Without
hesitation Paterson stepped forward and dealt a tremendous blow
with his fist on Carver's nose.
"Ye ken what that's for--I needna tell ye," said Paterson; and
Kinlay reeled over and fell upon the floor, while Jack Paterson
walked quietly into the street.
The explanation of this swift chastisement was this. There had that
morning been a small indignation meeting of Stromness fishermen.
They were all determined that Kinlay should see they had no
sympathy with him, and the purpose of the meeting was to determine
what form of vengeance they should employ.
Their method was simply that which Jack Paterson had carried out,
in boldly confronting Kinlay with closed fists; and when Jack's
fellow fishermen heard what he had done their revenge was
satisfied, and they returned to their daily duties with accustomed
quietude, only agreeing in this, that thereafter Carver Kinlay was
to be recognized as the common enemy of all true Orkney men; that
he was not to be molested, but that none was to give him help in
any way soever.
Chapter XXIV. Carver Kinlay's Success.
The Lydia was laid up for about a fortnight. A slight delay in
completing her repairs was occasioned by the want of timber--a
scarce commodity in Orkney, where there are no trees--but suitable
material was procured from a homeward-bound ship.
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