Duke," began Jack falteringly, "I was lying in
my bed on Friday night when young Halcro Ericson knocked at the
door and telt me that Thora Kinlay was out in the storm and couldna
be found. So I cam' along to Stromness--"
"Ay, but dinna mind that part o' the story, Jack," interrupted Mr.
Duke; "just begin where Steenie and you heard the dog."
"Yes, Mr. Duke," said Paterson, dropping his sou'wester in his
nervousness. And then he repeated what Captain Flett had already
told me.
"Did you both go into the cottage?" asked the bailie.
"No," said Jack, "Steenie ran away down to the town to tell the
doctor. I went into Mary's mysel'. But Mary was away at Kirkwall,
ye ken. I saw that some person had been there, however; for the
peats were still hot, and there was some roasted potatoes on the
table, forbye a cloth that had blood on it."
"And you waited about there until Dr. Linklater came?"
"Yes, Mr. Duke."
"Now do you recognize this as the gun you found?" Mr. Duke asked,
touching my fowling piece.
"Ay, that's just it," replied Jack.
Bailie Thomson then asked: "Have you ever seen the gun before,
Paterson?"
"No," said Jack.
"What! have you never seen Ericson with it?"
"Never," said Paterson, "though they tell me it is Halcro's gun."
"Are you sure that Ericson had not the gun with him when he knocked
you up on Friday night?" persisted Mr.
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