boden.

Yaspard caught up Signy in his arms; and as he swung along towards home
he chanted--

"As with his wings aslant
Sails the fierce cormorant
Seeking some rocky haunt,
With his prey laden;
So toward the open main,
Beating to sea again,
Through the wild hurricane
Bore I the maiden."

When he finished the verse he put his sister down. "There," he