As for myself, my life seemed empty of ambition, now that the
Curlew was sunk and my father and the men had gone. I had learnt to
hope that I might be a pilot some day; but where were my prospects
now? That I must go out to some work was evident, but what was to
be the nature of that work was left to more mature consideration,
or to some happy chance or opportunity. In the meantime I was to
remain away from school.
There was no lack of sympathy for us on the part of our neighbours
for many days after the accident. Mr. Moir, the minister, was among
the first who called, bringing much comfort to my poor widowed
mother; the schoolmaster also came, with great sorrow on his face,
and many a good word he spoke of my father; while Captain Gordon
visited us again and again so long as his ship lay in port.
Chapter XXIII. Gray's Inn.
About midway along the crooked, narrow street of Stromness stood
the one house of entertainment of the port--Gray's Inn--where the
wind-bound sailors and idle fishermen usually regaled themselves
and spun yarns. The host, Oliver Gray, who was himself a retired
seaman, had sought to attract his customers by hanging out over his
front door a sign which was calculated to win the good opinion of
all seafaring folk. It was a representation of a clipper in full
sail on a raw green sea.
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