I do not know how it fared with Thora when she reached Crua Breck,
but I was not long in doubt as to the result of her immersion in
the underground stream. The next morning I heard by accident that
she was ill in bed. For many long weeks she lay weary and helpless,
and it took all the skill of Dr. Linklater of Stromness to bring
her round to health again. During this time I heard nothing of her,
and much did I fear that her illness was very serious. One thing
that consoled me, however, was the thought that she had the
viking's talisman in her keeping, for in the excitement of seeing
the cart passing with the dead sheep, I had entirely forgotten to
ask her for the return of the stone, and she went into the house
with it still suspended from her neck. I was confident that she
would keep it in safety, and while she had it in her possession I
felt that her recovery to health was assured.
Chapter XXVIII. Captain Flett Of The "Falcon."
The unfortunate occurrence which deprived us of our little flock of
sheep brought an increase of sorrow and hardship to our family,
whose resources had already been so greatly impoverished; and when
the gloomy winter days came on, with their biting frosts and keen
cold winds, the prospects at Lyndardy grew as dull as the leaden
clouds that hung in the sky.
Pages:
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221