"
"You don't say so!" exclaimed Rosson.
"Yes, and he says that we must take all the siller to him at the
school. There's some law about it all, and we canna keep the
things. We maun give them up."
"Will ye give your share up, Hal?" asked Hercus.
"I hae done so already," I said. "I left it wi' the dominie
yestreen."
The lads looked at each other, but neither offered any objection.
"Oh, very well!" said Rosson, "I'll bring mine down i' the
mornin'."
"And I mine," echoed Hercus.
During the first lesson in school it was noticed that Tom Kinlay
was absent.
"Where is your brother this morning, Thora?" asked Mr. Drever.
"Please, sir," said Thora, "I was to tell you that he's not to come
to the school again. They're buildin' a new boat for father at
Kirkwall, an' Tom's to be aboard of her."
I thought it curious that Carver Kinlay should have a boat built in
Kirkwall, and not by our own local builder, Tammy Lang, of
Stromness. And what could this new boat be intended for?
"Ay, Thora, but that's somewhat sudden!" said the dominie. "Why did
he not wait till the end o' the week?"
Thora raised her blue eyes in my direction as though she would
appeal to me for an explanation. I did not then know, however, that
the true and immediate cause of Tom's absence was that he was not
in a fit condition to appear among his companions that morning on
account of the blow I had given him during our fight on the
previous evening.
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